Category Archives: Flesh

Bible, Flesh, Glory, Heaven, Romans, Scripture, Sin

HARD WORDS TO HEAR

ROMANS 8:20

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope”

Do you remember as a child when your parents said, “This is for your own good”? Usually, that involved a spanking or some type of discipline for you to learn by. I never understood (or believed) that until I had children of my own and found myself saying the same thing. Sometimes the only way we can learn valuable lessons is go through a trial or perhaps even discipline. (Hebrews 12:11)

Today’s verse is a little difficult to comprehend at first glance. Can I boil it down for you? As followers of Christ, we are subjected to sin and all the consequences of it. God could have chosen to save us and then take us directly to heaven. Instead, He left us here on earth for a reason. Why would He do that? Didn’t He know it would be difficult for us? Didn’t He know we would fail and lapse into sin from time to time? Didn’t He know we would face discouragement in the midst of these trials?

APPLICATION

You know I reference Albert Barnes a lot in my blogs. Well, he gives some good reasons why God allows us to remain here and to be subjected to sin after we are saved. Look at these examples he gives: “1. Christians are subjected to this state to do good to their fellow sinners. 2. By their remaining here the power of the gospel is shown in overcoming their sin; in meeting their temptations; in sustaining them in trial; and in thus furnishing living evidence to the world of the power and excellency of that gospel. 3. It furnishes occasion for some interesting exhibitions of character – for hope, and faith, and love, and for increasing and progressive excellence. 4. It is a proper training for heaven. 5. It is fit and proper that he should engage here in the service of Him who has redeemed him.”

Now, these examples Barnes gives are not straight from Scripture, but each could be shown true in Scripture. For whatever reason God has chosen to leave us here, it is good because He is good and all that He does is good. We may not understand it now, but we can trust in His goodness. God is preparing us all for a future glory. Doesn’t that give you hope?

As you go through your own life lessons, lean on the truth of God’s Word. He has given us freedom from the penalty of sin and the power to refrain from it. He has not saved us to make us suffer here in our sinful, fleshy bodies. No, He has saved us to be a shining example of His power through fallen man. Trust in His power, not your own, to overcome the sinful desires in your life. He is able!

Lord, I so desire to be with You in glory but use me while I am here to show Your glory to others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Debt, Flesh, Holy Spirit, Romans, Scripture

A CLOSER LOOK

ROMANS 8:12

“So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—”

Sometimes when you see, hear or read something, the real meaning does not come across. In this day of AI, we have to be extremely careful not to believe our first glances of things. What may appear to be real may actually not be true. That principle applies to Scripture as well. You need to look closely at the text and the context of the verse to get the full meaning.

That certainly applies to today’s verse. If you just read this verse by itself, you might think Paul is saying “we are under obligation…to live according to the flesh.” How preposterous is that? Paul would never tell us to do that. He had just been telling us how we are to live in the Spirit. That’s the context (read verses 8:9-11). Our obligation has shifted from death through the flesh to life through the Spirit.

APPLICATION

The Topical Lexicon says, “Believers no longer owe allegiance to fallen desires; their new debt is to live in step with the Spirit who secured their adoption.” Paul tells us in Colossians 2:14 that Christ is the One who has changed our obligation. “having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” That old debt or obligation is dead. Praise the Lord.

I think it’s interesting that the same word used here for “obligation” is used also in Matthew 6:12 where Jesus taught the disciples to pray. He said, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” God has wiped away every debt we ever owed or will owe through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. All we have to do is receive it and follow Him.

What are you in debt to right now? I don’t mean your mortgage or car loan. I mean what do you feel indebted to besides the Spirit of God? We should have no other debtor besides Him. As Paul says in today’s verse. We are not under obligation to the flesh or anything connected to it. We are in debt to the Spirit of God within us. Live like it.

