Diane1 knew her young child Ashley2 had a hearing problem. To sudden noises, Ashley often had no jump response—no sudden muscle reflex—and she would act out in exasperation at not understanding or being understood. Strong willed by nature, Ashley was also generally less than cooperative with auditory testing, which added to the overall frustration. When finally an audiologist was able to diagnose Ashley as having moderate to severe hearing loss, Diane, to the doctor’s surprise, rejoiced, “Good! Now I know what we’re dealing with. Now we have something to work with.” What a healthy, positive response!
Our spiritual journey, likewise, has its own frustrations. Paul’s symptoms reflect ours: “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”3 Can you help me, Doc? Is there a diagnosis, so we can have something to work with? Yes, in fact, there is: it is called, “the flesh,” or in this context, our “sin nature.” It is the natural human inclination toward sin. Think of it as the self-willed part of us that wants to live life on our terms and not God’s. And in his letters to the Romans and the Galatians, especially, Paul exposes the flesh for what it is . . .
“I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.”4 Good! Now I know what I’m dealing with.
“The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”5 Good! Now I know the futility of spiritual self-reliance.
“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.”6 Good! Now I can trace these ominous symptoms to their fleshy root.
“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.”7 Good! The choice is clear—my flesh, or God’s Spirit.
It is good to come to the truth of a matter, even if only to understand more clearly our situation. Then where do we go from here? How do we move from futile to fruitful? We’ll discuss this next time. For now, rejoice in the freedom of knowing we cannot live the Christian life by our own wisdom or in our own power. God has a better, freer way forward. See you next week.
Father, thank you for your Word; it is wisdom and power, rest and joy. Send your Spirit to us, your church, and lead us ever in your way and always for your glory. In Christ we pray. Amen.
1, 2 This name is changed for privacy purposes.
3 Romans 7:18-19 ESV
4 Romans 7:18 ESV
5 Romans 8:7 ESV
6 Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
7 Galatians 5:17 ESV
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