1 00:00:11,196 --> 00:00:13,168 Eddie says, "I was meditating 2 00:00:13,168 --> 00:00:17,517 on our struggle with the flesh." 3 00:00:17,517 --> 00:00:19,723 Is this you, Eddie? 4 00:00:19,723 --> 00:00:21,950 No? Different Eddie. 5 00:00:21,950 --> 00:00:25,230 "I was meditating on our struggle with the flesh, 6 00:00:25,230 --> 00:00:28,105 and came upon the thought of: 7 00:00:28,105 --> 00:00:31,424 did Adam and Eve have the flesh? 8 00:00:31,424 --> 00:00:34,766 I know the deceiver/serpent tempted Eve, 9 00:00:34,766 --> 00:00:36,769 but what I'm not sure about is whether 10 00:00:36,769 --> 00:00:40,373 Adam and Eve actually had a sinful flesh. 11 00:00:40,373 --> 00:00:42,706 They would have had to in my thinking 12 00:00:42,706 --> 00:00:45,362 due to the flesh taking over 13 00:00:45,362 --> 00:00:51,116 to disobey God and them sinning. 14 00:00:51,116 --> 00:00:54,016 I was just really wondering if flesh 15 00:00:54,016 --> 00:00:56,146 entered the world upon Adam's sin 16 00:00:56,146 --> 00:01:00,251 or was flesh something that always had been there? 17 00:01:00,251 --> 00:01:02,759 My thoughts were that if they sinned, 18 00:01:02,759 --> 00:01:04,468 they must have lost the battle 19 00:01:04,468 --> 00:01:06,290 of spirit and flesh. 20 00:01:06,290 --> 00:01:08,458 But then, that would put them in the ranks 21 00:01:08,458 --> 00:01:11,851 of fallen man, wouldn't it?" 22 00:01:11,851 --> 00:01:13,994 You guys see what's being asked? 23 00:01:13,994 --> 00:01:15,555 Basically the question is this: 24 00:01:15,555 --> 00:01:19,589 Did Adam and Eve have "the flesh" 25 00:01:19,589 --> 00:01:26,794 prior to their fall into sin? 26 00:01:26,794 --> 00:01:28,942 Well, the first thing we need to ask 27 00:01:28,942 --> 00:01:30,741 is what's "the flesh"? 28 00:01:30,741 --> 00:01:33,250 In fact, the first thing that I would say 29 00:01:33,250 --> 00:01:37,326 is you folks know that the term "flesh" 30 00:01:37,326 --> 00:01:40,484 is used more than one way in the Bible, right? 31 00:01:40,484 --> 00:01:44,701 In fact, it's used in more than just two ways. 32 00:01:44,701 --> 00:01:47,003 Let me give you a few examples. 33 00:01:47,003 --> 00:01:50,362 1 John 4:2, "By this you know the Spirit of God, 34 00:01:50,362 --> 00:01:52,611 every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ 35 00:01:52,611 --> 00:01:54,718 has come in the flesh is from God." 36 00:01:54,718 --> 00:01:56,895 What does that mean? 37 00:01:56,895 --> 00:01:58,889 Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. 38 00:01:58,889 --> 00:02:00,599 What does that mean? 39 00:02:00,599 --> 00:02:01,771 Right - physical body. 40 00:02:01,771 --> 00:02:05,133 He's come in a physical, human body. 41 00:02:05,133 --> 00:02:07,014 That doesn't mean that Jesus Christ 42 00:02:07,014 --> 00:02:11,013 came in the sinful flesh 43 00:02:11,013 --> 00:02:13,546 because He was without sin. 44 00:02:13,546 --> 00:02:16,704 And so, sometimes when flesh is used, 45 00:02:16,704 --> 00:02:19,192 obviously it has no connotation 46 00:02:19,192 --> 00:02:20,941 or connection with sin, right? 47 00:02:20,941 --> 00:02:23,567 Because Christ had no connection with sin. 48 00:02:23,567 --> 00:02:25,925 He came in the likeness of sinful flesh, 49 00:02:25,925 --> 00:02:29,318 but He was without sin. 50 00:02:29,318 --> 00:02:31,140 How about another usage? 51 00:02:31,140 --> 00:02:34,092 Romans 1:3, "Jesus was descended from David 52 00:02:34,092 --> 00:02:36,706 according to the flesh." 53 00:02:36,706 --> 00:02:40,143 What does that mean? 54 00:02:40,143 --> 00:02:42,599 According to what's physical. 55 00:02:42,599 --> 00:02:45,262 Again, it really directs back to what's physical. 56 00:02:45,262 --> 00:02:48,292 It doesn't have any connection with what's sinful. 