Several scriptures identify the flesh as corrupt and leading to eternal destruction: Galatians 5:17, Ephesians 2:3, Romans 8:12-13. Does this mean that flesh is evil? If it is, then one must embrace Gnosticism. Gnosticism teaches that all flesh is evil and there can be no connection between it and the spiritual (which is the source of good) without there being corruption of the spiritual.
When one takes this extreme position, he soon finds himself forced to accept the conclusion that Christ could not have been manifested in the flesh, because He who is spiritual and good could not have inhabited a physical (evil) body and have retained His perfection. Without a body, Jesus could not have been tempted nor could He have died for sin. This idea is in radical contradiction to Scripture. Since this extreme view does not work, then what is the conclusion? Obviously, that flesh, by itself, is not evil.
God created flesh and said it was good (Genesis 1:1, 27, 31). Also, the joining of a man and a woman as one flesh -- both in the figurative and literal sense -- is a good thing if it is within the bond of marriage (Matthew 19:4-5, Hebrews 13:4). Additionally, we are commanded to care for our fleshly bodies, because they are the temples of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:18-20).
When the desires of the flesh dominate the spirit, we are fleshly minded. However, when we are spiritually minded, we use
our bodies (flesh) for glorifying God (Romans 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
We cannot utilize our bodies (flesh) as spiritual sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) and as instruments of sin (1 Corinthians 6:18-20) at the same time. How we use our bodies determines whether our own flesh is good or bad and it determines our eternal fate. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting,” (Galatians 6:8). -- Andrew Lehmann
Several scriptures identify the flesh as corrupt and leading to eternal destruction: Galatians 5:17, Ephesians 2:3, Romans 8:12-13. Does this mean that flesh is evil? If it is, then one must embrace Gnosticism. Gnosticism teaches that all flesh is evil and there can be no connection between it and the spiritual (which is the source of good) without there being corruption of the spiritual.
When one takes this extreme position, he soon finds himself forced to accept the conclusion that Christ could not have been manifested in the flesh, because He who is spiritual and good could not have inhabited a physical (evil) body and have retained His perfection. Without a body, Jesus could not have been tempted nor could He have died for sin. This idea is in radical contradiction to Scripture. Since this extreme view does not work, then what is the conclusion? Obviously, that flesh, by itself, is not evil.
