Spirit vs. Flesh
April 21, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Philippians 1:19–24, Isaiah 51:1, Philippians 4:13, John 15:5, 2 Corinthians 5:14–18
Duane Sheriff teaches a powerful sermon about the difference between our spirit and flesh as believers in Christ. It's essential to understand that while our flesh is still weak and incapable, Christ Himself lives in our spirit through the Holy Spirit.
"Christ is in my spirit. And while I have a spirit united to Christ, I have this soul, mind, will, and emotions, but I live in this body." Because of this reality, we should not be condemned or confused by the weakness we experience in our flesh. Instead, we must learn to depend on Christ's power in our spirit.
Duane outlined four fundamental truths we need to understand about our flesh:
1. Without God, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value. "Without Him, I can do nothing" (John 15:5). "But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
2. Without God, we have nothing good in ourselves to boast about. "Without Him, I have nothing...Everything I have is by the grace of God." We should never be arrogant because our gifts and abilities come from God's grace.
3. Without God's wisdom, we truly know nothing as we ought to know. "If anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2). Only God can give us true knowledge and understanding.
4. In our flesh, we are inherently unworthy. "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy of being called an apostle" (1 Corinthians 15:9). Yet by God's grace, Paul could say, "I labored more abundantly than they all" (v.10). Despite our fleshly weaknesses, we must believe the reality that Christ dwells in our spirit.
Duane uses the analogy of tea to illustrate how Christ has infused our spirit. Though remaining distinct from us, just as you call water "tea," once the tea bag has steeped in it, God calls us the "body of Christ" because Christ has infused our spirit through salvation.
Believers should not be arrogant or condemning but walk with humble dependence on God's grace. We should continually look to Christ's power in our spirit, not our fleshly efforts, which accomplish nothing. As Paul said, "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
