South Hills Church Community

Here is an IMPORTANT truth in one line--

THE FLESH PROFITS NOTHING

Or in context,

""It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." John 6:63, NASB.

Or, in another place--

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." "So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:6-9, 12, 13, NASB.

What does all this mean?  We have a daily choice to obey our natural, sinful nature (the flesh) or our new, regenerated Spirit-empowered nature.  If you live according to (empowered by, directed by) the flesh, you will 1) not see any profit; 2) die— that is curl up on the inside; 3) live in hostility toward God; 4) not please God.

So, what’s a good Christ-follower to do:  “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof” Romans 13:14