57 00:02:48,292 --> 00:02:50,861 Luke 24:39, "Jesus says, 58 00:02:50,861 --> 00:02:53,692 'See My hands and My feet, 59 00:02:53,692 --> 00:02:55,600 that it is I Myself; 60 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,238 touch Me and see, 61 00:02:57,238 --> 00:03:01,831 for a spirit does not have flesh and bones 62 00:03:01,831 --> 00:03:03,400 as you see that I have.'" 63 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,135 What does flesh mean there? 64 00:03:06,135 --> 00:03:08,601 Flesh and bones? 65 00:03:08,601 --> 00:03:11,645 It means the soft part of our skin 66 00:03:11,645 --> 00:03:13,426 and muscle and tissue. 67 00:03:13,426 --> 00:03:14,781 Right? 68 00:03:14,781 --> 00:03:16,550 This is flesh. 69 00:03:16,550 --> 00:03:20,068 If I cut a piece off 70 00:03:20,068 --> 00:03:22,733 and threw it down there, 71 00:03:22,733 --> 00:03:26,858 it's a piece of flesh. 72 00:03:26,858 --> 00:03:30,925 Not necessarily connected with sin, right? 73 00:03:30,925 --> 00:03:33,416 I mean it's down there. It's not sinning. 74 00:03:33,416 --> 00:03:36,876 It's not nice, but it's not sinning. 75 00:03:36,876 --> 00:03:39,448 Right? 76 00:03:39,448 --> 00:03:41,891 How about this one? Luke 3:6, 77 00:03:41,891 --> 00:03:45,741 "All flesh shall see the salvation of God." 78 00:03:45,741 --> 00:03:48,684 What does that mean? 79 00:03:48,684 --> 00:03:51,604 That doesn't mean that chunk that's down there on the ground 80 00:03:51,604 --> 00:03:53,883 can see the salvation of God, right? 81 00:03:53,883 --> 00:03:55,506 That's not speaking necessarily 82 00:03:55,506 --> 00:03:57,796 specifically about that which is sinful. 83 00:03:57,796 --> 00:04:01,136 There it just means mankind, humankind, right? 84 00:04:01,136 --> 00:04:05,122 See, it's really got a rather broad usage 85 00:04:05,122 --> 00:04:07,562 in Scripture. 86 00:04:07,562 --> 00:04:12,812 Hebrews 5:7 says, "In the days of His flesh, 87 00:04:12,812 --> 00:04:15,285 Jesus offered up prayers and supplications." 88 00:04:15,285 --> 00:04:16,432 What does it mean there? 89 00:04:16,432 --> 00:04:20,446 In the days of His flesh? 90 00:04:20,446 --> 00:04:22,281 It doesn't just mean His humanity, 91 00:04:22,281 --> 00:04:23,724 because He's human still. 92 00:04:23,724 --> 00:04:26,192 In the days of His flesh seems to be 93 00:04:26,192 --> 00:04:27,652 His earthly humanity - 94 00:04:27,652 --> 00:04:29,969 when He was here on this earth. 95 00:04:29,969 --> 00:04:31,098 But then you have this, 96 00:04:31,098 --> 00:04:32,917 Romans 8:13, "If you live 97 00:04:32,917 --> 00:04:37,700 according to the flesh, you will die." 98 00:04:37,700 --> 00:04:43,269 Now, we've got a usage here 99 00:04:43,269 --> 00:04:46,465 that seems to have to do with 100 00:04:46,465 --> 00:04:47,818 that which is sinful, 101 00:04:47,818 --> 00:04:52,675 that which is corrupt. 102 00:04:52,675 --> 00:04:54,499 "The mind that is set on the flesh 103 00:04:54,499 --> 00:04:56,939 is hostile to God." Romans 8:7. 104 00:04:56,939 --> 00:04:58,039 You see that again. 105 00:04:58,039 --> 00:05:01,391 Galatians 5:19, "Now the works of the flesh are evident: 106 00:05:01,391 --> 00:05:04,783 sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality..." and so on. 107 00:05:04,783 --> 00:05:07,141 So you have that usage of flesh 108 00:05:07,141 --> 00:05:09,474 which obviously Eddie - 109 00:05:09,474 --> 00:05:11,446 that's what he's referring to, right? 110 00:05:11,446 --> 00:05:17,349 That which by nature is corrupt. 111 00:05:17,349 --> 00:05:19,331 Now let's go a little further 112 00:05:19,331 --> 00:05:21,051 with our concept of flesh. 113 00:05:21,051 --> 00:05:25,161 When a person is converted, 114 00:05:25,161 --> 00:05:27,363 what's true about their relationship 115 00:05:27,363 --> 00:05:31,557 to the flesh? 