The believer has two natures: the flesh (old) and the Spirit (new). These two natures being opposite as to origin, character, and destiny produces a conflict in the believer (Gal. 5:17).
Salvation is of the Lord. It is God’s responsibility to save us from the flesh and give us His Spirit. He takes us out of Adam and put us in Christ. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Eph. 2:10). He makes us a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). God alone is responsible for our standing in Christ. However, this does not mean that we are without responsibilities in this matter. Christ gave us the victory by His grace but we will not enjoy it if we do not fulfill our responsibilities in the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. While God alone is responsible for our standing in Christ we are responsible for our state in this life (practical daily walk). The goal is to get our state lined up with our standing. Our practical daily walk must be in the power of the Spirit but that will not happen unless we do certain things.
It is God’s responsibility to work in us but it is our responsibility to work out what He works in (Phil. 2:12-13). To “work out” demands activity. It is not possible to be physically healthy without some kind of exercise. Likewise, it is not possible to be godly without spiritual exercise (1 Tim. 4:7).
I. BELIEVE what God Says about the Flesh and the Spirit
The flesh is a SIN nature and in it dwells NO good thing (Rom. 7:18). Religious flesh is just as corrupt as non-religious flesh. The flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:8). The Spirit is a RIGHTEOUS nature and in it dwells NO bad thing (Eph. 4:24). Do you really believe this?
II. RECKON Yourself to be Dead to the Flesh and Alive in the Spirit
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh (referring to the body) I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)
On the cross Christ was baptized into our death (Lk. 12:50) and was raised victorious the third day. Upon salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into Christ and thereby we are identified with Him in death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:3-4). Regardless if you feel this truth or even know this truth it is still the truth. God said the old man is dead. He said that the believer is not in the flesh but in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). It is our responsibility to reckon (to account it so) the flesh to be dead and ourselves to be alive unto God by the Spirit (Rom. 6:11). This is not a matter of feelings but FAITH. If we are guided by our feelings we will never enjoy this truth. It is for us to “believe God”. God has declared this great fact in His word (or we could have never known it); we hear that word; faith believes it, and rejoices in what it hears; and believes God, apart from the question of feeling.
III. MORTIFY the Flesh and Walk in the Spirit
The word “mortify” is only used twice in the Bible and both times by Paul (Rom. 8:12; Col. 3:5). It may sound strange that we are told to mortify the flesh in light of the fact that the flesh is said to be dead already. However, if we understand what the word “mortify” means it makes perfect sense. What does a mortician do? He handles dead bodies. To “mortify” the flesh means that we are treating it as dead (even though it is still present). We don’t do this through the power of the flesh (by self discipline) but “through the Spirit”. The members of our body are not available for sinful deeds when we “mortify the deeds of the body."
If we reckon ourselves to be alive in the Spirit then we should walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). The Christian life is not just about what we don’t do, it is also about what we do.
If we live in the Spirit (STANDING), let us also walk in the Spirit (STATE). (Gal. 5:25)
We walk in the Spirit when we yield to Him in our heart and obey Him in our life. Thus, the spiritual man is right inside and out. We must no longer think with the carnal mind but with the mind of Christ. Thinking with the mind of Christ will cause us to let Christ who lives in us to live through us.
The first three chapters of Ephesians reveal our glorious standing as members of the Body of Christ. The last three chapters exhorts us to WALK WORTHY of that calling!
IV. STARVE the Flesh and FEED the Spirit
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Rom. 13:14)
To make provision is to supply with food. Don’t feed the flesh by constantly catering to its desires (Gal. 6:7-8).
How do we feed the Spirit? There is only one spiritual food that can nourish the new nature- the word of God (1 Pet. 1:23-2:3). We are as filled with the Spirit as we are filled with the word of God (compare Eph. 5:18-21 and Col. 3:16).
