Daily Bread - MAR/06/07

1 John 2:16 - "Because all that is in the world: the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world."

The phrase used here is "he epithymai tes sarkos" (the desire of the flesh) is one of the identifiers of those who are not born of God (of the Father). The desire of the flesh is opposite to the desire of the Spirit as the love of the Father is opposite to the love of the world. The love of the Father teaches us to "deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live righteously, godly, and soberly in this present world" Titus 2:12. The word "epithymai" means "desire, wish," and it is used in both a good and bad sense. In Philippians 1:23, Paul says, "My desire is to be with Christ." On the other hand, it is used in a bad sense in John 8:44, "The Devil is your father and you carry out the desires of your father."

There are two approaches to understanding the "desires of the flesh," either in the Greek sense or the Hebrew. The Hebrew concept of the "sarx" (flesh) includes all of man's weaknesses - not just sensual or carnal but the realm of the purely human without divine help. This is still witnessed in the New Testament where the "sarx" may be regarded as human knowledge (flesh and blood) distinct from divine revelation (Matthew 16:17; Galatians 1:16; John 8:15). Paul also regards the flesh as the power of sin that is opposed to the Spirit of God, a power that is removed by the circumcision of Christ (Romans 7:5; Colossians 2:11).

The Greeks exclusively use "sarx" to refer to eating, drinking, and illicit sexual relations. They would regard "sarx" as that which is sensual and carnal and opposed to anything spiritual or pious. Now when we find flesh in the Bible, it would be incorrect to jump to a conclusion that every usage of "flesh" refers only to those things that are evil; for Christ Jesus was manifested in the flesh and suffered in the flesh. However, when we focus in on the phrase "desire of the flesh" we find an exclusive application to that which is opposite of the Spirit of God and contrary to the will of the Father. "Put on Christ and make no provision for the 'desires of the flesh' ;" "Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh;" "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires," Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:16-17, 24.

In the New Testament, a clear distinction is made between those of the Spirit and those of the flesh. Yet, at the same time, we know that Jesus became flesh and lived after the Spirit. Still the fact remains that the distinction between the flesh and the Spirit can be as radical as that of Light and darkness or simply a contrast between human ability and divine ability (Galatians 4:22-29). However, there is one thing that we can be certain of: God makes it essential that all men are born of the Spirit and live after the Spirit, (John 3:6; Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 4:1). Now through the Grace of God that has brought to us this radical transformation of nature, we are "not in the flesh, but in the Spirit" (Romans 8:9). Therefore, let's yield to the Holy Spirit today and let Him lead us and guide us in every desire of our lives.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org