Section 4
the Spirit on the positive side, not the presence of the flesh on the negative side.
THE FLESH
In Romans the flesh is exposed in a full way. Using the word "flesh" with a meaning different from that found in chapters five through eight, 3:20 says, "By the works of law no flesh shall be justified before Him." Here, "flesh" refers to a person, a human being. In the eyes of God every fallen person is flesh. Hence, in 3:20 "flesh" denotes the totality of man's fallen being. In Romans 7, on the contrary, "flesh" refers only to a part of man's being, not to the whole person. In chapter seven "flesh" denotes the sinful, wicked part of us, the part indwelt by sin. Our concern in this booklet is not with the flesh as revealed in 3:20, but with the flesh as covered in chapters seven and eight.
Romans 7:18 says, "For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells." Our flesh is the place where evil things make their abode. No matter how good a person may seem to be, at least one part of him, the flesh, is evil. Do not be deceived by a person who is seemingly gentle, kind, honest, humble, and sympathetic.