Often, after declaring that we have been crucified with Christ, died with Him, and buried with Him, a common question arises: “If that’s true, why do I still feel the tendency to sin? Does this mean my old self or sinful nature is still alive?” This is where many theologians step in and argue, “Yes, Paul said we are crucified, but what he really meant is that we need to crucify ourselves because our sinful nature is still active. ”
This sounds in line with what we “feel”, but it is absolutely incorrect. The Bible clearly says that we have been crucified, and in fact that is the basis by which Paul even says in Romans 6, how can we sin any longer? So clearly, there is something that we are not connecting properly, and that is the flesh.
Flesh is the Villain
Yes, flesh is the villain. But first, let’s see what flesh is. Since there is a lot of teaching on flesh, so what comes to mind when you think of “living in the flesh”.
Take a second.
If you thought about immorality, perversion, pornography, lying, cheating…you get my drift, and you’re right, but it’s not JUST what flesh is, it is not just about living in sin, that is just a part of it. The list of flesh that you listed here are all bad, but did you know that flesh can “look good” too.
Let’s look into the greek word of flesh, and the contexts where it was used.
Good-lookin’ flesh!
Most of the time, because the word is translated as flesh, we tend to associate it with our sinful nature. If you examine the word flesh (G4559 in Strong’s Concordance), it is derived from the Greek word sarkikos (or sometimes sarx), which is used in various contexts to indicate relying on something or—a way of thinking that places confidence in anything other than God. That is flesh.
Flesh can “appear good” too. For example, in Romans 15:27, Paul says that if the Gentiles have shared in spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to the Jewish believers with material blessings. Here, the word for “material” refers to fleshly or tangible things. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 9:11, Paul asks, “If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?” The word “material” here is sarkikos. Obviously, Paul is not saying that it is his right to share in the fleshly lifestyle, but rather he is talking about materialistic things. Someone who is focussed on earning money is someone living in the flesh. It’s not like the earlier list we mentioned but still its “living in the flesh”.
“Proud to be XXXX” and Flesh
But thats not all. In Philippians 3:4-6, Paul talks about the things he could be proud of, his achievements, even spiritual achievements, even trying to follow the law, and he calls it all flesh.
“although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”
Philippians 3:4-6
So apparently, when even the best of Christians get riled up during election cycles saying “I am proud to be an XXXX (nation/veteran/heritage/education)”, they are living in the flesh. Flesh is a natural programming. It is a mindset. It’s an unrenewed mindset. So, flesh is a natural programming that motivates us to put confidence apart from Christ. It is the mindset you had before you were born again. It is the mindset that made you think that my life is secure once I get that PR/Green card, the mindset that made you think, I was born in the XXX family, or I have a Ph.D- I deserve respect. All those things, may seem noble in this world, but it is living in the flesh. That’s why Paul says in Col 3:1 to “set our minds on things above”.
Sinful Nature is Crucified, but the Old mindset of Flesh can be active
Why do we still feel tempted to sin? Temptation doesn’t require a sinful nature to exist. Instead, something else is influencing you—the flesh, an old mindset.
At salvation, your spirit became one with the Spirit of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17) and was made perfect. However, your soul—where your mind, emotions, and will reside—remained unchanged. Your thoughts, feelings, and reactions stayed the same. This is the flesh mindset you’ve carried all along, and now it must be renewed. Without renewing your mind, you’ll have new spiritual “hardware” but outdated “software.” It’s like having the latest processor running on Windows 98—it doesn’t allow you to function in the fullness of your identity in Christ. So, the flesh can bring these thoughts, can try to push you, to the point that it makes you doubt whether you had been crucified at all with Christ.
Conclusion
The flesh is still alive, and that is what is causing you to sin, not your sinful nature. It pushes you to sin even though at the core of your being, you don’t want to. The Bible tells us to renew our mind to the reality of who we are. Rom 12:2 says to be transformed by the renewal of your mind, and not to be conformed to this world.
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