Not All Flesh Looks Evil: When Good Intentions Miss the Gospel: Phil 3:3-6

Flesh is often taught as just “sinful stuff.” But the truth is, it’s not limited to obvious sin. Flesh is really a mindset—a way of living with your identity rooted in yourself, or the natural systems of the world. Yes, sin is part of it, but it’s only a subset. Flesh is broader than we think.

Religious Flesh? Yup, That’s a Thing Too

We ended the last post by pointing out that flesh can be religious, too. Paul nails this idea in Philippians 3:3–6 (NASB):

“For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…”

Paul then lists all the religious credentials he once took pride in—his tribe, his zeal, his law-keeping, his reputation. And yet he calls all of that… flesh.

In other words, religious flesh isn’t about sin in the wild sense—it’s about self-improvement and spiritual performance that’s not rooted in who you are in Christ.

An Example From Real Life

Let me give you a real-life example. In some churches from the country I grew up in, especially in Charismatic circles in India, many people insist on wearing white as a sign of holiness.

I recently talked to someone who left a church because he felt people there didn’t look “holy” enough. To him, it just didn’t seem right.

And that’s the issue. People often believe that external efforts—like not wearing jewelry or choosing “holy” colors—somehow make them more sanctified. Their identity becomes rooted in what they do or don’t do, rather than who they are in the Spirit.

Galatia’s Problem Wasn’t Sin—It Was Self-Improvement

This was exactly the issue in Galatia. Their church didn’t have the wild, sinful problems like Corinth. Instead, they were trying to perfect themselves in the flesh.

Paul calls them out in Galatians 3:3:

“Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

They weren’t rebellious; they were religious. And that’s still a trap today.

The Tree of Knowledge vs. the Tree of Life

Think back to the Garden of Eden. There were two trees—one of life and one of knowledge of good and evil.

Now imagine someone grabs a branch from the “good” side of the knowledge tree and says, “Look! I’m doing good things!” Sounds noble, right? But it’s still the wrong tree. It’s still not life.

The law, the rules, the effort—they all come from that same tree of “good and evil.” But Christ calls us to something different: the Tree of Life. That’s Him. That’s grace. That’s life from the inside out.

Good Flesh or Bad Flesh—It’s All Flesh

Here’s the thing: “Good flesh” is still flesh.
“Bad flesh” might be sin. But “good flesh” is performance, rule-following, religious behavior that looks holy but isn’t rooted in Christ. And both are outside the Spirit.

To be clear: self-improvement itself isn’t bad. But self-improvement apart from Christ—when it’s powered by your flesh and not your identity in Him—that’s where we miss the mark.

You Are Not in the Flesh (Even If You Sometimes Walk Like It)

Romans 8:9 says it so clearly:

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.”

So if you belong to Jesus, then you are in the Spirit. That’s your actual location.

But yes, you can still walk in the flesh, even while your spiritual location is in the Spirit. That’s why Galatians 5:25 says:

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Paul’s saying, “Hey, if you live in this new reality, walk like it!” Because yeah, it’s totally possible to be in the Spirit, but still act like you’re in the flesh.

What About Growth? Should We Not Improve Ourselves?

Now someone might ask, “Are you saying we shouldn’t grow or improve?” Not at all. But our growth should come from our union with Christ, not from a checklist or a need to become better by our own effort.

Let me explain it this way: When my child was born, I didn’t receive a manual that told me when and how to love him.

There was no checklist saying,
“8:00 AM – Smile at baby.
12:30 PM – Say something nice.”

I love him because love lives inside me.

In the same way, when Jesus lives in you—when you’re one with Him—you don’t need external rules to live the Christian life. It should flow from the inside out.

Letting Go of Strategies and Resting in Christ

So how do we live this life?

Not by trying harder, but by trusting deeper.
By saying, “Lord, I can’t do this—but You can. So I’ll let You.”

You don’t need a strategy. You don’t need coping mechanisms. You’re already complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10 says, “You have been made complete in Him.” That’s the truth.

Deflating the Flesh

And that’s how you deflate the flesh. By walking in who you already are in Him.

Galatians 5:16 puts it beautifully:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

It’s simple. If you walk in one direction, you won’t go the other way. If you’re walking toward the Spirit, you won’t be heading toward the flesh.

So stop resurrecting the old man. He’s dead. He was crucified at the cross.

Let him stay there.