Thank You for freeing me from the debt of sin and giving me a fresh start through Your Spirit.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Flesh, Pleasing, Romans, Scripture, Sin

SHORT AND SWEET

ROMANS 8:8

“and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

I like keeping things short and sweet. I used to teach Houseparents in the Children’s Homes where I worked how to deescalate an unruly child. One of the best ways is to give them clear and concise instructions. You know, the K.I.S.S. philosophy – Keep It Simple Stupid. That probably sounds rude, but that method works with kids. Keep our rules and expectations short and sweet. Why do you think God gave us the ten commandments and not one hundred?

Paul says it very concisely in verse 8 of Romans 8. If you are in the flesh, you cannot please God. The word for “please” is areskó which carries with it the idea of “winning someone’s favor because you are meeting their expectation.” (HELPS Word-studies) The word is used 17 times in the New Testament in reference to pleasing God or pleasing men. One of those should be our priority, right?

APPLICATION

Paul talks about this battle between pleasing God and pleasing men in Galatians 1:10. “For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”  Paul was not concerned with trying to please people. His sole devotion was to pleasing God, even to the point of imprisonment and death.

In Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4:1 he says, “Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more.” Pleasing the Lord should be part of our daily walk, not just on special occasions. I cannot please my wife just on special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. It has to be a daily choice. The same holds true with God.

You have to remember that God knows our very thoughts. He knows our motivations for pleasing Him long before we do or say anything. Pleasing God is a heart decision. That’s why Paul tells us that if we are pleasing the flesh, we will never please God. So, the question is before us. Do we seek to please ourselves, others or God? We have to make a choice. But choose wisely. Don’t try to ride the fence with this decision. Please the One who loves you unconditionally and with an everlasting love.

Father in heaven, forgive me for the times I have sought to please myself or others before You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Flesh, Holy Spirit, Hostilities, Romans, Scripture

WHO ARE YOU AT WAR WITH?

ROMANS 8:7

“because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,”

Wars have been present almost since the creation of mankind. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, man began to lash out at each other. The first record of this is when Cain killed his brother Abel. It has continued through the generations. The chief war is the one with God, when man refuses to bow the knee to the Creator of the universe and fights against the One which he will never defeat.

Paul says very powerfully in today’s verse that when we set our minds on the flesh we are “hostile toward God.” The word used here for “hostile” is echthra. This word is only used six times in the New Testament and refers to hostility towards God and towards others. It can be translated as enmity or hatred. It’s not just a simple little hate. It’s a “personal hostility or deep-seated opposition.” (Topical Lexicon).

APPLICATION

If this is present in your life, whether it is directed toward God or others, you need to take a look at yourself. Is your mind set on the flesh or the Spirit? In James 4:4 we read, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” This is so illustrated in the story about a British porn star who claims to be a Christian but refuses to stop her career in the porn industry. You can reconcile those two. You can’t claim to love God and continue to do the very things His Word says to stop.

Echthra is listed in Galatians 5:20 as one of the works of the flesh. Here it is referring to the personal conflicts we have with one another. Now, listen to me. Sometimes you can’t avoid conflicts with others. I understand that. This word is talking about those persistent conflicts. We are called to be peacemakers whenever possible. Don’t blame your conflicts with others on your temperament. That won’t hold water.

The good news is Christ abolished this enmity. Look at Ephesians 2:15-16. “by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.” If Christ has abolished it, has put it to death, why do we hang on to it. Give up the hate! Give up the hostility! Allow the Spirit of Christ to transform your mind and focus only on Him.

O Lord, it is only through You that I can truly lay down the enmity of my flesh toward others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Flesh, Holy Spirit, Living, Romans, Scripture

IN ACCORD WITH

ROMANS 8:5

“For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

You may have heard the expression, “If you lie down with dogs, expect to get fleas.” Paul even hints at that in 1 Corinthians 15:33 when he writes, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” What you spend your time doing and thinking about is sure to affect how you live. You can choose to think about good things and hang out with good people, or you can choose the opposite which will surely bring your down. Your choice.

