1. Introduction.

Our sexual instincts were God given and yet have so obviously corrupted many societies in the history of the world. In our own Western Society there is an increasing cruel sexual exploitation of children and even sexual attacks on old people. Since God gave us our sexual instincts and made them pleasurable for our good, why has this happened?

The Bible speaks of the `weakness of the flesh', the `sins of the flesh', and the `body of death.' 

(The NIV translates `sarx' as `sinful nature' but it would have been better to leave it as it is in most other translations as `flesh'.) 

The statement `in my flesh there is no good thing' (Romans 7:18), does not mean that the physical body is inherently evil, but it does mean that it does not have the source of goodness in itself. Cut off from God it can only degenerate. This is especially true when one considers its sexual instincts - albeit God given.

Why are sexual sins so serious? In the short term they may not seem so serious. There have been many `good' men and women who have worked courageously and generously for the welfare of their fellows and yet have not been averse to having the odd affair on the side. 

2. The flesh and the spirit in Creation.

The creation of humankind is the climax of the creation of the animal kingdom, all of which is declared by God to be `very good'. (Genesis 1). Adam is made from the `dust of the ground' (Genesis 2) and therefore belongs to the physical world of nature. Like the animals humans are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, and therefore with the animals humans share a God given sexual instinct. One woman is given to Adam and so sexual relations are seen to be monogamous and heterosexual and for life. 
 

We are given a form of companionship with the animals. (Gen 2:18ff) However the really fulfilling companionship is only realised in the man - woman relationship, because she is `one flesh' with the man. The term `one flesh' did not originally refer to sexual intercourse but rather to a creative act of God. (Gen 2:22, 23). Nevertheless it is - from then on- expressed in sexual intercourse and the birth of children. Sexual intercourse is an intimate and pleasurable acceptance in our flesh of God's will that we hold all things in common with our spouses and we desire that this oneness reach out beyond us in the birth of the children who will come from our flesh.

However humans are more than mere physical creatures governed by instincts and feelings. We are made in the image of God and therefore share in something that reflects the freedom, authority and responsibility of God Himself. This means that our physical existence (flesh) must be open to that which is beyond mere physical being. 

Our personal life, free will, and self-consciousness must come from beyond our physical existence and ultimately be found in our relationship with God Himself. The decisions we make for the behaviour of our bodies (our actions) must not be controlled by our physical feelings - albeit God given - but by our knowledge of the Word and Spirit of God. 

Our spirit our soul is to be open to the `God of the spirits of all flesh' (Numbers 16:22). By His ever present Word and Spirit we are to live a truly free and fulfilling human life that is expressed in our flesh that is joyfully subject to our wills. This means that our decisions are not to be governed by our `feelings' but our feelings are to be subject to our will that receives its knowledge of the difference between good and evil from God Himself. This does not mean we are to be mere slaves of the Lord for there are many good trees in the garden from which we can make choices. (Gen 2:16). We are free to choose between one good and another good. We can have this freedom because the Word and Spirit of God let us know what is the difference is between good and evil. 

The relationship: `God - soul - flesh', enables the Word and Spirit of God to constantly renew our flesh and keep us in that Eternal Life which God intended from the beginning. To know God is indeed Eternal Life. (John 17:3). Physical existence - left to itself - is bound to decay and move from order to disorder. The laws of physics themselves tell us that entropy - the measure of disorder in physical existence - always increases unless the physical system is open to a greater order beyond it. If an open system later becomes closed in on itself it can do nothing but decay into disorder. If it is a living system this disorder means mortality.

The full article dicusses the above points in more detail and continues the discussion under the following headings:

• The flesh corrupted.
• The True Circumcision.
• The Christian Life and hope.

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Comment to Howard Taylor always welcome.