Combat , the spirit v the flesh

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,

for that he also is flesh:

yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus the Lord made known


“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
‭‭John‬ ‭3:3, 5-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The apostle Paul explaining by revelation firther concepts based on what we’ve learned from the Bible before Paul

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ( in conflict and opposition )

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:1-2, 5-7, 9-10, 12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The purpose of this is to show that Paul’s talking about concepts always established.

like all his doctrine of “ the spirit and flesh “ began being established in genesis forward and we need to consider what those things mean first, to really ever understand what Paul’s revealing about those things in his epistles.

there’s sort of a structure the ot shows a pattern and design ,and the eventual problem . the gospel reveals the truth and the answers then the epistles reveal more applicable and Intricate details of those answers.

forminstance jesus says “ believe the gospel and get baptized in my name for remission of sins and be saved “ and then Paul writes about four chapters worth in various epistles explaining baptisms purpose and function for and within a believer.

what was sort of just general statement to begin with in the beginning through time unfolds for us in scripture through Jesus and the apostles the Bible is quite intelligently designed and structured to support itself as we learn it with the foundation of Moses and the prophets , fulfilled by the gospel and Jesus Christ and then witnessed and explained to the church and sent to the world by the apostles of Jesus and various witnesses for the purpose of saving believers

The Bible has a lot to say about both.
False doctrine begins down that slippery slope when teaching takes one isolated passage and applies it to the entire New Testament or "dispensation" for those who divide the Bible in any number of ways according to their background.

This morning's devotions were in Galatians Chapter 5.

It covered the battle between the flesh and the spirit.
The flesh refers to the works of the flesh as opposed to physically fighting or escaping someone intent on harming you.

yeah if we just believe what’s already there and ask God he will make us to understand it because we believe in him forst we never really need to add to or take away from what’s there just to understand it is all I’m saying and getting at

The gospel doesn’t have any “ dispensation “ it’s valid from when Jesus died and rose till he returns at the end. And really all of scripture testifies To it

Everything all time leads to Jesus and the gospel

both what ? The spirit and flesh ? Yes I agree as you progress in time in becomes more and more revealed Paul is explaining what it all means for us

well it sort of says what it’s referring to not fighting but this

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

it’s just a pretty long list of sinful lustful ideas and behaviors Adultery fornocation ect it just plainly says Paul just plainly says “ this is what I mean by the works of the flesh ……you can’t live like this anymore “

i always like to just read it and let it be true and edifying and change my mind

Galatians 5:22-24

For those interested you can find a bit of a study on the "works of the flesh" (and "fruit of the Spirit") Here

The apostle Paul is such an excellent writer, and he hits a home run here describing the fruits of the Spirit.

These fruits best sum up the character and attributes of our God, and Jesus manifested these perfectly during His life.

It's amazing to be a tree in God's garden who has been transformed from a tree of good and evil (the works of the flesh) to a tree of life, which yields beautiful fruit that glorifies God and edifies those who partake of the blessings God produces through us.

It's a "longsuffering" and often painful process having the works of the flesh purged out of us to allow God to shine more brightly through us by the power of the Holy Spirit, but it sure is a powerful and profound experience as well!

Amen. So we need to make sure that the spiritual part of us is “boss“ over the flesh part of us—always listening to Jesus’ voice when we are tempted to go along with the crowd. And the Holy Spirit will always guide and keep us on the right path.

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

- Psalm 119:101-105 (KJV)

I think that the gospel is valid from when Jesus started to preach the kingdom he heaven;

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luk 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

Nice opening post, BTW,

Blessings

Wow this is an excellent and k sight ful and very agreeable and relatable post thank you for sharing your thoughts they are fresh water

Yes Paul is my favorite author of all time to be honest. The creativity and a skill God gave him to elaborate on so many points of the prophets and law and gospel and bring them into human thinking with his imagery and just the quality of content and accuracy as to what Jesus and the prophets had said before him he truly is a gem in the scriptures and immense value of understsnding exudes from each epistle he wrote by the spirit of the lord



a refiners fire and a fullers soap , but who can abide brother ?

It’s interesting the terminology used by Jesus like a garden he must use tbat twenty times in his teachings showing himself as the patient gardener dealing carefully with plants and trees , or a shepherd who’s protecting and leading his sheep ect

i really like peters writing also and John wow he has his own unique style and perspective that clarifies so much of what Paul writes and Peter writes

the Bible is really able to convince us if only we remain between its pages

Yes it began to be fulfilled when Jesus was born

but its always been preached and able to save believers like for instance abraham is part of the same family as Christian’s , hiers to the same righteousness of faith

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:6-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

see your right about this part and I agree

“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But even Abraham heard of and believed in and is of the gospel of the kingdom Jesus was preaching later Abraham’s faith and our faith in Jesus Christ make us of the same family of God

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:26-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The promise is the same and always was there for believers but it wasn’t revealed in scriptire until later when Jesus came is the thing it was always true but wasn’t made known yet

“which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the new testsment reveals the things hidden in the old that always were

I think you might find the link below interesting, it is about understanding the Kingdom through the ages, I certainly found it interesting.

https://tms.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tmsj23j.pdf

BLessings,

“And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬


thanks I’ll check it out , God bless

No doubt, Pilgrim...

Acts 2

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

I love the imagery of both wind and fire being associated with the Holy Spirit, and that "refiners fire" is now at work within us to burn away the bad chaff and fire up the good stuff to produce fired-up Christians who are driven like Jesus to do God's will and finish His work in each of our lives!

Of course, I have a huge pile of chaff that needs to be burned within me for sure...

That is the challenge, isn't it. Keeping that "old man" in check is more than I can handle by myself (way too many temptations out there and within me as well). I am in continual prayer asking the Lord to keep that beast under control.

amen to that indeed

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?

for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Which shall prepare thy way before thee.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:1-2, 4, 14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the gospel is a refiners fire and a fullers soap able to go onto our hearts because we hear and believe and cleanse and purify us it’s how God works within us who believe to change us at the core

hearing and believing

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:3-4, 6-7, 11-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if we grasped this it would lead here to this faith

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Much of my life I fought against the old man but then I can’t remember exactly when or how , but I heard the question “ why are you lifting up and holding up this dead man just in order to fight with him ?”

Death of sinners and life for the children of God

I love the old phrase, "rotten at the core." It is so fitting for the root cause of all of our problems as human beings, individually and collectively.

Our choice to turn away from God and try to live our lives without Him has been a colossal failure since the fall in the Garden. And, we can't fix that by our own power. We need to surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to change our hearts and minds to become more like Jesus:

Ezekiel 36:26-27 King James Version (KJV)
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.