At War With The Flesh

“Abstain from the passions of the flesh (or 'fleshly lusts'), which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2: 11)

This is an admonition to people who are supposedly converted, saved, or born again. Yet, it may also be said towards lost people. They are, by the law, responsible for their not abstaining from pleasing and fulfilling the passions of the depraved flesh, or carnal nature. It is good advice for both saved and lost. Neither can obey the command, or follow fully the advice, without divine power and grace. 

"Fleshly lusts" certainly involves illicit sexual lusting and is therefore connected with the sins of adultery and fornication. But they involve many other kinds of lusts, various other desires for evil things. The word is plural (lusts, passions) as in Ephesians 2: 3: "we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind" (kjv). Notice the plural words "lusts" and "desires." 

Of these "fleshly lusts" Dr. Gill wrote: "these are enemies to the spiritual peace, comfort, and welfare of the soul" and "are the worst enemies he has." (Gill's Commentary)

The enemies of a man are chiefly the world, the flesh, and the devil (Satan), as has long been stated by Christian evangelists. To seek to live righteously and in a God pleasing manner requires that man fight well and hard in this war for the well being of the soul. Believers in Jesus the Messiah are the only ones who will obtain victory in this fatal conflict of life and death. The flesh and the spirit are at war. Wrote Paul:

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." (Gal. 5: 17 kjv)

In order to fight and win this war, we must fight it as a "good soldier of Jesus Christ" (II Tim. 2: 3), fighting under his leadership and command, and must "put on the whole armor of God" (see Eph. 6: 10-18), often "enduring hardness" or "undergoing hardships." (II Tim. 2: 3) The Christian who seeks to live godly will suffer defeats in battle with the lusts of the flesh, but he keeps on fighting, winning many battles, and ultimately the war. We must fight to the death. We must not give up. Wrote one author:

"...what matters most is not sin’s persistence, but our resistance. Or as Owen puts it, “Your state is not at all to be measured by the opposition that sin makes to you, but by the opposition you make to it.” 

("Am I Really a Christian? Lessons from John Owen on Assurance" by Scott Hubbard - here)

Don't surrender to the sinful passions! Fight them in the strength of God and his word. Seek the Commander in Chief's guidance always. General Jesus will not forsake his soldiers but will lead them on to victory.