Our Body

Our Body

All the worst and all the best that has been done on earth has been carried out with a body just like ours. We have the possibility in us to do either the one or the other.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . . .” Rom. 7:18. This flesh cannot be quiet. “Because the desire of the flesh is enmity against God . . . .” Ch. 8:7. We are tempted by these desires. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Jas. 1:14. Here lies the possibility for sin and death—being separated from God (V. 15); but we also have the possibility of gaining the crown of life. V. 12.

If we live according to the flesh we will die. However, we have received the Holy Spirit, and we can put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. Rom. 8:13.

“So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 7:25, 8:1. I come under condemnation as soon as I serve the law of sin with my mind. But then I am not in Christ either.

“Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” “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.” Rom. 7:20-23.

We do not realize the great effect that sin in the flesh has on us. We see this clearly in James, Chapter 4. All wars and all fights came from the desires that warred in their members. These were believers. They prayed to receive something so they could spend it on their pleasures. How then could they possibly believe that it was profitable to pray to Him who has eyes like flames of fire? It is because they were in darkness and without understanding. James had to shed light into this darkness. Those who had a desire for God’s laws could then be set free from the law of sin in their members by which they had been taken captive. It is not at all difficult to help those who serve the law of God with their mind. The others cannot be helped unless they repent.

We read about Paul and Barnabas who contended sharply about whom to take with them, and so they parted from one another. They had different opinions. It was nothing but sin in the flesh that made them have different opinions in the matter. We can be sure that if they had had glorified bodies, they would not have had this contention between them. But now it was possible to have a different opinion in the matter, because they had a corruptible body with a body of sin. However, if sin in the flesh had gained power over their minds, something evil would have entered their hearts, and they would have become enemies. This did not happen. Their brotherly love remained just as warm.

In Galatians 2:11-14 we read that both Peter and Barnabas played the hypocrite. It was nothing but sin in the flesh that took them captive. Peter was the apostle to the Jews, and this consideration caused him not to see as clearly. Paul, who was the apostle to the Gentiles, saw clearly, and he let the light shine. All of them served the law of God with their minds, so nothing evil was allowed to enter their hearts. Their brotherly love was not shaken. 2 Pet. 3:15.

As the light increases in our life, we see how we have been taken captive by the law of sin in our members, and this gives rise to this sigh, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom. 7:24-25.

All of us who delight in the law of God according to the inward man sigh this sigh as long as we are in the body. However, this is also the amount of time during which we are in development. This is the sigh of an apprentice who finds it impossible to do with his body what he delights to do according to his inward man. Those who are not disciples, who are not in development, and who do not delight in the law of God do not have this sigh. They are quickly satisfied that it is good enough. They only seek to get by as easily as possible. But those who delight in doing good never get it done well enough.

“But we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Rom. 8:23. When are we redeemed from this body of death—this sigh? “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” We are redeemed from it when our body is redeemed, when Jesus comes to fetch His bride.

“We also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit . . . .” The Spirit works with us to present us as a pure virgin to Christ. The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He works with everyone to lead them to Jesus. Most people do not attain to any more than the forgiveness of sins, but we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit have been taken out to be conformed to the image of Christ. We delight in the law of God and do not sigh like a slave who has to do the good, but we have the sigh of a disciple who sighs because it is neither as much nor as good as he desires. We stand in this good fight of faith: the battle of the mind against the other law in our members. The result is victory as the light increases. Consequently, we grow in Christ and the fruits of the Spirit increase in the fellowship of the Spirit. We have this opportunity as long as we are in the body. When we leave our body, our growth, our race, and the good fight of faith come to a halt. The words of God, which have become embodied through our works, will then be our treasure and our glory in all eternity.

May God mightily strengthen us all so we never serve the law of sin with our minds, but rather gain the crown of life in the temptations.