The Body of Corruption: Led by the Spirit or by Sin?

The Scriptures speak about:

1. The Body of Sin

The body of sin is the sin that dwells in our body. This sin can be reckoned to be dead as long as it does not draw our mind along in following its demands. The old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. “If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Rom. 8:10. The Holy Spirit is the driving force that leads us directly against the lusts in our body. As a result, the body then dies, since its sinful demands are no longer being satisfied. It becomes a sacrifice for the demands of the Spirit and is done away with. Christ offered Himself as a well-pleasing sacrifice to God in the power of an eternal Spirit. Heb. 9:14.

The body of sin, however, is by no means inactive. In the areas where we lack knowledge and light and where we have not yet been made alive, our human spirit is still influenced by sin, causing what the Scriptures call deeds of the body. These deeds occur against our will and better judgment—against the mind that serves the law of God. These deeds must also be put to death through the Holy Spirit after they have occurred. Rom. 8:13. Paul is referring to these deeds when he says, “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Rom. 7:17. If I have done these deeds, how then can I say that it was not I who did them, but sin that dwells in me? It is because my mind was not in agreement. Sin in my members took me—my fleshly tendencies—captive and forced me to do things that I actually hate. Whatever has been born of flesh cannot be subject to the law of God.

After we have been born again and have received the Spirit of God as a guarantee, the Spirit wages war against the flesh, and the flesh against the Spirit. Where my human spirit has not yet been made alive, the flesh gains control, and this results in deeds of the body. But when we put these deeds to death by the Spirit as soon as they occur, the Spirit takes revenge. In this way, the light of knowledge strengthens our mind, while at the same time, according to the flesh, we are always being restrained by judgment, sufferings, and death. After we receive light over one of these deeds of the body, it will from then on be part of the old man, and together with the old man it will be crucified on the accursed tree so that it will eventually die in the body of Christ, together with Him.

There is no condemnation for deeds of the body. Paul even thanked God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, that he served the law of God with his mind, but the law of sin with his flesh. Rom. 7:25. It cannot be any other way, because flesh will always be flesh, as long as it exists. Yet, we can have hope that the body of sin will be destroyed as long as the old man is crucified. You might ask, “What then is the old man?” It is the man that lived according to his fleshly lusts and desires, despite knowing better. Now we have been crucified to everything we know to be sin. Where we lack light, however, sin will still manifest itself. But we are not judged for this, because we have not yet seen it. These hidden sins will also be brought to our attention as the Spirit gives us light over the deeds of the body, and then they must be put to death by the Spirit so that we can live.

2. The Body of Flesh

The body of flesh is that body which presents itself as an instrument of sin in the body. Then sin reigns. The works that result are called works of the flesh, as opposed to deeds of the body. The mind is serving the law of sin, whereas with deeds of the body, the mind is serving the law of God. “The works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like . . . those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:19-21. These works cannot be put to death by the Spirit, because those who practice such things have not inherited the kingdom of God. They serve the law of sin with their mind, and the desire conceives, giving birth to sin and death. Works of the flesh require cleansing—the forgiveness of sins. The foreskin of the flesh must be cut away. The body of flesh must be unclothed by the circumcision of Christ and buried with Him in baptism. Col. 2:11-12.

The body of flesh commits works of the flesh, which are transgressions of the law. As a result, the curse of the law is also in effect, and the person is convicted of sin, because they do not believe in Him. A human being consists of body, soul, and spirit. The old man is the man whose mind is bound to sin in the flesh and who avails himself of the body of flesh. The new man serves the law of God with his mind and presents his body as a well-pleasing sacrifice to God as an instrument of righteousness. The old man can and must be put off, and the new man put on. This is the same as saying that sin in the flesh receives its judgment and death in the body of Christ’s flesh. We will receive the power of the resurrection—ample enough to be able to present our bodies for righteousness, in those areas where we possess light and life. This is precisely how we experience true freedom for our spirit. The flesh, as a slave of Christ, is held in its place and not permitted to glory in its freedom.

3. The Body of Death

The body of death is that body which is subject to the laws of corruption on account of the sin that dwells in it, regardless of whether it is presented as an instrument of righteousness or used in the service of sin. In any case, this body will die. If a person should live to experience the return of Christ, their body will be swallowed up by life. It will be unclothed according to the will of God. It is of the earth and is earthly, and like everything else in the natural world, it is subject to the laws of corruption. “The whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Rom. 8:22-23. 2 Cor. 5:2. As long as we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; but when we leave the body behind, we will be at home with the Lord. At the last trumpet, we will be changed in a moment. “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’” 1 Cor. 15:52-55.

On the resurrection morning, when we are clothed with an incorruptible body, we will no longer groan as Paul did: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Mortality will be swallowed up by life, and then all doctrines about the body of sin, the body of flesh, and the body of death will vanish in the radiant light of the glorified body. Nonetheless, as long as we are at home in this dwelling, we need these doctrines of Christ so that we can learn to put everything in its rightful place and overcome sin, so our glorified body can become even more glorious. In the resurrection of the dead, one will have the glory of the sun, one the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. Let us be diligent so that we can receive such an abundant entrance into God’s eternal kingdom.