Paul speaks now in comparisons to further explain what he has just been talking about in 8:1-4. There are no hidden messages in today’s verse. It is self-explanatory. If you live according to the flesh, it is obvious your thoughts are on the flesh. If you live according to the Spirit, then you must be thinking spiritually. You are what you think. I heard a quote recently that said, “Thoughts Become Words, Words Become Actions, Actions Become Habits, Habits Become Character, Character Becomes Your Destiny.” I believe Paul would have agreed with that.

APPLICATION

There is probably no better explanation of this verse than Galatians 5:19-24 where Paul compares flesh and Spirit. “19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Anyone can read those verses and understand the difference between the two, right? Then why do so many Christians struggle with the flesh, me included? I may not be involved with a sexual sin, but I can sure let my anger loose. That’s not of the Spirit. Do you see anger listed as a fruit of the Spirit? Nope. But Carl, I can’t help getting angry. Untrue. If you are a follower of Christ, the Spirit in you can rid you of it.

I choose today to set my mind on things of the Spirit and not things of the flesh. I have to make that decision every day. If I don’t, that old angry man will rise up. Today name your sin of flesh and give it to the Lord. He will purify you and give you the strength to walk in the Spirit.

Father God, I will choose Spirit over flesh today. Help me guard my lips.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Flesh, Forgiveness, Law, Romans, Scripture

FLESH

ROMANS 8:3

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,”

Man, o man! The older I get, the more I feel my body wearing out. It doesn’t matter that I’ve lost a lot of weight in the past year trying to get healthier. It doesn’t matter that I try to walk about three miles every day and even lift some light weights and do sit ups. My body is wearing out, and I cannot stop it. The sin which entered mankind back at the Garden of Eden has corrupted us and caused us to die little by little. That’s okay. I know where I am going when this old body does finally wear out.

Paul talks about the flesh today in verse 3 of chapter 8. I want you to look carefully, though, at how he uses it. The Greek word is sarx which is translated as flesh, meat of an animal, the body, human nature or human being. It’s used 149 times in the New Testament. It’s not the word itself that I want you to see. It’s how Paul put this sentence together. Let’s take a look.

APPLICATION

Paul starts out by saying, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh,…” He is not saying the Law was fleshly. He is saying those who were supposed to fulfill the requirements of the Law were fleshly men who were not able to keep it. Benson says this about this phrase, “The law was not weak or defective in itself. Its moral precepts were a perfect rule of duty, and its sanctions were sufficiently powerful to enforce obedience in those who were able to obey. But it was weak through the depravity of men’s nature, which it had neither power to remedy nor to pardon; and so could not destroy sin in men’s flesh.”

Then Paul says, “sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…” What?! That’s a crazy idea, right? God, You know men’s flesh is weak, so You decide to send Your Own Son in the flesh? Surely, You just made Your first mistake. Wait just a minute. Look at those words carefully. Paul said, “in the likeness of sinful flesh.” He didn’t say “in the flesh.” Christ was truly fully human, but He was also fully divine. His flesh was just like ours. He had to eat, sleep and drink. But His fleshly body did not contain the corrupt nature of mankind. He was without sin!

And then Paul wraps up this verse by saying, “He condemned sin in the flesh,…” How did God do that? Isaiah 53:6 tells us. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” God took our fleshly, corrupt, bodily sins and laid them all on the sinless, perfect, holy body of Christ. He paid the ultimate price for our sins, for our corrupt flesh. Praise be to God. Hallelujah!

Words will never be adequate to express our gratitude for the sending of Jesus to earth to die for our fleshly sins. Thank You, Lord.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Choices, Flesh, Scripture, Sin, Spiritual

I AM FLESHLY

ROMANS 7:14

“For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin.”

