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old life in Adam. This is the only basis upon which we can "know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death in order that I may attain to
the resurrection from the dead" (Phil. 3:10, 11).
Is it possible to walk totally free of the flesh? Not this side of heaven, but we don't have to be under
its control. We now have a choice. Walking after the flesh can become the exception, not the rule. Well-
adjusted people can appear to have the flesh under control, but it is simply more subtle. If a person's life
has not been exchanged, the true fruit of the Spirit will not be manifested. Once the source of the flesh
has been cut off, the works or symptoms of the flesh can be dealt with by the putting off and putting on of
Colossians 3:1-17. By faith, the power of the flesh is replaced with the life of the Spirit – Christ Himself!
Summary
Flesh, or self-life, is universally present in all people and is a major hindrance to the expression of
Christ's life in believers. Simply put, whatever we depend upon to get our needs met, short of Christ's
life, is our flesh. Each believer has his own unique version of the flesh and it should be seriously
considered. God has only one provision for dealing with the flesh: death through union with Christ in His
death on the cross. God's only provision for life is our union with Christ in His resurrection. Christians,
even though recognizing the impossibility of self-salvation, often seek to live for the Lord in self-effort.
Flesh is manifested differently in each individual, but it has some common characteristics that may be
useful in identifying your unique version. Flesh controls, self-protects, has many symptoms, is a captive
and a victim, deceives, builds an identity around itself, is proud, is an idolater and rejects.
Flesh is developed as we live apart from Christ's life, either as an unbeliever or as a believer, and will
always be with us on this earth.
Living according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh is a moment by moment experience until
our Lord returns. We have Christ's life within us to be victorious in this battle, not perfectly, but
victoriously nonetheless. God's grace is sufficient, even in the fiercest of battles. He loves you and will
never leave you nor forsake you. You are precious to Him. You are worth Jesus to Him.
Copyright: (c) 2003 by Exchanged Life Ministries Texas. All rights reserved. No
portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without the permission of
Exchanged Life Ministries Texas, 9560 Skillman Suite 124, Dallas, TX, 75243
E-mail: elm@exchangedlife.org www.exchangedlife.org
This article used by permission granted to Foundation Ministries International.
*****End of Lesson*****
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death in order that I may attain to
the resurrection from the dead" (Phil. 3:10, 11).
Is it possible to walk totally free of the flesh? Not this side of heaven, but we don't have to be under
its control. We now have a choice. Walking after the flesh can become the exception, not the rule. Well-
adjusted people can appear to have the flesh under control, but it is simply more subtle. If a person's life
has not been exchanged, the true fruit of the Spirit will not be manifested. Once the source of the flesh
has been cut off, the works or symptoms of the flesh can be dealt with by the putting off and putting on of
Colossians 3:1-17. By faith, the power of the flesh is replaced with the life of the Spirit – Christ Himself!
Summary
Flesh, or self-life, is universally present in all people and is a major hindrance to the expression of
Christ's life in believers. Simply put, whatever we depend upon to get our needs met, short of Christ's
life, is our flesh. Each believer has his own unique version of the flesh and it should be seriously
considered. God has only one provision for dealing with the flesh: death through union with Christ in His
death on the cross. God's only provision for life is our union with Christ in His resurrection. Christians,
even though recognizing the impossibility of self-salvation, often seek to live for the Lord in self-effort.
Flesh is manifested differently in each individual, but it has some common characteristics that may be
useful in identifying your unique version. Flesh controls, self-protects, has many symptoms, is a captive
and a victim, deceives, builds an identity around itself, is proud, is an idolater and rejects.
Flesh is developed as we live apart from Christ's life, either as an unbeliever or as a believer, and will
always be with us on this earth.
Living according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh is a moment by moment experience until
our Lord returns. We have Christ's life within us to be victorious in this battle, not perfectly, but
victoriously nonetheless. God's grace is sufficient, even in the fiercest of battles. He loves you and will
never leave you nor forsake you. You are precious to Him. You are worth Jesus to Him.
Copyright: (c) 2003 by Exchanged Life Ministries Texas. All rights reserved. No
portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without the permission of
Exchanged Life Ministries Texas, 9560 Skillman Suite 124, Dallas, TX, 75243
E-mail: elm@exchangedlife.org www.exchangedlife.org
This article used by permission granted to Foundation Ministries International.
*****End of Lesson*****
