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Flesh: The body, as distinguished from the soul. Human nature. Romans 8:1. An arm of flesh, human strength or aid, carnality. Legal righteousness, and ceremonial services. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:13. A carnal state; a state of unrenewed nature. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:1. The corruptible body of man, or corrupt nature. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15:39. The present life; the state of existence in this world. Romans 4:1. Galatians 3:3. After the flesh according to outward appearances, John 8:15. Or according to sinful lusts and inclinations.
Greek: sarx= flesh [147], carnal [2], carnally minded [1], fleshly [1]. Or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul [or spirit], or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties [physical or moral] and passions), or (special) a human being (as such): - carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]). Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. "the weaker element in human nature," Matt. 26:41; Rom. 6:19; Rom. 8:3; (g) "the unregenerate state of men," Rom. 7:5; Rom. 8:8, 9; (i) "the lower and temporary element in the Christian," Gal. 3:3; Gal. 6:8, (j) "the natural attainments of men," 1 Cor. 1:26; 2 Cor. 10:2, 3; (m) "natural relationship, In Matt. 26:41; Rom. 8:4, 13; 1 Cor. 5:5; Gal. 6:8 (not the Holy Spirit, here), "flesh" is contrasted with spirit; in Rom. 2:28, 29, with heart and spirit; in Rom. 7:25, with the mind; cp. Col. 2:1, 5. It is coupled with the mind in Eph. 2:3, and with the spirit in 2 Cor. 7:1. In Col. 2:18 the noun sarx is used in the phrase "(by his) fleshly mind," lit., "by the mind of his flesh" Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.
As one can see, there is a great deal of information pertaining to the flesh and there is a lot of Biblical uses of this term. I have highlighted above what I believe the Lord is saying to us in this passage of scripture. It is more along the lines of man’s abilities and training and successes in life and how he reacts to these advances.
So often in life, man gets to a point whereby he looks to himself for all the answers and solutions to the complexities of living the life here and now. So often he allows himself to get caught up in the pride and corruption that comes when he looks to his abilities or accomplishments as the directive for the kind of man he is. This is a great error, and the Bible has a great deal to say about this attitude and unfortunate perspective. 1 John 2:16 (KJV)For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
We have heard so much about the lust of eyes and flesh [our current word sarx], but there is little spoken concerning the Pride of Life. Even though our passage of scripture uses the word sarx, the connotation of this passage speaks more into the realm of the area of pride. They all are connected to the flesh and the outpouring that comes from it. We must take 1 John 2:16 as an all-inclusive scripture and realize that it is the three parts of the flesh that is warring against the Spirit. James 4:1 (AMP) WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fighting) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? James speaks of the war we confront as all the issues of the body fighting the things of the Spirit. Lusts, sensual desires, fighting’s, quarrels, conflicts, feuds, discord, strife, often coming out of pride, the lust for money, material things, food, and keeping up with the ‘JONES’. We are often struggling to educate, get ahead at any cost, work long and hard hours, and forsake the things that matter which is God and family. There is nothing wrong with materialism in all its forms, but it is not to be your god or idol. You should never forsake a relationship with God in chasing after the flesh whereby God is never the key ingredient to your daily living. Everything else is precedent and that is idolatry and why the country, the church, the family and the businesses are often in trouble. One must make Jesus Lord, He will never demand it nor push you there, but it is the Secret to Life.
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