under construction<\/p>\n
Sin: Man\u2019s Sinful Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n Segment Three, Part One<\/strong><\/p>\n The Flesh and Man\u2019s Sinful Nature<\/p>\n Sin has many sources both external and internal to a human being. Sin can be a conscious act or it can be by a subconscious act because of ignorance. Sin is inherent within the body and mind of mankind because of Adam\u2019s original sin. Man is a three part being: he has a body, a mind, and a spirit. Because of man\u2019s sin nature, his spirit is separated (alienated) from God. This separation from God occurs because of the corrupt carnal nature within each person. The body and its governing mind, are the seat of man\u2019s carnal nature.<\/p>\n The physical human body in scripture is referred to as \u201cthe flesh\u201d and is where one\u2019s carnal nature resides. Within our minds and consciousness is where we war with good and bad choices. Without good moral training, our carnal nature will exert itself and assert its rights to satisfying the demands of bodily desires and appetites. This \u201cdemand center\u201d becomes the driving force behind the satisfaction of bodily (carnal) desires and appetites. This \u201cdemand center\u201d is where much of our sin actions come from.<\/p>\n The desires of the flesh cause us many problems: desire for love, recognition, ego, passion, lust, greed, and ambition are just a few. The \u201cdemand center\u201d is what drives us to want satisfaction for these emotional desires. Our carnal nature is the driving force behind this \u201cdemand center.\u201d As we move forward, we will find out what God\u2019s Word says about our flesh and sinful nature.<\/p>\n Segment Three, Part Two<\/strong><\/p>\n What does scripture say about our \u201cflesh?\u201d Flesh is used in four ways in the N.T. 1) Flesh is used as the body of man or animal, 2) a reference to man (or mankind) in general, 3) the weakness of man\u2019s human nature, 4) the fallen, sinful nature of man. In each of these areas, scripture tells us how we are to understand the meaning of flesh. Scripture also uses another term for flesh calling it the \u201cold man.\u201d (See Eph. 4:22; Colossians 3:9) We will take each of the above usages and review them one at a time.<\/p>\n Two verses of scripture tell us much about the use of flesh as 1) the body of man and animal. Jesus says \u201cbehold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have\u2026\u201d Jesus then goes on to explain his physical body and then asks for \u201cmeat\u201d and they give him a piece of broiled fish which he took and ate. (Read Luke 24:39-42)<\/p>\n In 1 Corinthians, we see Paul explain about flesh in this way: \u201call flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.\u201d (1 Co. 15:39) In this verse, Paul has defined for us what \u201cflesh\u201d means in scripture use. Here Paul makes it very clear cut. We will now move on to the next use of flesh in scripture.<\/p>\n Segment Three, Part Three<\/strong><\/p>\n As we now move on to the next use of flesh in scripture, we see it used as a general reference to mankind. Jesus says in Matthew, \u201cAnd except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect\u2019s sake those days shall be shortened.\u201d (Mt. 24:22) Here Jesus uses the \u201cflesh\u201d to refer to mankind in general.<\/p>\n We also see Paul use the same word in a similar manner. He says: \u201cThat no flesh should glory in his presence.\u201d Paul\u2019s use here is again to refer to mankind in general.<\/p>\n We now move on to the third use of flesh in scripture. In the following verse, we see Jesus us flesh in this instance to refer to human weakness. He says: \u201cWatch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\u201d Jesus is saying here that man (our flesh) is weak and hard for us to overcome or change.<\/p>\n As we have seen, the context where the word is used helps to define or explain how flesh is used. Both Jesus and Paul used the same word but the context determined the exact meaning they wanted to convey. If we follow scripture correctly, the context will help us to understand how a word is used.<\/p>\n Segment Three, Part Four<\/strong><\/p>\n We now move on to the last use of flesh in scripture. In this last use of flesh, we see that Paul exclusively uses it in this sense: 4) the fallen, sinful nature of man. There is no doubt that Paul intends his use of flesh in this way to be very detrimental. He does not paint a pretty picture.<\/p>\n The first verse we see is where he talks about himself. \u201cFor I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not.\u201d (Romans 7:18) He is speaking from personal experience and is not happy with his \u201cflesh.\u201d Paul in the next chapter in Romans, has this further comment: \u201ctherefore, brethren, we are debtors, not the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die\u2026\u201d (Ro. 8:12)<\/p>\n Paul wrote these words to the Galatians: \u201cthis I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.\u201d (Gal. 5:16) This is Paul\u2019s second advisory that believer\u2019s need to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. This passage goes on in detailed explanation for why we should and not fulfill the lust of the flesh.<\/p>\n To the Colossians he also wrote in the same vein and why we should not walk in the lust of the flesh. In this letter he says: \u201cin whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.\u201d If we are walking in the spirit, Christ will \u201ccut off\u201d our desire for the sins of the flesh.\u00a0 Our desire should be to pray and be reading Jesus\u2019 teaching on living the spirit-filled life.<\/p>\n Sin<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" under construction Sin: Man\u2019s Sinful Nature Segment Three, Part One The Flesh and Man\u2019s Sinful Nature Sin has many sources both external and internal to a human being. Sin can be a conscious act or it can be by a … Continue reading