For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
Summary: Paul wants us to see what he sees — that there are two kinds of struggles believers engage in. One is spiritual, the other “flesh and blood.”
Today’s passage is such a bizarre statement that it has to be from God!
Let me say that again: Today’s passage makes no sense at all, if we don’t know that it is coming from God.
Let’s stop for a minute and look at the headlines today: Nation threatens nation, people fighting in the streets, governments jailing citizens, and businesses battling in court are all examples of struggles against flesh and blood.
From a practical standpoint, it seems that all we do is struggle against “flesh and blood!” What fresh hell are we struggling with now that is not “flesh and blood?”
To answer this question, we need a quick review of who and what we are.
If you listen to “flesh and blood” tell the story, we are only “flesh and blood.” There is no “spirit,” in people, only electrons and molecules of matter. The fact that we are curious about our origins, or that we can “think,” does not seem to register with these people. But we are more than “flesh and blood.”
The Bible gives this definition of what a human is:
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)
The “breath of life” is the key to being a “living being.” The Hebrew word for breath, “nᵉshâmâh,” means more than air. It is a word that describes the invisible part of our life that animates the visible. It includes the invisible qualities of life such as “divine inspiration, intellect, soul, [and] spirit.”* In short, all the things that make a man different from the plants and animals.
Why is this important?
Again, the Bible explains why. God is not human (Number 23:19), he is spirit (John 4:24). Jesus tells us, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21).
We live in two worlds. One world is “flesh and blood,” the other is spirit. The flesh and blood part of our existence is temporal. Our physical body, or “tent,” as Peter calls it (2 Peter 1:13), is doomed to die. Our spirit, on the other hand, does not “die” in the same sense. Spiritual death is different.
Spiritual death is separation from God. Spirits who do not submit to God’s authority, who put “self” above God’s will, do not enter into God’s kingdom. (Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 7:21)
There is nothing in the world of “flesh and blood” that compares to the value of being in the kingdom of God. Nothing. Yes, people of “flesh and blood” struggle with each other. Paul’s own story is full of such struggles, but that is not important. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Application: Let’s keep our “eye on the prize;” eternity with God.
Food for Thought: How do we tell the difference between struggles that are “flesh and blood” and struggles that are not?
*”H5397 – nᵊšāmâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (niv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 11 Oct, 2023. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5397/niv/wlc/0-1/.
If you would have asked me that question a few years ago I might have tried to provide a list. Today, I can’t think of a single struggle that is of “flesh and blood” that isn’t a decision point between following God’s Will or following mine. In a lot of ways I feel like the struggles of flesh and blood are the enemy trying to find a weak spot in our armor. I believe when Paul writes “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,” he means to look beyond what is happening today and recognize it for how it measures against God’s Will and eternity. Our struggles with flesh and blood are a result of peoples decisions. How we react is a result of our decisions. That is one purpose of the armor. What happens externally has to pass through the armor.
Chris,
I like your point about keeping our eyes on the big picture: eternity!
I really like your response CH. it really made me think.
I do think most of our struggles have a spiritual foundation. They may look like they are just flesh and blood, but they connect to the spiritual battle in some manner.
For example, I may have a toothache. It is annoying. Maybe keeps me awake. It is difficult to eat. How do I respond? Go to the dentist? Yes. But also seeking God’s help to persevere in the meantime. My attitude is either building godly character or reacting entirely carnal to the situation. I bring the concern to God in prayer or simply act independently of God. The physical affects the spiritual and vice versa. That is why it is good to submit our whole selves to the Lord: body, soul and spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5: 23 – 24.
Brother Rich,
“The physical affects the spiritual and vice versa.”
I like this statement of yours because it sums up our relationship with the invisible quite well. We make life choices based on … what? The physical side of us leads to becoming a slave to the flesh. The invisible side has many possibilities. Choosing Jesus leads us to the best possible outcomes.
10-12-2023, How do we tell the difference between struggles that are “flesh and blood” and struggles that are not?
All true believers are imperfect beings, empowered by the Holy Spirit, dwelling in our hearts as we are called to separate ourselves from this world, and serve God.
2 Corinthians 6:1
To understand what this means, we must prayerfully study and apply our Bibles teachings as we allow the Holy Spirit to become our power to live in obedience to His revelations of changes required in our lives to effectively serve God.
Acts 1:8
As we grow spiritually, God’s word will become our standard for life lived in or outside His will. Matters of flesh and blood differences could become possible opportunities for ministry to others, if not, we pass them by.
Galatians 5:24-25, Ephesians 6:12
Our lives are to be lived in obedience to the greatest commandments as given by Jesus.
Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Ron,
Your focus on the greatest commandment is very appropriate. In a word, Love.