You Are Not in the Flesh

You Are Not in the Flesh

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh . . . .” These are all the earthly things. “But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Rom. 8:5. These are all the heavenly things, where Jesus is. Col. 3:1-3.

You have a flesh whether you are in the flesh or not; it is the same for all of us. If you are in the flesh, being tempted is the same as sinning; your mind desires the same thing your lusts desire. However, it is not so sure that you do everything your lusts desire; you have to consider other people and your reputation. If you are a believer, you also have to take care of a religious reputation. You can gain a certain external victory, but not in your thought life. Sin is not only in your flesh, but also in your heart. You desire.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit . . . .” Rom. 8:9. Then you do not desire what the flesh desires. You hate it. Then you do not think of your reputation among people. You hate the flesh with its passions and desires, which proves that you have sin in the flesh but not in your heart. Then you will also gain the victory in your thought life.

“But I am carnal, sold under sin.” Rom. 7:14. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . . .” V. 18. “Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” V. 20. “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Vs. 21-22.

We need to bear this division, which Paul writes about, clearly in mind to be able to fight the good fight of faith with certainty, and not beat the air. If a person is in the flesh, he desires earthly things, and this division does not exist in his life. He does not know if it is he himself or the sin that dwells in him that has committed the deed. He feels impure because he knows in his heart that he desires the things of the flesh. Then the battle is a battle in the heart about how much or how little he shall deny his desires for earthly things. This is not sanctification.

Paul did not fight this battle; neither do the saints in our days. This matter has been settled once and for all. We are not at all indebted to our lusts; the world as well as the things in the world are counted as rubbish. When Paul writes that he does things he hates, he also says, “For what I am doing, I do not know.” Here he speaks about going from light to light. He could not hate something he did not know he was doing. He says: “The one who wills to do good.” Here it was not a question of how much good he had to do or how easily he could avoid doing it. Not at all! He wanted to do the good, just like someone who wants to be a fine artist. He cannot get it done well enough, for he sees another law in his members that strives against the law of his mind and takes him captive. The evil is present with him. He is waging war against the other law of his members until he is perfect. A fine artist will never become that. He will always find something he hates. He always sees something more glorious than what he is able to do. By practicing, he is changed into the image of what he sees. The other law in his members is put to death, the light increases, and the battle continues as long as he lives.

This is what Paul writes: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Phil. 3:12.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18.

This is the life Paul describes in Romans 7, and he says further in Chapter 8:13, “But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” He did not agree to these works with his mind. They did not come from his heart and make him impure. If that were the case, he would not have been in the Spirit and could not have put it to death. It was the other law in his members. They were deeds of the body, just as every disciple does what he hates. Now we have been endued with power from on high and can, by the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body as we go from light to light. This is what it means to walk in the light with the result that we always have something from which to cleanse ourselves. 1 John 1:7, 3:3.

Therefore Paul says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you . . . . Do all things without murmuring and disputing.” Phil. 2:12-14. We can work as long as God is working. Then it is still the time of grace. Therefore it is vital that we give all diligence to add to our faith virtue. These things have to increase. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure . . . .” 2 Pet. 1:5, 10.

A half-hearted person cannot live this life. Such people never come to the point that this division takes place in their life. Paul says, “One thing I do.” I pursue the goal. It is not enough until the disciple becomes like his Master. Pursue sanctification, for without sanctification no one will see God. We have to think about our sanctification in life’s difficulties and not about earthly things. Then we will reach the goal of being with Jesus in the rapture, but not otherwise. This is the mind of the bride. She is apprehended of Christ.