David, a 56 year old man, struggles with his limitations of life. Because of long term physically related construction work and some accidents his body is now racked with pain. He can no longer do what he used to do. He is a broken man, financially and emotionally. Struggles daily with perfectionistic thinking, guilt, shame, depression, hopelessness and occasional suicidal thoughts. He feels he is failing God!
“And the Word (Jesus Christ) became flesh, and dwelt among us…” John 1:14
“For there is one God and one mediator also between God and men, the man Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself as a ransom for all…” 1 Timothy 2:5-6
“Jesus…being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man…” Phil 2:6-7
“In the days of His flesh…” Hebrews 5:7 NASB
One of the great historical struggles of the Christian faith was what is the nature of Jesus Christ? Was he only God in the shell of a body, or was Jesus really just a human but God superimposed Himself overriding his humanity, or was Jesus Christ just human in appearance only but not in substance, or was Jesus Christ both God and human at the same time and space?
Having a correct understanding of the nature of Jesus Christ is essential to understanding the person of God and the nature of humanity. An error in this important truth is at the root of all of the false religions and the numerous “christian-cults” in the world (2 John 7). Fortunately for us this question was resolved many years ago with the Biblical conclusion that when Jesus Christ walked on planet earth He was 100% God and 100% human at the same time. Jesus demonstrated the normal human life, everything else is sub-human.
Understanding the relationship between our humanity and our spirituality is also vitally important to our successful walk with God. There is much confusion for many Christians about themselves, what is human, what is sin, what is the difference between the human-self versus what is the fleshly-self? Because we are a sinful fallen race, does God reject our humanity? Because we are flesh, are we also fleshly? What makes us human versus sinful? If we accept our humanity will we become self-focused instead of Christ centered? Does the Holy Spirit ever partner with our humanity? How can our humanity cooperate with the Holy Spirit?
The Word Flesh has Multiple Meanings in the New Testament.
- Flesh refers to the substance of the body, whether of beasts or of men. 1 Corinthians 15:39.
- Flesh is used to refer to the physical human body. 2 Corinthians 10:3a, Galations 2:20, 1 Corinthians 15:42-48 (Examples: Col 2:1, 2 Cor 4:11, Gal 4:13).
- Flesh refers to physical life lived in the Body. Galations 2:20, Hebrews 5:7.
- Flesh refers to the natural successive generations (i.e.; children) of the human race. Romans 9:3-5.
- Flesh is used to describe the unregenerate condition of a lost person. Romans 7:5, 8:8-9. This includes the natural human/animal nature of man. John 1:13.
- Flesh refers to the whole of man’s human person and the holy humanity of the Lord Jesus. The totality of all that is essential to manhood; spirit, soul and body. Roman 8:3, 1 John 4:2, 2 John 7, Hebrews 5:7.
- Flesh is used to warn us about the weaker elements of human nature. Weak independent-self-serving choices made apart from the Holy Spirit. Relying solely on my natural human abilities and resources to accomplish the will of God. Matthew 26:41, Romans 6:19, 8:3a, Gal 3:2-5, Phil 3:3-4.
- Flesh often refers to the Carnal focus of the mind. Romans 8:1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Gal. 5:16-21, Eph. 4:17-24. Life lived under the power and dominion of the old-flesh, previous habits of thinking and behaviors. This makes us fleshly; that Selfish self-gratifying focus of an unrenewed area of the mind stimulated by a physical desire or a psychological/emotional need we have not submitted to God.
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The Following Chart Illustrates Some of the Differences
Between Being Human versus Fleshly.
| Human Behaviors | Fleshly Behaviors |
| To make a mistake. | Attack self or blame others over mistake.
Refuse to learn from mistake. |
| To Fail at something. | Believe I am a complete failure. |
| Mis-Speak in a conversation. | Lie, deceive, withhold information. |
| Misunderstand what was said or intended. | Distort the issue. Gossip. |
| Confidence and satisfaction with life in the Spirit. | Pride in self. Boasting, bragging about self. |
| Experience sexual feelings and desires. | Lust, adultery, immorality, porn, homosexuality, etc. |
| Exhaustion. | Laziness. |
| Appreciate your unique God given Personality. | Self-Centered. |
| Experience various Emotions. | Emotions control over reason, suppress, or deny. |
| PTSD – Nightmares, flash backs. | Self-Condemnation over content of PTSD memories. |
| Experience Fear. | Controlled by fear. Refuse to trust God and others. |
| Holy Spirit guides the mind to Reason through problems. | Defensive reactions to deny responsibility.
Refuse to examine self or the problems. |
| Hurt from other’s actions. | Bitterness, resentment. |
| Limitations of ability in some area. | Use as excuse to refuse to try. |
| Remorse over sin, leads to repentance. | Guilt and shame. |
| Experience Anger and Frustration. | Open or passive aggression. |
| Experience temptation to sin. | Choose to submit to the temptation (versus Holy Spirit) and sin in mind or deed. |
| Hunger and desire to eat. Struggle with weight. | Obesity from Gluttony, or lack of exercise, etc. |
| Struggle with life problems. | Quit seeking God in midst of problems.
Resenting God and others for problems. |
| Desire approval and love from others. | Manipulate others to get it. |
God is Changing Our Character… Not Our Personality!
Many Christians falsely believe that to become spiritual we must eradicate our humanity, that the New Testament concept of dying to self (or putting to death the flesh) means that God is in the business of getting rid of our humanity; who we are, our personality… that we are to be an empty shell that God takes over and does His works, essentially separate of and without our participation. But when our humanity remains an active force in our lives this out of balance emphasis creates much false guilt and emotional turmoil in many lives, resulting in a defeated life and passivity toward God instead of an active faith walk with God. God created us as human beings to be active faith partners with Him. The basic meaning of the word fellowship (koinonia) in the NT means “partake in partnership.” God created in us the ability to reason, feel and choose because He wants us to be active human partners-contributors in our relationship with Him thru the Holy Spirit.
To die to self means that I surrender the right to a self-focused-selfish-fleshly-independent lifestyle and that thru renewing my mind I confront and change the old fleshly habits of thinking that create patterns of emotions that result in repeated behaviors (Eph 4:17-32). It does not mean that we eradicate who we are as a human person. We cannot get rid our “self” any-way; who we are as a person. God created us to be human, who we are as a person to be in an intimate partnership with all that He is doing to redeem man. The Holy Spirit transforms our character that enhances the human personality He created for us.
David is learning through Paul’s life example (described in 2 Corinthians) that God still has a purpose and plan for his life (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) even though he struggles with his present human limitations.
©2018 Copyright Christian Ministry Concepts
