The Word of God Divides

It is not a simple matter to distinguish between “the old man” and “the man of God”; between “the body of flesh,” “the body of death” and “the body of sin”; between “the works of the flesh,” “dead works,” “the deeds of the body” and “the works of God.”

We should bear in mind that when the word “man” is mentioned, it refers to body, soul and spirit. But when the word “body” is used, it refers only to the body.

The ungodly person is called “the old man”; he does “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19) with “the body of flesh.” The old man has now been crucified. Rom. 6:6. Thus the works of the flesh come to an end, and the body of flesh is put off through the circumcision of Christ. Col. 2:11 and 3:9.

After we have received the forgiveness of sins and have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, we still have “the body of sin,” the “deeds of the body” and “the body of death.”

If we are upright, we have to acknowledge that even in those of us who have been baptized with the Spirit, there are still many things that we must judge and put to death by the Spirit. The source of these things—which are manifested against our will—is called “the body of sin,” and the resulting deeds are called “the deeds of the body.”

These are the deeds of the body that Paul refers to in Romans 7 when he says that he does what he hates. Yet, since it cannot be any other way, he thanks God that he is able to serve the law of God with his mind and the law of sin with his flesh. Rom. 7:25.

People’s lack of true understanding makes them think that the condition described in Romans 7 refers to a person who is in bondage to the law. But that is not true.

These deeds of the body, which we hate, must be put to death through the Spirit. Rom. 8:13. Then we will live.

We have to make a clear distinction between the works of the flesh committed by an ungodly person, and the deeds of the body carried out by a God-fearing person, which are done against his will and better judgment.

In other words, the body of sin is the sin in our unconscious being, inherited from our fathers. There is no condemnation for this. Neither is there condemnation for the deeds of the body when we put them to death by the Spirit. But we ourselves must put them to death. Contrary to what many people say, it is not the Spirit that puts to death the deeds of the body. God is dependent upon our cooperation, and we are dependent upon His power throughout the entire work of sanctification.

The apostle calls the body that we now have—this body of flesh and blood—the “body of death.” Rom. 7:24.

The man who is led by the Spirit of God to do the works of God, despite the conflict between flesh and Spirit is called “the man of God.” 2 Tim. 3:17 and Rev. 2:26.

Look up these references and ponder them diligently.