Practical suggestions:
1. Turn off the TV/internet and study the Bible
2. Don't think on wrong things but right things (Phil. 4:8)
3. Separate from worldly people and fellowship with spiritual people
4. Don't listen to worldly music but sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to the Lord
5. Don't make recreation a priority over church
6. Don't seek to please self, seek to please the Lord
Salvation is of the Lord. It is God’s responsibility to save us from the flesh and give us His Spirit. He takes us out of Adam and put us in Christ. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Eph. 2:10). He makes us a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). God alone is responsible for our standing in Christ. However, this does not mean that we are without responsibilities in this matter. Christ gave us the victory by His grace but we will not enjoy it if we do not fulfill our responsibilities in the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. While God alone is responsible for our standing in Christ we are responsible for our state in this life (practical daily walk). The goal is to get our state lined up with our standing. Our practical daily walk must be in the power of the Spirit but that will not happen unless we do certain things.
It is God’s responsibility to work in us but it is our responsibility to work out what He works in (Phil. 2:12-13). To “work out” demands activity. It is not possible to be physically healthy without some kind of exercise. Likewise, it is not possible to be godly without spiritual exercise (1 Tim. 4:7).
I. BELIEVE what God Says about the Flesh and the Spirit
The flesh is a SIN nature and in it dwells NO good thing (Rom. 7:18). Religious flesh is just as corrupt as non-religious flesh. The flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:8). The Spirit is a RIGHTEOUS nature and in it dwells NO bad thing (Eph. 4:24). Do you really believe this?
II. RECKON Yourself to be Dead to the Flesh and Alive in the Spirit
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh (referring to the body) I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)
On the cross Christ was baptized into our death (Lk. 12:50) and was raised victorious the third day. Upon salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into Christ and thereby we are identified with Him in death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:3-4). Regardless if you feel this truth or even know this truth it is still the truth. God said the old man is dead. He said that the believer is not in the flesh but in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). It is our responsibility to reckon (to account it so) the flesh to be dead and ourselves to be alive unto God by the Spirit (Rom. 6:11). This is not a matter of feelings but FAITH. If we are guided by our feelings we will never enjoy this truth. It is for us to “believe God”. God has declared this great fact in His word (or we could have never known it); we hear that word; faith believes it, and rejoices in what it hears; and believes God, apart from the question of feeling.
III. MORTIFY the Flesh and Walk in the Spirit
The word “mortify” is only used twice in the Bible and both times by Paul (Rom. 8:12; Col. 3:5). It may sound strange that we are told to mortify the flesh in light of the fact that the flesh is said to be dead already. However, if we understand what the word “mortify” means it makes perfect sense. What does a mortician do? He handles dead bodies. To “mortify” the flesh means that we are treating it as dead (even though it is still present). We don’t do this through the power of the flesh (by self discipline) but “through the Spirit”. The members of our body are not available for sinful deeds when we “mortify the deeds of the body."
If we reckon ourselves to be alive in the Spirit then we should walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). The Christian life is not just about what we don’t do, it is also about what we do.
If we live in the Spirit (STANDING), let us also walk in the Spirit (STATE). (Gal. 5:25)
We walk in the Spirit when we yield to Him in our heart and obey Him in our life. Thus, the spiritual man is right inside and out. We must no longer think with the carnal mind but with the mind of Christ. Thinking with the mind of Christ will cause us to let Christ who lives in us to live through us.
The first three chapters of Ephesians reveal our glorious standing as members of the Body of Christ. The last three chapters exhorts us to WALK WORTHY of that calling!
IV. STARVE the Flesh and FEED the Spirit
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Rom. 13:14)
To make provision is to supply with food. Don’t feed the flesh by constantly catering to its desires (Gal. 6:7-8).
How do we feed the Spirit? There is only one spiritual food that can nourish the new nature- the word of God (1 Pet. 1:23-2:3). We are as filled with the Spirit as we are filled with the word of God (compare Eph. 5:18-21 and Col. 3:16).
Practical suggestions:
1. Turn off the TV/internet and study the Bible
2. Don't think on wrong things but right things (Phil. 4:8)
3. Separate from worldly people and fellowship with spiritual people
4. Don't listen to worldly music but sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to the Lord
5. Don't make recreation a priority over church
6. Don't seek to please self, seek to please the Lord
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