116 00:05:31,557 --> 00:05:33,082 They battle with it. 117 00:05:33,082 --> 00:05:36,425 So the battle isn't done when you're saved, right? 118 00:05:36,425 --> 00:05:37,940 It's not done. 119 00:05:37,940 --> 00:05:39,849 In fact, what would be 120 00:05:39,849 --> 00:05:41,732 maybe one of the most prominent verses 121 00:05:41,732 --> 00:05:49,306 that you could refer to that tells us such a thing? 122 00:05:49,306 --> 00:05:53,982 The one I'm thinking of is in 1 Peter. 123 00:05:53,982 --> 00:05:55,844 1 Peter 2:11, "Beloved, I urge you 124 00:05:55,844 --> 00:05:57,545 as sojourners and exiles..." 125 00:05:57,545 --> 00:05:59,254 So he's speaking to Christians. 126 00:05:59,254 --> 00:06:01,879 "...To abstain from the passions of the flesh 127 00:06:01,879 --> 00:06:05,158 which wage war against your soul." 128 00:06:05,158 --> 00:06:08,962 So basically there are passions of the flesh 129 00:06:08,962 --> 00:06:13,112 which wage a battle, a warfare, 130 00:06:13,112 --> 00:06:14,433 against our soul. 131 00:06:14,433 --> 00:06:17,602 So, just because you're saved, 132 00:06:17,602 --> 00:06:19,509 we don't lose the flesh. Why? 133 00:06:19,509 --> 00:06:20,616 Because think about it, 134 00:06:20,616 --> 00:06:23,473 flesh - now, see, there's a connection here. 135 00:06:23,473 --> 00:06:26,137 I talk about this - the flesh. 136 00:06:26,137 --> 00:06:27,763 There's a connection between that 137 00:06:27,763 --> 00:06:29,657 and what is sinful 138 00:06:29,657 --> 00:06:31,225 because that's where it dwells. 139 00:06:31,225 --> 00:06:34,473 You remember what Paul says in Romans 6:12? 140 00:06:34,473 --> 00:06:39,382 Sin seeks to reign in this mortal body. 141 00:06:39,382 --> 00:06:45,031 This mortal body is where the corruption rests. 142 00:06:45,031 --> 00:06:46,906 That's where the battle is. 143 00:06:46,906 --> 00:06:48,238 And that's why when we die 144 00:06:48,238 --> 00:06:52,587 and we cast off this corruption, 145 00:06:52,587 --> 00:06:55,627 we're perfect. We're set free. 146 00:06:55,627 --> 00:07:00,330 There's no longer a flesh that wages war. 147 00:07:00,330 --> 00:07:03,063 But, what's something else we can say 148 00:07:03,063 --> 00:07:07,805 about the flesh when we're converted? 149 00:07:07,805 --> 00:07:12,642 I mean, we still battle, however, 150 00:07:12,642 --> 00:07:16,133 what's true? 151 00:07:16,133 --> 00:07:18,993 The flesh is massively subdued 152 00:07:18,993 --> 00:07:21,434 when we come to Christ. 153 00:07:21,434 --> 00:07:23,558 What might be a text I would refer to there? 154 00:07:23,558 --> 00:07:25,381 Well, let me give you three of them. 155 00:07:25,381 --> 00:07:28,605 Romans 7:5, "While we were living in the flesh, 156 00:07:28,605 --> 00:07:30,725 our sinful passions were aroused by the law, 157 00:07:30,725 --> 00:07:33,321 were at work in our members to bear fruit for death." 158 00:07:33,321 --> 00:07:35,880 While we were in the flesh... 159 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:37,680 but we're not in the flesh anymore. 160 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,009 In fact, you go on further. 161 00:07:41,009 --> 00:07:44,520 Romans 8:13, "If you live according to the flesh, you will die." 162 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,160 So what's true of every believer? 163 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,160 They're not living according to the flesh. 164 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,137 In fact, "by the Spirit, you put to death 165 00:07:50,137 --> 00:07:52,105 the deeds of the body." 166 00:07:52,105 --> 00:07:53,654 You do that, you'll live. 167 00:07:53,654 --> 00:07:56,140 Galatians 5:24, listen to this verse, 168 00:07:56,140 --> 00:07:58,281 "those who belong to Christ Jesus 169 00:07:58,281 --> 00:08:01,660 have crucified the flesh 170 00:08:01,660 --> 00:08:04,509 with its passions and desires." 