What is the flesh versus the Spirit?
The flesh is the fallen human nature that opposes God, and the Spirit is God's own life at work in the believer. They are in conflict: the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit what is against the flesh. The believer's calling is to walk by the Spirit, who produces His fruit in us.
This question arose from studying How do I fight sin in my life?.
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What the Scripture says
Two natures at war
The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are contrary to one another. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. Every believer knows the conflict from the inside.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.
The works of the flesh
The works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, idolatry, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul names them so we can recognize the enemy.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
The fruit of the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. This is what the Spirit grows in a life that abides in Christ.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
The battle is won by walking in the Spirit
Walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. By the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, and you will live. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away. The victory is His work in us.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
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Verses to meditate on
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
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