Enemies of the Faith: Part 2—The Flesh
The Puritan, John Owen, once said:
When we realize a constant enemy of the soul abides within us, what diligence and watchfulness we should have! How woeful is the sloth and negligence then of so many who live blind and asleep to this reality of sin. There is an exceeding efficacy and power in the indwelling sin of believers, for it constantly inclines itself towards evil. We need to be awake, then, if our hearts would know the ways of God. Our enemy is not only upon us, as it was with Samson, but it is also in us.[1]
We began this series by thinking about the spiritual enemy known as the world; that sinful system in which we live and experience all around us. In our next and final installment, we’ll focus our attention upon that great enemy known as the Devil. But for now, it’s important for us to recognize that among these primary enemies that hate our faith in Christ (Eph. 2:2–3), there is one that exists inside our very being. Therefore, in order for us to rightly fight and defeat this enemy, we need to know its tendencies and tactics. What subtle strategies does this enemy employ? And, how can we defend ourselves against an enemy that is found so near?
The Desires of the Flesh
In order to answer these questions, we must begin by identifying the nature of the sinful flesh. What is it, where does it come from, and how does it attack? The Apostle Paul helps us in this regard, as he writes to the Galatians in chapter 5, verses 16–21, saying:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
With a sobering warning, the Apostle Paul explains that there is a fallen faculty within us all known as the flesh. For genuine believers, then, there is a constant tension that takes place within us, because the flesh desires to please self, while our new heart, born of the Spirit, desires to please God. These sinful desires are so sinister, in fact, that those who live a life characterized by them demonstrate that they have no inheritance in Christ’s Kingdom.
And yet, Paul, himself, transparently confessed his own struggles with the flesh in Romans, chapter 7, saying:
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
As genuine believers in Christ, we can easily relate to the palpable struggle Paul expresses. The sinful desires of the flesh wage war within us, and they remind us of our wretchedness. Yet, by God’s grace, our Spirit-empowered desire and delight for righteousness reigns. Though imperfect, we fight daily against this spiritual enemy of the flesh, as we await the ultimate redemption and glorification of our bodies through Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor 15:42–53).
Therefore, as we await the blessed hope of Christ’s appearing, how can we grow in sanctification? How can we pursue holiness and progressively become more like Jesus, while battling against our sinful flesh? The Apostle Paul gives us the answer, as he continues writing, in Romans, chapter 8. With the sword of the Spirit gifted to us by the Lord, here are six truths that we should take hold of and wield, in our battle against the flesh:
1. Our Union with Christ Frees Us
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (v. 1–4).
If you have repented of your sins, and believed in the perfect person and perfect work of Jesus Christ for your salvation, then that means that God has sovereignly and graciously united you to Christ. In our daily battle against the flesh, we must remind ourselves that in Christ, the penalty for our sins has been perfectly paid, the wrath of God has been fully satisfied, and the righteousness of Christ has been credited to our account. Because of what God has done for us in Christ, we have been set free to live for Him.
2. Our Life in the Spirit Empowers Us
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you (v. 5–11).
Although the flesh continues to raise its ugly head, waging war against us, the Lord has not left us to fight alone. Rather, He has come to live within us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. What a profound encouragement it is to know that the same One who raised Christ from the dead, is the One who dwells powerfully within us!
3. Our Adoption by God Blesses Us
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (v. 12–17).
The Spirit’s power and presence in our lives demonstrates that we have been adopted into God’s family. Furthermore, not only are we children of God, but we have been blessed as joint heirs with Christ. His inheritance is our inheritance. Therefore, as we engage in the battle against our flesh, we do so with royal blood pumping through our spiritual veins. We can fight confidently and valiantly because God is our Father, Christ is our brother, and the Spirit is our witness.
4. Our Hope in Christ Sustains Us
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (v. 18–25).
It's been said that every believer is promised two things: Eternal life and a cross (Matt 16:24). Thus, as we follow our Savior, and deny our flesh, we will experience suffering. And yet, Paul makes it abundantly clear that the suffering we experience in this life is wholly insignificant compared to the glory that we will experience for all of eternity. It is for this reason that we, along with the rest of creation, wait eagerly for the ultimate redemption and glorification of our bodies. And in our waiting, as we fight against the temptations of our flesh, we possess a supernatural hope; a certain expectation that Christ is returning soon.
5. Our Calling by God Preserves Us
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (v. 26–30).
No doubt, there are times in our struggle against the flesh when we feel too weak to even pray. But it’s in the midst of these seasons of struggle when we must be reminded that the Spirit prays on our behalf. We must remember that our standing and position in Christ is not dependent on our efforts. Rather, the guarantee of our ultimate glorification is found in the gracious calling of God from before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). In the golden chain of God’s redemption, those whom God predestines will be glorified. Therefore, on both our best days and our worst days, we must fight our flesh in the confidence of God’s divine calling.
6. Our Relationship to God Secures Us
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (v. 31–39).
In the grand crescendo of Romans 8, the Apostle Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions, in order to drive home the greatest reality in all of human history. As a demonstration of His infinite love for us, the one, true, and living God has sacrificed His own Son to bring about our redemption. Therefore, in answer to Paul’s questions, these truths of God’s Word are incredible! Since God is for us, it does not matter who comes against us. Giving up His own Son proves that He will spare nothing to save us. And it does not matter who brings a charge against us, whether he be human, demon, or the Devil, himself, because God has already declared us to be righteous in Christ. Because of these realities, which are bound up in God’s unshakeable, eternal love for us, we can and will overcome every enemy who comes against us, including and especially the enemy of our sinful flesh.
References:
[1] John Owen, Sin and Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Goodness (United States: Regent College Publishing, 2002)