Untitled Sermon (2)

I want to give a needed clarification from a text of last Sunday.

What Does Christ Mean that the Flesh is No Help At All?

I think it is important to understand this statement in it’s proper context…

—> According to Scripture.

If we misunderstand the biblical meaning we fall prey to asceticism or gnosticism.

A very short description of…

Asceticism says we must punish the flesh through varying means to keep the flesh in check, to keep it suppressed.

Obviously, that is a false teaching according to Paul in Colossians

A very short description of…

Gnosticism teaches that the flesh is so defiled that it can do no good and they deny the incarnation because God could never take upon flesh without being corrupted.

But, Jesus says…

It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is no help at all…

the flesh is no help at all…

But only in the manner in which they understood it.

They indeed understood the flesh, just as when cut to pieces and sold at the market…

Not as when it is quickened by the Spirit.

So, Jesus says that “the flesh is no help at all,” in the same manner as it is said that “knowledge puffs up.”

So, do we understand the Apostle as instructing us to hate knowledge?

As he would say, “By no means!”

And what does it mean that “knowledge puffs up”?

Knowledge alone, without love.

So Paul added, “but love builds up.”

So, if love is added to knowledge it will be profitable.

Not by itself, but through love.

So also here, “the flesh is no help at all,” only when alone.

Let the Spirit be added to the flesh, as love is added to knowledge, and it is helpful.

For if the flesh profited nothing, the Word would not be made flesh to dwell among us.

If through the flesh Christ has greatly profited us, does the flesh profit nothing?

So, Jesus is saying, the flesh is no help at all when the spirit is dead.

But, when the spirit is alive it becomes profitable.