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is the Spirit that is related to the new sphere; access is by the Spirit. The building as an
habitation of God is by the Spirit, the unity is the unity of the Spirit.
Writers of Eugenics and Sociology have emphasized the tremendous influence that
heredity and environment have upon the individual. Scripture draws attention also to
these two principles. The Gentiles were "in the FLESH": that was the burden of heredity
under which they suffered. They were "in the WORLD": that was the environment in
which they sank hopeless, Godless, Christless. No wonder that within two or three verses
the apostle twice says, "by grace are ye saved".
To be a Gentile was to be one of a vast number who had been "given up" by God
(Rom. 1: 24). If Eph. 2: sets forth Gentile distance, Eph. 4: shows us Gentile
darkness:--
"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk, not as other
Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being
alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."
We cannot think that words could indicate a more hopeless and awful condition than
the testimony of Eph. 2: 11, 12 and 4: 17-19. The reader is urged to read for himself
the rest of the testimony concerning the state of the Gentiles, but we must pass on to
notice some other items.
IN THE FLESH.--In this sphere are all men by nature, whether Jew or Gentile. It is
written, "they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8: 8). The term is used in
a special manner in the epistle, as will be seen by reading verses 9-18. Those who have
believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have received of that spirit of sonship whereby
they can cry "Abba Father", those who have received the spirit of Christ, the spirit of
resurrection life (10, 11), are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. The Gentile who believed
the gospel of grace passed into a new life and a new environment; he became altogether
"in the Spirit". The boasted distinction between Jew and Gentile could only remain true
"in the flesh", all was radically changed by union with the risen Christ. The exposition of
the Scripture teaching of the "flesh" is too vast for us to attempt it here. We can but
suggest the position and pass on.
The apostle adds to the statement of the Gentile's evil condition, by a parenthesis
concerning circumcision in the flesh, made by hands. Until there was a circumcised
person on earth there could not be a company called the uncircumcision. Israel's
superiority, like its sign, was artificial and temporary. Two qualifying statements used
here are illuminating. Circumcision, which was such a ground of boasting for the Jew,
was in the flesh; circumcision was "made by hand". The apostle supplies his own
commentary in Col. 2: 11-13, 3: 10, 11:--
"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made WITHOUT HANDS,
in putting off the body of the FLESH by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in
the baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God,