Flesh and spirit were used by Slade in the discussion of a human being's make-up. David quotes a scripture uses "flesh" and "spirit" in regards to contrary allegiances. I don't know why you do this sort of thing. Slade isn't saying anything AT ALL about Romans 7 and 8. Correct me if I am wrong, someone.
The contrary allegiances spoken about in Romans 7 & 8 concerns the makeup of man. How can you or anyone else be blind to this fact? Look at the words he uses! Sarx, nous, and pneuma (flesh, mind, spirit).
Romans 7:21-23
(21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
(22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
(23) 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.
Look at the duality of man discussed in this passage. The law is in his MIND (nous). Yet evil is present with him. Where? In his members, in his FLESH (sarx). This is the classic Greek dualism, that the material is but a shadow of an eternal spiritual reality. With the nous, man apprehends the original form from the spirit, but his flesh is but a shadow and is unable to correspond to that which his mind apprehends. Man is torn between two parts... the mind that touches the knowledge of the spirit (the law is spiritual) and the law of sin which exists in his members, in his FLESH (his physical body).
Romans 7:25
(25) ... So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul concludes with this basic understanding of the dual nature of man, how with his mind he can touch that which is eternal and is of God and is good, but his flesh (his physical body) is encumbered with the law of sin at work within it. Remember the works of the flesh?
Galatians 5:19-21
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
All these works emanate from the appetites of the physical body. The fruit of the spirit, on the other hand, is apprehended with the mind touching the spirit (the nous touching the pneuma).
Galatians 5:22-25
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The contrast that Paul constantly teaches is between flesh and spirit, between physical body and spirit. Without understanding this dual nature of man, how can we understand the work of the spirit in our lives and the need to die to the affections and lusts of our flesh (our physical bodies)?
Romans 7:18
(18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Righteousness does not come from our flesh, but from the spirit. Ask yourself why Paul takes so much time to establish this fact? Could it be a key for many to enter into righteousness? Speaking from practical experience, I know it was a significant key of understanding for me.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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