Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth: Flesh and Spirit

"These all died in faith...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

When a person is "born again" (Jn 3) or "created in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:10) or "translated...into the kingdom of [God's] dear Son" (Col 1:13) he is immediately placed into a conflict. This is a common warfare that every child of God experiences. The specific "battles" fought in this war are varied yet common. Every believer experiences the conflict between flesh and spirit; the old man and the new man; the citizens of heaven and the citizens of the earth.

Flesh and Spirit. Jesus clarified the matter to Nicodemus saying, "that which is born of flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit, is spirit" (Jn 3:6) showing the need of being "born again" (Jn 3:7). Flesh, along with blood, cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. The flesh profits nothing. In the flesh dwelleth no good thing. So, having been born of the Spirit, those still dwelling in the flesh by necessity find that they actually have to overcome their own flesh in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Thus, there is an inherent conflict between the flesh and the spirit even resident within every believer. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary one to another, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal 5:17). That is, the inner desire of the part of man that is alive to God and born of the Spirit is faced with the opposition of the flesh that wants to resist the will of God. The Spirit is not free to work without opposition. To be sure, the believer can and must overcome but not without a fight.

This inner conflict is described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. He noted that "the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin" (7:14). This bondage that he is speaking of is the conflict experienced by all believers who "would do good" (7:21). There is a competing influence within redeemed man's constitution called the flesh, and though it is crucified it is still a fierce foe that must be overcome by the Spirit. The flesh is governed by "the law of sin," which is a principle that tends to act contrary to the law of God.

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7:21-23)

The dreadful condition is burdensome to redeemed man and he longs to be delivered from it...and he will! For this law of sin and this "flesh" is all tied to this earthly body that we currently inhabit. When this body is gone, the conflict will be ended. Thus the apostle cries out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (7:24). Christ Jesus the Lord has delivered Paul and shall deliver us also. For if "now" there is no condemnation for those that in Christ Jesus than especially then, there shall be no condemnation. The conflict between the flesh and Spirit will end in the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness...and only righteousness. We will be made suitable for dwelling there. For we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, our vile bodies shall be changed liked unto His glorious body. And, as the song writer said it, "this robe of flesh [we'll] drop and rise, to seize the everlasting prize."