“…those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be CARNALLY (sarx: the sensuous nature of man) minded IS DEATH, but to be SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE. Because the carnal mind is ENMITY (echthra: enemy, in hostility) AGAINST GOD; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh CANNOT PLEASE GOD.” (Rom. 8:5-8) Flesh in Paul’s vocabulary now has become something that includes zeal, an emotional virtue; law keeping; and blamelessness, a moral virtue. Only they’re not virtues because they are missing depending on the Holy Spirit and missing on glorying Christ Jesus.
Then he says this, “…we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH— though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more…” (Phil. 3:3-4) Paul goes on to say that he was, “…of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee…” (Phil. 3:5) Then he says, “I also count all things LOSS for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, that I MAY GAIN CHRIST AND BE FOUND IN HIM, not having my own righteousness…” (Phil. 3:8–9)
And here is the bottom line in this endeavor, “I do not count myself to have apprehended (katalambanōto: to make one’s own); but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind AND REACHING FORWARD to those things which are ahead, I PRESS TOWARD THE GOAL for the prize of THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)
-Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham