THE SUBMISSION OF THE FLESH.pdf

Romans 6:12-14 instructs not to let sin reign in the mortal body and not to present members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin. Instead, present yourselves to God as alive from the dead and members as instruments of righteousness. The mortal body, or unredeemed flesh, is not the old man, but a physical body subject to sin. The old man was crucified, and the body of sin is to be rendered inoperative. There are two entities with different solutions: the old man, which was crucified, and the body of sin, which is to be made a servant of righteousness.

Christians often try to overcome the flesh by crucifying it or casting out fleshly habits, but this is not God's intention. The flesh cannot be overcome by deliverance, prayer, commitment, or counseling. The old man was crucified and replaced with the new creation, but the body of sin still remains and will until Jesus comes again.

To overcome the sinful flesh, Paul outlines three steps:
1. Know you are entirely separated from sin,
2. Know you have complete authority over the flesh,
3. Fall into God's resurrection power within us.
Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness. The flesh is created to serve and will obey when controlled. There is a choice to yield to the higher power within or to the power of sin that dwells in the flesh.