171 00:08:04,509 --> 00:08:06,152 So here's the thing we can say, 172 00:08:06,152 --> 00:08:08,770 flesh has a lot of different meanings. 173 00:08:08,770 --> 00:08:10,296 One of the meanings definitely 174 00:08:10,296 --> 00:08:15,464 has to do with that part of our old selves, 175 00:08:15,464 --> 00:08:21,057 that part of this unredeemed flesh. 176 00:08:21,057 --> 00:08:24,369 Because that's the only part of our old self that's still here - 177 00:08:24,369 --> 00:08:26,886 the inner man is a new man. 178 00:08:26,886 --> 00:08:29,028 This on the outside - this shell - 179 00:08:29,028 --> 00:08:35,960 this is the remnant of what I used to be. 180 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,123 I still wage war with it, 181 00:08:39,123 --> 00:08:41,715 but if I'm in Christ, 182 00:08:41,715 --> 00:08:44,380 the passions and desires of this flesh 183 00:08:44,380 --> 00:08:45,566 have been crucified, 184 00:08:45,566 --> 00:08:47,712 which means I live above it. 185 00:08:47,712 --> 00:08:51,382 Even though it wages war, I live above it. 186 00:08:51,382 --> 00:08:54,140 Now yes, there may be periods 187 00:08:54,140 --> 00:08:56,577 when I fall to it, but as a whole, 188 00:08:56,577 --> 00:08:58,356 by the Spirit, I live above it. 189 00:08:58,356 --> 00:09:00,722 You see, the Spirit and the flesh 190 00:09:00,722 --> 00:09:02,164 are at war with each other, 191 00:09:02,164 --> 00:09:03,568 and when the Spirit comes in, 192 00:09:03,568 --> 00:09:06,096 the Spirit's far stronger than the flesh. 193 00:09:06,096 --> 00:09:07,901 And the Spirit will give me victory. 194 00:09:07,901 --> 00:09:09,870 And if that victory isn't happening, 195 00:09:09,870 --> 00:09:12,511 Paul says you live according to the flesh, you die. 196 00:09:12,511 --> 00:09:16,989 By the Spirit, if you're putting it to death, you live. 197 00:09:16,989 --> 00:09:21,279 So there's that fact as well. 198 00:09:21,279 --> 00:09:23,697 Now, here's the thing. 199 00:09:23,697 --> 00:09:29,059 What's true of somebody who's living in the flesh? 200 00:09:29,059 --> 00:09:32,460 Romans 8:7 says they're at enmity with God. 201 00:09:32,460 --> 00:09:37,609 It says they cannot keep the law. 202 00:09:37,609 --> 00:09:39,255 Right? 203 00:09:39,255 --> 00:09:44,529 It says whoever is in the flesh will die. 204 00:09:44,529 --> 00:09:47,771 Now let me ask you this: 205 00:09:47,771 --> 00:09:50,043 Was the sentence of death upon Adam 206 00:09:50,043 --> 00:09:52,597 before he committed the first transgression? 207 00:09:52,597 --> 00:09:56,999 You see, if you're living according to the flesh; 208 00:09:56,999 --> 00:09:58,912 if you're in the flesh, 209 00:09:58,912 --> 00:10:00,806 the sentence of death is upon you. 210 00:10:00,806 --> 00:10:04,241 I mean, listen to this again. 211 00:10:04,241 --> 00:10:05,854 There in Romans 7. 212 00:10:05,854 --> 00:10:07,971 It says, "While we were living in the flesh, 213 00:10:07,971 --> 00:10:09,880 our sinful passions aroused by the law 214 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,434 were at work in our members to bear fruit for death." 215 00:10:12,434 --> 00:10:13,993 You see, if you're in the flesh, 216 00:10:13,993 --> 00:10:16,068 it's bearing fruit for death. 217 00:10:16,068 --> 00:10:17,879 If you live according to the flesh, 218 00:10:17,879 --> 00:10:19,317 you will die. 219 00:10:19,317 --> 00:10:21,442 The fact is, the sentence of death 220 00:10:21,442 --> 00:10:23,695 was not upon Adam. 221 00:10:23,695 --> 00:10:27,250 It says those who are in the flesh can't please God. 222 00:10:27,250 --> 00:10:29,024 But you know what it says about Adam? 223 00:10:29,024 --> 00:10:30,713 It says that God created everything 224 00:10:30,713 --> 00:10:32,757 and looked at it and said what? 225 00:10:32,757 --> 00:10:34,927 It's good. Not that it's bad. 226 00:10:34,927 --> 00:10:36,681 Not that it's corrupt. 