Try as I might, I will never live perfectly. As a human being it is just not possible. I don’t care how much Bible I read or how many hours of the day I pray, I still battle my flesh. That’s why the remainder of Romans 7 really hits home with me. I can relate to Paul’s confession here. Most scholars agree that these verses (14-25) are referring to Paul’s life after Christ, whereas back in verse 7 he was using the past tense of the verb denoting his life before Christ. Hey, if Paul is saying this about himself, I am in good company.

But what a way to start his confession! He says, “but I am fleshly,” To be honest, we can all say that. Paul is not saying he is some extreme fleshly being seeking sin out in every corner. He is simply stating the fact that he is still in the flesh which has all the same old temptations before it. Becoming a Christian did not immediately remove all those “common” sins from Paul no more than it does for us now. As long as we live in this fleshly, human body, we will be in the presence of sin and its influence.

APPLICATION

Great news, Carl. I guess I can just give up then. Now, hang on. We will be analyzing the rest of the chapter a verse at a time as we normally do. We will see what Paul is saying about this dilemma and will see how to apply Paul’s confession to our own. The word used here for “fleshly” is sarkinos which comes from the root sarx. However, this adjective form is referring to the human flesh and not the fleshly behaviors. That is sarkikos. That’s a big difference. Can we all agree that if you are still living and breathing, you are in the flesh? You have a fleshly body.

Sarkinos is used in 1 Corinthians 3:1 when Paul says, “And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ.” He uses the word again in 2 Corinthians 3:3 referring to “human” hearts. “revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

And then we see it used one more time in the New Testament in Hebrews 7:16 where the writer says, “who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.” The word “physical” is sarkinos.  So, in just four verses, we see it translated as fleshly, human and physical. Don’t beat yourself up then. Just because you’re made of human flesh, that doesn’t make you fleshly in behavior. That is your choice. We’ll see more on that later. Today, choose the spiritual over the fleshly.

O Lord, even though I am still in this old human body, I desire to live holy and pure before You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Flesh, Fruit, Law, Scripture, Sin, Unfruitful

BAD FRUITBEARING

ROMANS 7:5

“For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death.”

Farmers know the importance of maintaining their crop. Citrus farmers are constantly battling beetles, flies and blight in order to produce a good crop. They have to be steadily alert to the signs of these intruders on their trees and fruit. Sometimes drastic measures have to be done to product the integrity of the whole grove. They cut down and burn infected trees, so the problem won’t spread. Otherwise, they will get bad fruit instead of good.

Paul tells us that the invasion of sin into our lives that occurred back when Adam and Eve disobeyed God infects us. Unless that “disease” is purged through Jesus, we will never produce good fruit, only bad. Paul even goes on to say “the sinful passions…were at work…to bear fruit for death.” Let’s take a look at some of those “sinful passions” and make sure we are purged from them.

APPLICATION

The phrase “the sinful passions” is literally in the Greek “the passions of sins.” The Greek word for “sins” is the one we have seen before. It is hamartia which means we miss the target which God intends for us to hit – obedience to Him and godly living. The Greek word for “passions” is pathéma which can mean strong emotions or sufferings. In the sixteen times it used in the New Testament, all but two refer to the sufferings of Christ or our sufferings for Christ. Only two times, here in Romans 7:5 and in Galatians 5:24, is pathéma used negatively to refer to sinful passions and desires.

According to HELPS Word-studies, the end of pathéma tells us something about this word. “Note the -ma suffix, emphasizing the end-result (experiencing strong feeling).” Let’s apply that to today’s verse. What is the result of sinful passions? Paul tells us. It’s death. Our lustful passions and desires only lead us downward, not upward.

The other time pathéma is used in Galatians 5:24, Paul writes, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” It is obvious from this verse and today’s verse that these kind of sinful passions and desires were never meant to be part of our walk with Jesus. Examine yourself today. Look at your lifestyle. Is it one of willful obedience to Christ and crucifying your flesh or are you living life to please yourself? Don’t bear bad fruit.

