Introduction

‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.’ Romans 8:1-8

The term ‘flesh’ is used several times in the New Testament as opposed to the Spirit and in reference to carnality. In most of Paul’s letters, he pictures the flesh from the viewpoint of weakness, thus rendering it the doorway to sin.

To the Christians in Rome, Paul says: ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit…… for those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires’.

To those in Galatia, Paul listed the works of the flesh (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like) Galatians 5:19-21. He further reiterated that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ describes us as salt and light. There is no compatibility between light and darkness, therefore, to walk in the light of God will imply to walk ‘not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

‘If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.’ Galatians 5:15-16

Prayer

Holy God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we humbly ask that You strengthen us with Your righteous arm so that we may help others to see the light of the gospel in us, as we walk according to the dictates of Your Spirit.