This is a heavyweight bout to the death. Both participants are out to destroy each other. In one corner, "the desires of the flesh." In the other corner, "the desires of the Spirit.”
No holds barred. It will be brutal. It will be bloody. It will be nasty.
The Apostle Paul explains to the Galatians the real fight that's going on. Without a doubt, he is violently opposed to the Judaizers and their teaching of self-salvation.
But there is another battle going on here. And it goes on inside of each one of us.
It's the death match between our flesh and the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. The reason that the counterfeit gospel of these false teachers is so dangers is because of the war waging in us.
"For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other..." (v17).
How much do these two arch enemies hate each other? Paul let's us know by using the verb επιθυμεω/epithumeo.
It's normally translated as to desire, covet or lust after something. The term doesn't necessarily describe whether it is a good or bad thing, just the level of passion.
It's a compound word meaning heat or passion (-θυμεω/-thumeo) toward or at (επι-/epi-) something else. The apostle tells us that there is a heated rivalry boiling between these two opponents. There is a white hot passion to defeat the other.
If that doesn't convince us that they are ferociously opposed to each other, Paul uses a second verb, antikeimai. This term paints a picture someone not just with a difference of opinion but openly hostile to another.
The apostle uses the very same word to describe the venom and hostility of the antichrist toward our Savior (2Th 2:4).
Let's be clear about one thing. Just because the flesh and the Spirit are mortal enemies, it doesn't mean that this will be a fair fight. This one's not even going to be close.
As long as you've placed your trust in the finished life and work of Jesus, the flesh doesn't stand a chance in you.
Just as Jesus declared, "It is finished!" (Jn 19:30), this one is over before it ever starts. Each one of us can be certain that God's Spirit will defeat our flesh and win a decisive victory.
We can be sure "that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6).
In the meantime, this bloody bout rages on. And we need to understand that. We'll continue to struggle against the "desires of the flesh" as long as we're on this side of the grave. We see that in the use of present active verbs.
The fighting still continues. And the octagon inside each one of us. Paul confesses the impact of such an internal struggle on his own life in Romans 7:15-25.
The result of this internal cage match is a continual contradiction on the outside. Or as Paul puts it, they "keep you from doing the things you want to do" (v17).
We want to do what God wants, but our flesh rebels. Our sinful self wants to do something, but God's Spirit counters.
It's frustrating. It's confusing. Don't think you're alone. A quick look at the so-called saints of Scripture shows us that. As we've read, Paul readily admitted his ongoing struggle with his own sin (Rom 7:15-25).
Peter, the dude Jesus nicknamed Rocky, crumbled time and time again (Mt 16:23; Lk 22:56-62; Gal 2:11-14). We could go on. Abraham. Moses. David. Solomon. The Bible is an endless parade of losers that our gracious God chooses to use.
And He continues to sanctify each one of us throughout our lives until that glorious day when "we will be like Him" (1Jn 3:2).
But the battle rages on in the octagon.
©2012
Jay Jennings
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