227 00:10:36,681 --> 00:10:39,958 God didn't say death is already on you 228 00:10:39,958 --> 00:10:41,680 from the time I've created you. 229 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:46,232 He says, "the day you eat thereof, you shall surely die." 230 00:10:46,232 --> 00:10:48,354 So basically everything that's true 231 00:10:48,354 --> 00:10:50,463 about a person that was living in the flesh 232 00:10:50,463 --> 00:10:52,771 was not true of Adam. 233 00:10:52,771 --> 00:10:56,460 Basically Adam was created in the image of who? 234 00:10:56,460 --> 00:10:57,606 Of God. 235 00:10:57,606 --> 00:10:59,326 He was created in the image of God. 236 00:10:59,326 --> 00:11:02,947 God looked at him and said it's good. 237 00:11:02,947 --> 00:11:06,223 And in fact, there's an interesting text 238 00:11:06,223 --> 00:11:08,367 in Ecclesiastes 7:29 that says, 239 00:11:08,367 --> 00:11:12,884 "God made man upright." 240 00:11:12,884 --> 00:11:18,033 Ecclesiastes 7:29. 241 00:11:18,033 --> 00:11:19,447 But then the question comes, 242 00:11:19,447 --> 00:11:20,845 well, if man was made good; 243 00:11:20,845 --> 00:11:24,155 if man was made upright, how did he ever sin? 244 00:11:24,155 --> 00:11:25,511 Right? 245 00:11:25,511 --> 00:11:27,405 Well, the fact is, Adam was created 246 00:11:27,405 --> 00:11:29,320 with a free will. 247 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,508 He was given the ability to choose good or bad. 248 00:11:32,508 --> 00:11:35,631 And he chose bad. 249 00:11:35,631 --> 00:11:37,040 Now, you know what? 250 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:42,609 The Bible doesn't get into the fine details 251 00:11:42,609 --> 00:11:45,607 about how it was possible for a good being 252 00:11:45,607 --> 00:11:48,459 to come to the place where they determined to sin. 253 00:11:48,459 --> 00:11:49,908 We don't know what happened, 254 00:11:49,908 --> 00:11:51,499 but I'll tell you what - you say, 255 00:11:51,499 --> 00:11:53,474 well, how did he ever sin? 256 00:11:53,474 --> 00:11:56,553 Willingly. I'll guarantee you that. 257 00:11:56,553 --> 00:11:59,978 I mean, Scripture says - Romans 5:16, 258 00:11:59,978 --> 00:12:01,729 "that one man's sin..." 259 00:12:01,729 --> 00:12:04,329 It attributes that sin to that one man. 260 00:12:04,329 --> 00:12:05,727 It's not God's fault. 261 00:12:05,727 --> 00:12:08,593 It's that man's sin. 262 00:12:08,593 --> 00:12:11,276 Romans 5:17, "Because of one man's trespass..." 263 00:12:11,276 --> 00:12:13,887 Romans 5:19, "One man's disobedience..." 264 00:12:13,887 --> 00:12:16,171 It was his disobedience. It was his trespass. 265 00:12:16,171 --> 00:12:18,604 It was his sin. He did it willingly. 266 00:12:18,604 --> 00:12:21,141 He did it willfully. 267 00:12:21,141 --> 00:12:23,223 How does a good and upright man 268 00:12:23,223 --> 00:12:24,936 created in the image of God 269 00:12:24,936 --> 00:12:27,358 come to the place where he chooses sin? 270 00:12:27,358 --> 00:12:28,756 Well, he did it willingly. 271 00:12:28,756 --> 00:12:30,150 He did it willfully. 272 00:12:30,150 --> 00:12:32,091 And at that point, 273 00:12:32,091 --> 00:12:33,692 condemnation came upon men. 274 00:12:33,692 --> 00:12:34,871 Death came upon men. 275 00:12:34,871 --> 00:12:38,185 Sin came upon men and death. 276 00:12:38,185 --> 00:12:41,346 It was at that point that anything corrupt 277 00:12:41,346 --> 00:12:43,899 settled into the nature of mankind. 278 00:12:43,899 --> 00:12:46,266 It's at that point where the corruption 279 00:12:46,266 --> 00:12:49,055 of the flesh took place. 280 00:12:49,055 --> 00:12:54,222 So that's what I would say about the flesh.