First of all, I just want to preface this blog by making you aware that this was inspired by a similar teaching I heard from John Crowder. He is an amazing teacher that has entered into amazing revelations about the Gospel and communicates them with such passion and clarity. So, whenever you get a chance, check out his stuff! Now, let's get this thing started.
Throughout church history, I have always heard of pastors, teachers, or simply just church goers speak about "overcoming the flesh." Personally, before I understood the Gospel, I would have bought into this false misconception and ridiculous phrase that has been tossed around the body of Christ for years. However, after being awakened to the true, authentic Gospel of grace and the finished work, I have begun to question the many teachings that so easily kept me blinded by the law driven mentality of works based salvation and not knowing exactly what happened at Calvary. Basically, to sum it up, I had no idea what truly happened at the cross. I mean, I understood that Jesus died for our sins and made a way for us to spend eternity with Him, but that was about the extent of my knowledge about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Oh how sorely deceived I was.
Anyways, back to the statement about "overcoming the flesh." So often, people get confused because of semantics and cliche' Christian language. Many people today don't really have a clear definition for the "flesh." Most likely, the reason is because the word is used in two different ways in the New Testament. In one usage, flesh simply refers to your physical body. It comes from the Greek word, sarx. There's absolutely nothing wrong with your body. Your body is merely amoral, lying outside the sphere to which moral and immoral judgements apply. It's not evil! It's simply a physical, material vehicle that's driven by the one who owns it.
Think about it. Jesus had a fleshly body, in which He walked in on the earth over 2,000 years ago. In fact, He still has that same human body in a glorified, resurrected form! The same body that walked in Nazareth is raised immortal! Many people believe that just because something is in the physical and material world, it's evil. That is called gnosticism. See, Gnostics believed that any material world thing inherently made it evil, and that all "spiritual" or "unseen" things are good. That's why gnostics denied that Jesus came in the flesh. In their frame of thinking, Jesus could not have had a body, because such physical objects are evil.
That's why the Apostle John stated in 2 John 1:7 that anyone who denies Jesus came in the flesh is of the antichrist. However, John corrects the very lie and argument of gnosticism. How can your body be wicked if your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), which was bought at a high price? If our physical bodies aren't evil, then why do people preach on overcoming the flesh? Well, here's where the second usage of the word flesh comes into play. This usage comes from the Greek word, sarkikos. This usage of the word "flesh" indicates the "lusts of the flesh." It simply refers to being governed by mere human nature, not by the Spirit of God. In the New Testament, it's referring to your old sinful nature, or old man. Lets keep in mind that as born again believers, our old sinful nature was nailed to the cross with Jesus. For God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (1 Corinthians 5:21 NASB). As a side note, if you still aren't convinced that your old man is dead, read Romans 6 in light of now knowing.
The "bad flesh" is not your body. It's defined as the carnal nature, relating to its appetites and its lusts. The term is synonymous with the sinful nature, or the old man. It's the old, self-seeking existence that died with Christ at conversion! You don't have it anymore! Your old sinful nature was crucified and buried with Christ. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul is speaking about your old sinful man has passed away through your conversion in Christ! Behold, your new nature has come because it is no longer you that lives, but Christ in you (Galatians 2:20). You have been given the very nature of Christ! You are the righteousness of Christ! Begin to be awakened to your identity in Christ and Christ in you! It truly is the Good News. Next time you think you need to "overcome the flesh" or "beat down your flesh," realize that you are trying to shadow box something that isn't even there. You are trying to resurrect something that was crucified and died over 2,000 years ago. Begin to walk in the fullness of Christ in you!
Begin to read the New Testament in light of this truth and you will begin to understand what Christ did for us and as us. He didn't just pull you out of sin, but He pulled sin out of you! As believers, sin isn't your identity and should never be your expectancy. You were given new, God-centered longings and desires! It was for freedom that Christ set us free (Galatians 5:1a). Begin to walk in the freedom that Christ gave you!
