Jeremiah wrote:
I would like to ask both you and JR to substantiate your use of,"the flesh profits nothing." I challenge both of you to go back to John 6 and consider whether you've quote mined that one, and stripped it of Jesus' meaning. And would you guys please explain why you think your being true to his meaning of: ...It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit and they are life.
"'Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.' 28 Then they said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' 29 Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'" John 6:27-29
"Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." John 6:53-63
I've considered it and do not believe I have stripped it of Jesus' meaning. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the Word. We eat Him, which to me means we eat the Word. I don't think it would have have done Peter any good if he took a bite of Jesus' flesh. Food which endures to everlasting life is the Word. Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. This is spiritually discerned and I believe when we don't lean on our own understanding but pray for help (Proverbs 3:5-6) and for wisdom (James 1) and believe He will give it, He will.
The work of God is to believe in Jesus. Mary chose what was better and it won't be taken from her. The Spirit gave her life but her flesh sat on its butt. "But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5)
"Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord."
Jeremiah 17:5
"Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"
John 3:5-7
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."
Romans 7:18
"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."
Galatians 5:17
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:12
"There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
1 Peter 3:21
Notice it doesn't say the filth ON or IN the flesh... it states the filth OF the flesh. How can we have a good conscience in this condition? I believe, as the Word (which is sharper than a two-edged sword) divides between that which is spiritual and that which is fleshly it reveals to us the mystery of the Gospel, the word of righteousness. Knowing I am already righteous (by credit) means my conscience can be completely clear of all offense despite myself (my outward self that is... my flesh). I can draw near to God... I can "come boldly to the throne of grace" because of Christ's work on my behalf.
2 Corinthians 4:16b
"Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."
I am being true to the meaning God has spoken to me. However, it has changed over time... as I have matured (Hebrews 5:14) it has seemingly changed. However, God is unchanging but I believe His love meets us where we are at.
May God bless you abundantly, more than you could ask or imagine.