The word 'flesh' has many meanings and can refer to different things depending on the context... but in this verse the word 'flesh' is referring to the old sin nature - the fallen, fleshly, egocentric nature we inherited from Adam. In this passage 'flesh' refers to the old sinful self - 'the old man' as the Bible calls it. Works of the flesh are totally rejected by the Lord. Good deeds that are carried out by the old sin nature, however commendable they appear to be, are utterly rejected by God. The only way that we can return into fellowship with his Creator, is by becoming part of His new creation; where Christ is the federal Head of an entirely new race of humanity. The Christian life must not be focused on self, but on Christ. We are to live in the 'not I but Christ' realm. We are to die to our own sinful desires, lustful leanings, and self-elevating egocentricities. We are to keep the fleshly self, with all its pretense and self-deception, firmly nailed to the Cross and we are to Live Our Life For Christ Alone. As believers, we still retain our freewill, but in Christ we have received power over that old, fallen, sin nature as we die to self and live for Christ alone. If we permit the old sin nature to mount the throne of our life, we dishonor the Lord and will reap the bitter fruit of sinfulness, but if we keep the old man nailed to the Cross and live for Christ alone, we will reap the everlasting fruit of righteousness:
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Our United Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that we are part of the new creation in Christ and have been freed from the ravages of sin, death, and hell, by faith in the shed blood of Christ on Calvary. Father, we want to live our lives in spirit and truth and keep the old sin nature out of commission and nailed to the Cross. Help us to honestly recognize any fleshly tendencies to which we may cling to and keep us, we pray, from sowing to our flesh. Rather, we ask that in the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may sow to the Spirit and live our lives in humble submission unto the Lord for His praise and glory. In Jesus' name we Pray, AMEN.
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