THE FLESH: What is the Flesh?

The Flesh warreth against the Spirit

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
—Galatians 5:17

What is the Flesh?

How Does One Battle the Flesh?

In this Age’s battle for souls, the devil (Satan) has two strong allies: the world and the flesh.

When speaking of spiritual matters, The world refers to the corrupt, sinful system of values set up by men which is antagonistic to the aims and purposes of God.

The flesh refers to the suit of sin every human is encased in, which is a bundle of appetites and lusts and is antagonistic to the aims and purposes of God.

Many sinful activities spring from the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
—Galatians 5:19-21

All of the listed “works of the flesh” are on public display (and most have their defenders in the Corporate Media) in the World’s Most Christian Nation Ever!™

One of the ways one can tell the times in which we are living is the increase in the works of the flesh.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
—2 Timothy 3:1-5

The main reason works of the flesh become much more public over the works of the Spirit in the end times can be summed up in one sentence. This sentence was spoken by Jesus Christ.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
—Matthew 24:12

Sign of the End Times: Wicked Men Being Evil in Public

The lost and the wicked continuously give in to the appetites of the flesh. When there is any resistance (say against gluttony), it is for cosmetic or selfish reasons.  Not because the activity is sinful.

But the born again believer is constantly at war with the flesh and the appetites and lusts of the flesh. The reason for this warfare is that the man who is a believer now has the help and comfort of God’s Holy Spirit to assist him in his battle against the flesh.

There is no giving in; there is no compromise. The ONLY remedy for the sins of the flesh is to mortify (kill) the flesh.

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
—Collosians 3:5

And how is one to mortify the flesh?

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
—Galatians 5:24

However, even with the Spirit’s aid, this does not mean that the believer wins every round against the flesh.

What it means is that when the believer stumbles, he is dragged resisting to such appetites, not running headlong to embrace them.

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
—Romans 7:15,18

The flesh and its lusts are a powerful ally of Satan and sin.

BUT, with the help of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, the believer can emerge victorious over the appetites of the carnal nature of the flesh.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
—Romans 8:13

Are you warring against the flesh?

OR, have your surrendered and are being led around by your nose? Are you a slave to sin or are you free?

Fighting the flesh through purely human means is a losing proposition; the Holy Spirit can deliver men from the enslaving poisons of the flesh.

Help is available.

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”
—2 Corinthians 4:3

THE GOSPEL

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

​RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: ETPR/Simon Howden, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-15. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/websites.

Author: Jeremiah J Jameson

End Times Prophecy Report - Publisher and author