The Existence of the Flesh — The Spiritual Man

The Existence of the Flesh

We must take note that although the flesh can be rendered powerless—“destroyed” in Romans 6:6, meaning "made ineffective"—it still exists. It is a great error to think one can eliminate the presence of the sinful nature, to uproot the flesh from within us. Such a teaching leads to delusion. The life imparted by regeneration does not change the flesh; being crucified with Christ does not cause the flesh to disappear; the indwelling Holy Spirit does not compel one to cease walking according to the flesh. The flesh—or what some call the carnal nature—remains present within the believer. Whenever the believer fulfills the conditions for it to operate, it immediately springs into action.

We have already seen how closely the body and the flesh are united. Therefore, until we are delivered from this body, we cannot be freed from our flesh in such a way that it becomes incapable of action. "What is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6, NRSVue). Because we are born into bodies corrupted by Adam's fall, and because they have not yet been transformed, the flesh cannot be uprooted from within us. Our bodies are not yet redeemed (Rom 8:23, NRSVue); this redemption will take place when the Lord Jesus returns (1 Cor 15:22–23, 42–44, 51–56; 1 Thess 4:14–18; Phil 3:20–21, NRSVue). As long as we are in the body, we must remain vigilant against the works of the flesh within it.

We should recognize that even in our conduct, at best we may only resemble Paul, who said, “Indeed, we live as humans but do not wage war according to human standards” (2 Cor 10:3, NRSVue). Because he still had a body, he still lived “in the flesh,” but because the flesh and its nature are utterly corrupt, he did not “wage war according to the flesh.” He acted within the flesh, but not “according to the flesh” (Rom 8:4, NRSVue). Until the believer is freed from the body, they cannot be freed from the flesh. Materially, the believer still lives in the flesh (Gal 2:20, NRSVue); spiritually, they must “not wage war according to the flesh.” If Paul still had the flesh and could—but chose not to—fight according to it, who can say they are free from the flesh? Therefore, the cross and the Spirit must never be separated.

This is of great importance, for without this understanding, believers may fall into hypocrisy or sloth, imagining that their flesh no longer exists, that they are completely sanctified and need not be watchful. But here is a fact: the children born to regenerated and sanctified parents are still of the flesh and must be born again like all others. No one can say that the children of sanctified believers do not need to be born again. Jesus said, “What is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6, NRSVue). If the child is flesh, then the parents must also be flesh, for only flesh can give birth to flesh. The fleshly nature of children proves that the parents have not been freed from the flesh. Saints transmit their fallen nature to their children because they possess it themselves. They cannot transmit the divine nature received at regeneration, because it is not inherently theirs; it is received individually by grace from God. That believers’ children inherit a sinful nature proves that the sinful nature remains in the saints.

Thus, a new creation in Christ has not, in this life, been restored to Adam’s state before the fall. If nothing else, the fact that their body has not yet been redeemed (Rom 8:23, NRSVue) proves this. A new creation still has a sinful nature and a fleshly body. Sometimes their feelings and desires are not only imperfect but even lower than those of sinless Adam. Unless the flesh is uprooted from within a person, they cannot have perfect feelings, desires, or love. One cannot reach a state where sin is impossible, for the flesh still exists. If a believer fails to walk according to the Spirit and gives space to the flesh, it will regain dominion.

Yet we must not underestimate the salvation accomplished by Christ. Scripture tells us in many places that those born of God do not sin. This means that one born of God and filled with God has no inclination to sin—it does not mean that sin is absolutely impossible. When we say “wood does not sink,” we mean it has no tendency to sink, not that it is absolutely impossible. Soaking it in water long enough or pushing it down with a child’s hand may still cause it to sink. But wood by nature does not sink. Likewise, God saves us to the extent that we have no tendency toward sin, but He does not save us to a point where sin is impossible. If a believer still has inclinations toward sin, this proves they are still of the flesh and have not received full salvation. While the Lord Jesus removes our inclination to sin, we must still be vigilant, for the influence of the world and the temptations of Satan still make sin possible.

