Monday, May 28, 2012

The Flesh is Irreparable

Maybe you can relate; there is nothing about the flesh, the sinful man, the sinful nature, this body of death that is repairable! I have been walking with Jesus (by his grace) for years and years and years, now; one would think that the further in we get, the easier fighting sin would get. But that was the whole point of this:

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ..." ~Romans 8:3 (ESV)

The flesh remains ugly, deceptive, and gross (don't kid yourselves!); we need to do this,

11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13  Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness...." Romans 6:11-13 (ESV)
Sorry, I often am writing to myself with my posts; if this happens to encourage you, then that is even more of a blessing! 

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6 comments:

  1. DUANE WATTSMay 28, 2012 at 11:12 AM

    Yes, Bobby, you are writing to me too.
    So what is this Wesleyan or Pentacostal holiness I keep hearing about? They write as if the Spirit imparts some tangible strength to oppose sin. I have never experienced anything as decisive as that. I daily, and most days, hour by hour struggle with sin.
    This has Christological implications as well. Jesus who had the Spirit without measure, would by logical extention, have felt very little pull by the temptations around us. So much for "...in all ways tempted as are we".
    And Paul, or Peter, or John never spoke as ever having arrived into "holiness".
    Now to me, "holiness" means "sinlessness", not being sinful, at least most of the time.
    Perhaps a pentacostal or John Wesley should disabuse me of my definition.
    Finally, I know that we Are sinless by being united with Christ, by virtue of His holiness, but I believe that is an entirely different category than the holiness people refer to. Do they experience more victory over sin that we who are encarnated?

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    1. Bobby GrowMay 31, 2012 at 10:51 AM

      I think we do have tangible strength to fight sin, the epistle to the Romans argues exactly that!

      But perfectionism, the holiness pentecostal teaching you are noting, is a lie; at least according to I Jn 2.

      We do have power over sin though, Duane; scripture is clear about that!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMay 29, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    You're right, Bobby. I remember being surprised again and again by my flesh and wondering why it was always "crouching at the door," fresh and well-rested every morning, ready to go again. But then I started realizing there really was nothing good in my flesh (cf. Ro. 7:18) and that it was not able to subject itself to the law of God (cf. Ro. 8:7). At least now I'm not as shocked at myself when my flesh makes its presence known. Blessings, Eric

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    Replies
    1. Bobby GrowMay 31, 2012 at 10:52 AM

      Thanks, Eric.

      Yeah, this "body of death" gets old really fast!!!

      Delete
  3. UnknownMay 31, 2012 at 9:17 AM

    Hey Bobby,

    Just found you and your transfer from WP to here. A friendly reminder: Know that our Mighty King prays for you in John 17. Keep swinging your sword! He is working ALL the time. The sanctification clock is ticking...

    When you find time, come over for a visit: "Songs to the Glory of God: www.donaldlindsey.com

    -dbl

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    Replies
    1. Bobby GrowMay 31, 2012 at 10:52 AM

      Hello Donald,

      Yep, can't wait till the "sanctification clock" is done clicking ... come quickly Jesus!

      Delete

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