Help me, Father, to be a good fruit bearer for Your kingdom.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Calvary, Cross, Flesh, Sacrifice, Scripture

THE FLESH

ROMANS 1:3

“concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,”

There has been no doubt the past few days that I am living in the flesh. I don’t mean I have been living in sin. I mean my flesh is very delicate. I had some “minor” surgery on my nose that was anything but minor as far as my flesh was concerned. My eye swelled shut and the right side of my face was swollen and bruised. It is amazing just how delicate our flesh can be when it undergoes trauma. (by the way, it’s good to be back with you today)

We are reminded in today’s verse that Jesus, the very Son of God, chose to come in that mortal flesh. His flesh had challenges. I am sure He had cuts and bruises as a carpenter. I am sure His feet hurt from walking long distances. And we all know how His flesh suffered through the scourging and crucifixion. It was important for Paul to remind the recipients of this letter that He had indeed come in the flesh – fully God and fully man.

APPLICATION

According to Albert Barnes, “the expression ‘according to the flesh’ is applied to no other one in the New Testament but to Jesus Christ. Though the word ‘flesh’ often occurs, and is often used to denote man, yet the special expression, ‘according to the flesh’ occurs in no other connection.” I did not realize that until I read it. But it makes complete sense, doesn’t it? We could only come in the flesh, but He could have come without experiencing the flesh. He chose to come that way.

John 1:14 tells us, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John wanted to make it clear also. Remember, John actually walked and talked with Jesus in the flesh. He ate many meals with Him. He watched Him sleep. He watched Him sweat and get tired. And He watched Him die and bleed real blood for us.

Never read that little phrase “according to the flesh” again without thinking about the depths of that choice Jesus made to come in the flesh. He gave up His glory to be with us in the flesh so that He could pay the ultimate price for us on Calvary. Glory, Hallelujah! Praise be to the Lord of lords and King of kings.

O Lord, thank You for sending Your precious Son in the flesh to die for me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Distractions, Flesh, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Walking

KEEP STRAIGHT

PHILIPPIANS 3:16

“however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”

You may have heard the expression “It’s not how high you jump. It’s how straight you walk when you come down.” What in the world does that mean? Well, many in the Christian world focus so much on the emotional aspects of worship. They can jump around, dance, raise their hands and do all other sorts of highly charged things in the name of Christ. Now, I am not going to judge whether those individuals are truly in the Spirit or not. What is important is how straight they walk the rest of the time.

Paul uses a word in this verse that is not fully illustrated by the English words. The phrase “let’s keep living” is the Greek word stoichein. Literally, it can be translated as “to walk straight.” HELPS Word studies defines it this way, “(from stoixos, ‘a row, line, or rank’) – properly, walk in line, in strict accordance to a particular pace (‘stride’); walk in cadence, ‘keep in step.’” Get the picture?

APPLICATION

In Acts 21:24, this word is translated as “walk orderly.” In Romans 4:12, Paul uses it again to say, “…who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.” Then in Galatians 5:25, right after the discourse about the deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit, Paul says, “If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.” You see, it’s not just living in the Spirit. We also have to follow Him, walk straight with Him.

Most mornings I take a walk around my neighborhood. About half of my route includes sidewalks, which I like because it keeps me off the streets and out of the way of cars. Undoubtedly, every morning there will be two or three places where cars have parked across the sidewalk, so I have to veer off course to get around the vehicle. But I am quick to get back on the sidewalk as soon as possible. I just feel safer there.

Hmmm, that could apply here, couldn’t it? There will be times when you or I veer off course for one reason or the other. The flesh is strong and will work against us all the time. We have to be quick to recognize this waywardness and get back on the safe path, the path with Jesus. Keep straight on the narrow path, my friends.

Father God, You are the beacon which lights my path. Help me be quick to see when I am off course.

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