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#37.
Romans 5: 12 - 8: 39.
Key-words: The flesh.
pp. 135 - 138
The fact that "the flesh" is antithetical to "the Spirit" means that in our survey of the
references to "the Spirit" in these chapters, we have necessarily made many references to
"the flesh". The subject, however, is too vital to pass over, and we therefore propose a
survey of the occurrences of the expression "the flesh" in much the same way as we have
dealt with other key-words of Rom. 5:-8:
The truth unfolded in the references to the flesh may be visualized as follows:--
A | 6: 19. The weakness of the flesh.
B | 7: 5. In the flesh passions of sin.
C | 7: 18. In my flesh DWELLETH no good thing.
D | 7: 25. With the flesh I serve the law of sin.
A | 8: 3. The weakness of the law because of the flesh.
a | 8: 3. Christ sent in likeness of flesh of sin.
b | 8: 3. Condemned.
c | 8: 4. Law's requirements fulfilled.
a | 8: 5. The life and mind of flesh.
b | 8: 6. Death.
c | 8: 7. Law's requirements unfulfilled.
B | 8: 8. In the flesh cannot please God.
C | 8: 9. Not in the flesh. Spirit of God DWELLETH in you.
D | 8: 12, 13. Not debtors to the flesh: its wages is death.
Its utter weakness, hopeless enmity and incurability are seen at a glance, and a fuller
examination will but intensify the conviction that nothing short of a miracle of grace can
accomplish salvation for those in such abject bondage.
In Rom. 5: 6-8 there is this fourfold description of those for whom Christ died:
"Without strength", "Ungodly", "Sinners", "Enemies".
There is a fourfold division of the subject in Rom. 5:-8:, and while there may not
be an actual parallel, yet weakness (6: 19, 8: 3), enmity (8: 5, 6), sinnership
(7: 25), and ungodliness (8: 8) are very evidently associated with "the flesh".
The expression "in the flesh" is a comprehensive one. In some cases it may merely
convey the sense of being alive upon this earth, without any moral significance
(I Cor. 7: 28; II Cor. 12: 7; Gal. 2: 20). In Rom. 5:-8:, however, it is the state in
which man is found before he is united to the Lord that is referred to, and therefore the
expression is there used in a moral sense.