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Flesh (2)
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Flesh (2)
sarx
As noted yesterday, there is within us “the higher” and “the
lower” (Romans 7). The question now is, “How does ‘the higher’
rule? How do we deal with those passions and impulses that
remain?”
Indeed, if Paul had stopped with Romans 7, we would have cause
for deep depression. But he didn’t stop there. In Romans 8 he
reveals the truth that the indwelling Holy Spirit provides the
victory over the flesh. In fact, “the flesh” is never mentioned
in chapter 8 without the Holy Spirit also being mentioned
(Rom_8:1, Rom_8:3-5, Rom_8:8-9, Rom_8:12-13).
We have, therefore, been freed from sin in two ways: freed from
the old man positionally by the past action of Christ (Romans
6) and then experientially from the flesh by the indwelling
Holy Spirit (Romans 7-8).
Ponder this: We do not have the inability to sin, but we do
have the ability not to sin. Did you get it? Have we reached
sinless perfection? Have we reached the point where we no
longer sin? Certainly not. But we still have the ability not to
sin, we can still claim the victory over sin by the power of
the Holy Spirit. No longer can we say, “I just couldn’t help
it.” Yes, we can “help it” because of the Holy Spirit. Even
though our passions and impulses are strong, we can claim the
victory. Again, we are not sinless, but we do “sin less.”
As 1Co_10:13 declares: “There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with
the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able
to bear it.” God promises that temptation to sin will never
overwhelm us, that our passions and impulses do not control
us.
How often do we try to run and hide from the sins that defeat
us? But that is the wrong approach. We can and must face our
passions and impulses. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we can
say to those impulses, “I’m not afraid of you. I’m not going to
run away from you. I claim God’s power in my life to deliver me
from myself. I’m not the old man, so I’m not going to act like
the old man.”
Scriptures for Study: Read Rom_8:1-13, noting how the Holy
Spirit is mentioned in regard to victory over the
flesh.
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