The believer must understand that on one hand, they are a new creation in Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within their spirit, the death of Jesus is active in them, and they possess a sanctified life. On the other hand, they still have the sinful flesh—they can still feel its presence and its defilement. Their sanctified life exists because, by the Holy Spirit, they use the death of Christ to put to death the deeds of the body, rendering the flesh inactive. It is not because the flesh no longer exists. The fact that believers transmit the sinful nature to their children shows clearly that what we now have is not the natural perfection of sinless Adam, and that the presence of the flesh does not prevent the believer from being sanctified.

Every believer must admit that even the most sanctified have moments of weakness: sinful thoughts may unintentionally enter the mind, careless words may slip out, the will may resist submission to the Lord, and self-reliant thoughts may arise—all these are the works of the flesh. If believers submit to the rule of Christ and make no provision for the flesh, they can experience prolonged victory over it. Every believer must know that the flesh can regain power at any time. The flesh has not been removed from the body, but the body, being presented to the Lord (Rom 6:13, NRSVue), is no longer under the flesh’s control but under the Lord’s. If we walk by the Spirit—that is, refuse to let sin reign in our bodies (Rom 6:12, NRSVue)—then no matter what temptations come, they cannot cause us to stumble, and we remain free. A body not ruled by the sinful nature is free to be a temple of the Holy Spirit and a vessel for God's work.

The way to obtain freedom is the way to maintain it: by saying a life-and-death “yes” to God and a life-and-death “no” to the flesh, by accepting the death of Christ and thus gaining freedom. As long as we are still in the body, this “yes” to God and “no” to the flesh must be ongoing. No believer can reach a state in this life where they are no longer tempted by the flesh. Therefore, spiritual discernment, watchfulness, prayer—and sometimes fasting—are necessary so that one may know how to walk by the Spirit.

But believers must not lower God’s purpose or their own hope. Though it is possible to sin, it is absolutely not permissible. The Lord Jesus has already died for us and has crucified our flesh with Him. The Holy Spirit now dwells in us to manifest in us what Christ has accomplished. We have the full possibility of living free from the flesh’s rule. Its continued existence is a call to vigilance, not to surrender. The cross has fully crucified the flesh. If we are willing to rely on the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body, we will experience the triumph of the cross: “So then, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:12–13, NRSVue). Since God has provided such grace and deliverance, if we still live according to the flesh, the fault is entirely ours. We are no longer debtors to the flesh—we owe it nothing. If we choose to live according to the flesh, it is because we choose to, not because we must.

Among many saints who are mature in life, there have been long periods of complete victory. Though the flesh remains, its power is practically null. Its life, nature, and activity have been put to death by the believer through the Holy Spirit, using the death of Christ, so that the flesh reaches a point where it is as if it does not exist. Because the work of putting to death is so deep and so real, and because the believer’s walk in the Spirit is so faithful and consistent, the flesh, though still present, is utterly powerless—as if it could not even rouse itself to tempt the believer. This complete victory over the flesh is attainable by every believer.

Here now is a warning: “for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13, NRSVue). Because salvation is complete, to reject this salvation is inexcusable. Everything hinges on these two “ifs.” God has done all He can—He has accomplished everything. Now it depends on how man responds. Even if you are born again, “if you live according to the flesh, you will die”—you will lose your spiritual vitality and live as though dead. But “if by the Spirit” you live, you too must die—but die in the death of Christ. If you use Christ’s death to put to death all the works of the flesh, that is truly death. But if you refuse this death, you will die another way—you must die one way or another. Which death will it be? If the flesh lives, the Spirit (in practical experience) cannot live. Which will you choose to live? God has arranged that all the power and activity of your flesh be placed under the power of the cross of Christ. What we lack is not life, but death. We should speak less of life and more of death, for without death there is no resurrection. Will we submit to God's will? Will we allow Christ’s cross to be tested in our lives? If so, then let us rely on the Spirit to put to death every deed of the body.