Christian who does not know what the flesh is, thinking that all evil and sin comes from the flesh. And thought that good and kind acts come from the Spirit of God. Therefore, ignorant Christian often thinks that sinning (disobedience and breaking the law) is from the flesh. Hence, most ignorant Christians associate behaviour as an indication of repentance (good behaviour equals a Christian who has repented and bad behaviour equals a false Christian who was not saved).
Have you considered this? A non-Christian (gentile) from all other religions who has never accepted Jesus, never born again, does NOT have the Spirit of God and still the sinner is capable of doing charitable works, good works, kind acts and sacrifice self for others. From this, we can conclude that the flesh (which is part of the unsaved sinner) is capable of EVIL and GOOD works.
If good works is a sign of repentance and salvation, doesn’t that qualify a non-Christian who has done lots of good work entry into Heaven? But the answer is NO. According to the bible, nothing good comes from the flesh.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
And that includes the righteous deeds and acts from the flesh.
Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all OUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away
The flesh is like a two-edged sword, sin/disobedience on one edge and good works/righteous acts on the other edge.
When you are sinning, you will feel condemn and distant yourself from God and church.
When you are doing good works and righteous, you will feel good, pride will start to increase. And you will stop depending on God until your next sin or fall.
Both sides of the flesh will cut like a two-edged sword.
What is the Spirit of God?
The Spirit of God is a totally foreign entity that is not part of us. The spirit of God has a will of its own. When a person is born again and received the Holy Spirit, it indwells the Christian.
Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The Spirit of God and the flesh are two different entities in a Christian. They are constantly at war with each other.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
How to know that you are operating in the Flesh or the Spirit?
The flesh is part of us. When we operate in the flesh, we will be depending on ourselves.
Why does the flesh sins? It is due to the lack of faith in God. When we depend on ourselves, we take the faith in God and put it on ourselves.
Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and EVERYTHING THAT DOES NOT COME FROM FAITH IS SIN.
Because of the lack of faith in God, we will start to doubt (whether God will or even willing to provide?).
Doubting lead to worry (we will start to formulate our own plans).
Worrying lead to fear (when our plans failed).
Fear lead to sin (we will use unorthodox methods such as lying, cheating, stealing and etc).
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Doubting is unbelieving and it ends in fear. A doubtful and fearful heart is the mother and the start of sins. In Revelation 21:8, God puts the fearful and unbelieving as the first group into hell.
Are you feeling weary and burdened to please God? If yes, then you are depending on your flesh (self-effort, self-determination, self-sacrifice and yourself) to obey. Everything depending on self is of the flesh.
During Jesus’ ministry on earth (except when he was carrying our sins), there was NO mention of Jesus feeling worried, anxious, stressed and fearful when he was facing an impossible situation with no solution. Instead, Jesus was always restful, relaxed, calm and gentle.
Why it is so? It is because Jesus did not depend on himself. Jesus did NOT plan ahead (Remember, the Holy Spirit is a different entity from our mind and body. If we plan ahead, we are depending on our own intelligence and abilities).
Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
The only preparation work that Jesus did was to pray. Jesus flowed with the Spirit of God and did what he saw his Father did through the Spirit. If God the Father completed the task, there is no doubt that it will be completed physically when we embark on the assigned task.
John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
Even though Jesus’ 3.5 years of ministry on earth was tough and impossible (in the eye of man), he said that his yoke is easy and burden is light. Jesus flowed with the Spirit of God and did what was assigned to him by God (there are many good works to be done but not all good works are assigned) and he did it with the empowerment of the Spirit of God (when God assign a task, he will go in advance to make preparation in the situation and hearts of the people involved.)
Have you removed your old yoke (the yoke of the law which is designed to be uphold and obey by the flesh) and put on Jesus’ yoke (the yoke of grace which is lots of prayer and flowing with the Holy Spirit and empowerment from God)?
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Have you considered this? A non-Christian (gentile) from all other religions who has never accepted Jesus, never born again, does NOT have the Spirit of God and still the sinner is capable of doing charitable works, good works, kind acts and sacrifice self for others. From this, we can conclude that the flesh (which is part of the unsaved sinner) is capable of EVIL and GOOD works.
If good works is a sign of repentance and salvation, doesn’t that qualify a non-Christian who has done lots of good work entry into Heaven? But the answer is NO. According to the bible, nothing good comes from the flesh.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
And that includes the righteous deeds and acts from the flesh.
Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all OUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away
The flesh is like a two-edged sword, sin/disobedience on one edge and good works/righteous acts on the other edge.
When you are sinning, you will feel condemn and distant yourself from God and church.
When you are doing good works and righteous, you will feel good, pride will start to increase. And you will stop depending on God until your next sin or fall.
Both sides of the flesh will cut like a two-edged sword.
What is the Spirit of God?
The Spirit of God is a totally foreign entity that is not part of us. The spirit of God has a will of its own. When a person is born again and received the Holy Spirit, it indwells the Christian.
Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The Spirit of God and the flesh are two different entities in a Christian. They are constantly at war with each other.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
How to know that you are operating in the Flesh or the Spirit?
The flesh is part of us. When we operate in the flesh, we will be depending on ourselves.
Why does the flesh sins? It is due to the lack of faith in God. When we depend on ourselves, we take the faith in God and put it on ourselves.
Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and EVERYTHING THAT DOES NOT COME FROM FAITH IS SIN.
Because of the lack of faith in God, we will start to doubt (whether God will or even willing to provide?).
Doubting lead to worry (we will start to formulate our own plans).
Worrying lead to fear (when our plans failed).
Fear lead to sin (we will use unorthodox methods such as lying, cheating, stealing and etc).
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Doubting is unbelieving and it ends in fear. A doubtful and fearful heart is the mother and the start of sins. In Revelation 21:8, God puts the fearful and unbelieving as the first group into hell.
Are you feeling weary and burdened to please God? If yes, then you are depending on your flesh (self-effort, self-determination, self-sacrifice and yourself) to obey. Everything depending on self is of the flesh.
During Jesus’ ministry on earth (except when he was carrying our sins), there was NO mention of Jesus feeling worried, anxious, stressed and fearful when he was facing an impossible situation with no solution. Instead, Jesus was always restful, relaxed, calm and gentle.
Why it is so? It is because Jesus did not depend on himself. Jesus did NOT plan ahead (Remember, the Holy Spirit is a different entity from our mind and body. If we plan ahead, we are depending on our own intelligence and abilities).
Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
The only preparation work that Jesus did was to pray. Jesus flowed with the Spirit of God and did what he saw his Father did through the Spirit. If God the Father completed the task, there is no doubt that it will be completed physically when we embark on the assigned task.
John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
Even though Jesus’ 3.5 years of ministry on earth was tough and impossible (in the eye of man), he said that his yoke is easy and burden is light. Jesus flowed with the Spirit of God and did what was assigned to him by God (there are many good works to be done but not all good works are assigned) and he did it with the empowerment of the Spirit of God (when God assign a task, he will go in advance to make preparation in the situation and hearts of the people involved.)
Have you removed your old yoke (the yoke of the law which is designed to be uphold and obey by the flesh) and put on Jesus’ yoke (the yoke of grace which is lots of prayer and flowing with the Holy Spirit and empowerment from God)?
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
