The Chains that Bind the Flesh

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15 ESV)

Let’s look a little farther into Ephesians. We left off with the understanding of our two initial indications, as explained by Paul. Our third indicative is found in Paul’s third chapter, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever.” (Ephesians 3:20-21). 

What exactly does this mean for us? We see Christ’s headship over the church body in the first indicative. In the second, we see humans, apart from Christ, are under the wrong headship. Humans are inherently under the power of the prince of the power of the air, Satan. We should see the unity of Christ, but in Paul’s first paragraph, we initially see that humans are natural enemies of God, of Christ. So, we have identified this problem. It is not because we were raised wrong or have not had good enough examples. It is not because we have not tried hard enough. The world surrounds us; its pressures and influences are everywhere. Because of this, our flesh twists our desires.

Martin Luther wrote, "A man without the Spirit of God does not do evil against his will under pressure, as though he were taken by the scruff of the neck and dragged into it like a thief being dragged off against his will to punishment, but he does it spontaneously and voluntarily. And this willingness of volition is something which he cannot, in his own strength, eliminate, restrain, or alter. He goes on willing and desiring to do evil, and if external pressure forces him to act otherwise, nevertheless, his will within remains averse to so doing and chafes under such constraint and opposition." We cannot fight our desires on our own. This is who we are; this is the depth of our depravity.

Paul refers to the world as various things. Sometimes, it is creation, the cosmos, the world as the planet, and sometimes the totality of mankind. Other times, he refers to it as those things that are against God. We see this in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We also know this is Christ’s intent for us as He taught the disciples to pray the Lord's Prayer, which consistently refers to that which is done in heaven. He called us to pray that way because everything in the world opposes God. However, until we are reborn, it is all we know. It is like the air we breathe. It is just there.

So far, we have looked at the flesh and the world. Tomorrow, we will wrap up this study by exposing Satan for who he is. It may look bleak and hopeless, but the love of Christ, His blood, can overcome all things, the world, the flesh, and Satan.

Peace and grace!