Man “Became” Flesh

God says that this satanic system is inherently “evil,” hopelessly “corrupt,” thoroughly “polluted,” and irreconcilably hateful.

This satanic system, “the world,” is like an enormous octopus that has sent forth myriad tentacles to lay hold upon every phase of human life and draw it unto itself. 

Galatians 1:4

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father.”

2 Peter 1:3-4

“By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

2 Peter 2:20

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.”

John 15:18

“If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you.”

Thus, God states His estimate of “the world.” He speaks with equal clearness regarding its works.

John 7:7

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

This satanic system, “the world,” is like an enormous octopus that has sent forth myriad tentacles to lay hold upon every phase of human life and draw it unto itself. It has its grip upon the corporate life of mankind in its homes, markets, schools, politics, and even its churches. It has penetrated every relationship of the individual’s life, personal, family, social, national, and international.

“The world” is human society with God left out. It is Satan’s snare for capturing men and holding them in bondage. “What the web is to the spider: what the bait is to the angler: what the lure is to the fowler: so is the world to Satan a means of capturing men.” “The world ” is the devil’s paw with which he strikes men: it is his lair into which he entraps men: it is the devil’s ally in fighting God for the sovereign control of men.

But is there anything within man that responds to Satan and his system? In the Bible, we read they have an accomplice named “the flesh.”

Romans 7:5

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

Romans 8:12-13

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

In Scripture, the word “flesh” has several meanings, but in the verses quoted, it is used ethically and means the whole natural man, spirit, soul, and body, living in self-will and alienated from the life of God. The flesh is what man became through the fall. It is man “without God.”

Ephesians 2:12

¹²that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

The “flesh” manifests nothing but antagonism to God and defiance of authority. It is irrevocably opposed to God and His law.   

Romans 8:7

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

The “flesh” then is the material in mankind upon which Satan works to keep man a part of his system. This trinity of evil, the world, the flesh, and the devil, is organized into a diabolical combination against God and His saints.

Source: “Life on the Highest Plane” by Ruth Paxson

Gracious God, we can see in our daily experience that this present world is without hope.  Save us from a life of self-will.