20-Sep-2024 – How to overcome the flesh?
I find then a law that when I would do good, evil is present with me – Romans 7:21.
This is one of the most difficult verses to understand. I too have found it challenging to grasp what Paul is conveying through this portion of his letter. One thing is sure: Paul was writing this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so there is definitely a meaning to uncover. Today, we will seek to understand this by the grace of our God.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man – Romans 7:22.
Here, the inward man represents the conscience. This is not the spirit; Paul is referring to a state where he knows the Law of Moses and firmly understands that he is supposed to follow the commandments of the Law. His conscience knows that he should be in compliance with the Law of God.
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members – Romans 7:23.
Here, his flesh, or the mind habituated to experience the world through the sensory organs, pulls him toward exploring various things of the flesh. It influences him more than his conscience, which aligns with the Law of God.
In this struggle, ultimately, the flesh is always winning, subduing the conscience and leading him to fulfill the desires of the flesh, resulting in guilt for his conscience. In this situation, he finds himself in a very pathetic state. He concludes that it is sin that draws him to fulfill his desires of the flesh. At this point, he continues to convey the way God has opened for everyone to be liberated.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit – Romans 8:1.
Here, we see two aspects of God’s way to enable us and equip us in vulnerable situations like the one described. The sin that influences from within and takes control of the flesh and mind must be addressed. By offering His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as the propitiation for our sins, God paid the penalty for those sins, liberating us from the bondage of sin.
Secondly, God has given us His Holy Spirit to be with us and dwell in us so that the Holy Spirit leads our minds and enables us to use our bodies for the glory of God.
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.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his – Romans 8:9.
If we are in Christ Jesus, we have His Holy Spirit. If we have His Holy Spirit, we have His guidance. When we take His guidance and apply it in any given scenario, we are mortifying the deeds of the flesh, and we are truly living for the glory of God.
So, even though we learn the word of God and study theology, we can only grow to the level where we can build a conscience about God, His desires for us, and what is good in His sight. However, if we are not in Christ Jesus—meaning if we do not accept the truth of our forgiveness through the work on the cross of Calvary and do not obey the commandments of Jesus Christ—we will be overcome by our flesh, which leads us into sin and fulfilling its desires.
But if we are in Christ Jesus by faith, we possess the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and His guidance in every situation. When we follow the instruction of the Holy Spirit rather than the flesh, which is influenced by the world around us, we are mortifying the deeds of the flesh, and we will be blessed as we live for the glory of God.
If you want to please God, you need to have His Spirit and fulfill the commandments of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Dear loving heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and grace. Thank You for teaching us today about an important aspect of our Christian faith journey. Unless I have the Holy Spirit in me, who dwells in me through faith in Christ Jesus, I cannot do anything to please God by overcoming the flesh. Help me to understand this truth and to obey You always. I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!
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