Different Usages Of ‘Flesh’ In The Bible

The New Testament was originally written in Greek. And later translated to many other languages. In Romans, Galatians and many other books we  find the word ‘flesh’ used. 

Romans 7:5 ‘For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.’

Before we knew Christ, we lived in the flesh. But after we received Christ, we no longer live in the flesh but in the spirit. The unsaved people live in the realm of the flesh. 
On the other hand, the saved people live in the Spirit. Both these are completely different. 

Paul wrote the book of Romans with much care for the believers to know and understand the truth and digest it. It contains the foundation of the Christian life.

We know that man has a soul, spirit and a body. Before the fall of man, there was no sin in soul, spirit and body. 
But when man fell the spirit disconnected from God, the mind was damaged and the body was corrupted. 

Paul used the word ‘sarx’ for flesh. Sarx has been used many times in the Bible with different meanings - 

1. Human body 

Genesis 2:23 ‘The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

Genesis 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Job 19:26 ‘And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;’

Isaiah 40:6 ‘A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.‘

Genesis 17:13 ‘Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.’

John 1:14 ‘ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’

John 3:6 ‘ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

John 6:55 ‘’For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.’

1 John 4:2 ‘This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,’

2. Human Beings

2 Corinthians 5:16 ‘So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.’

Acts 2:17 ‘“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.

Psalms 56:4 ‘ In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’

Zachariah 2:13 ‘Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”’

Luke 3:6 ‘And all people will see God’s salvation.’”’

Ephesians 6:12 ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’

3. Fallen or sin nature

Genesis 6:3 ‘Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”’

Matthew 26:41 ‘ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”’
Romans 7:5 ‘For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.’

Romans 8:8 ‘ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.’

Romans 8:13 ‘For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.’

Romans 13:14 ‘Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.’

1 Corinthians 5:5 ‘hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.’

Galatians 5:16 ‘So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.’

Ephesians 2:3 ‘All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Philippians 3:3 ‘For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

Colossians 2:11 ‘In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,’

1 John 2:16 ‘For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.’

Watch the full video here: