Flesh vs Spirit - Flesh is Not Body by Mapping Rom 8:1-16

There is much confusion about flesh and body. While flesh and body are closely related, they are not the same. This can be made clear by a study of Rom 6 and 8. In this post, a mind map of Rom 8:1-16 is done. A visual map rather than a paragraph of text help clarify the understanding. The flesh is used in contrast against the Spirit. The body could be ruled by the Spirit or the Flesh which leads to two very contrasting end points of life and death. It is then better to classify our status as either the New Man in Christ or the Old Man in the flesh. Whether New or Old, we have a spirit and soul(mind) that live in a Body. Body per se is the creation of God and is precious. Rom 6:13 tells us to present our body, not for unrighteousness but as instruments of righteousness, and Rom 12:2 tells us to present our body as a living sacrifice to God. So we need to take good care of our bodies.

Here is the visual map of Romans 8:1-16.

A great advantage of a visual map is that it shows the relationships among concepts very clearly. We proceed from higher-level concepts and drill down to finer concepts to increase our understanding. Another good thing about a visual map is that you can start from anywhere and trace it back to gain an increased understanding of the concept.

I have a number of concepts so that you can follow them. It is just a starting point. You may start with any concept you like.

The Key Concepts

1. New Man.
1. The difference between a believer and a non-believer is the concept of a born-again New Man by the Spirit of God. Our spirit is rebirth and is connected to the Spirit of God.
2. Our body remains the same. 
2. Old Man.
1. The key differentiation between old vs new is that old is ruled by the Flesh whereas the new is ruled by the Spirit. 
2. The Flesh has sinned because the Flesh wants to be his own God and does not recognize the true Creator God as God. Rom 8:7-8 tell us clearly that the will of the Flesh is against God.
3. This sin of the Flesh causes the body to walk in unrighteousness and brings forth death.
4. The only way to get rid of sin in the Body is through Jesus Christ 8:3 and be rebirthed into Christ (Node 6) and then we become children of God.
3. Spirit of the New Man
1. The Spirit of the New Man is life and peace (with God too).
2. It has the righteousness of Christ (not the self-righteousness of our Flesh).
3. It is freed from sin and fear. 
4. It is a child of God. 
5. We know God as our Father in our spirit and we cry through our body to call God as Abba (an intimate way of addressing our loving father).
4. Body
1. Can be led either by our Spirit or by our Flesh.
2. If led by our Spirit (rebirthed of God), our body does work of righteousness and brings forth greater vitality of life and eventually eternal life with God.
3. If led by our Flesh through its passion, we walk in unrighteousness and is a living death or dying and eventual to eternal death.
5. Flesh
1. Is not the body but of a mind, mind of the Flesh.
   Tim Keller defines Flesh as the mindset of a man wanting to be his own god and to be in total control. See The Keys to Peace and Joy - Learning from Tim Keller
2. It is against God. Cannot please God, Actually rejects God, and wants itself to be God. Adam's partaking in the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is essentially telling God that he wanted to be his own judge of what is right or wrong. He does not want to be accountable to God but to himself.
3. The consequence is death - existence in separation from the Source of Life --- God.
6. In-Christ - Our New Membership in the Body of Christ
1. We shall have no condemnation.
2. We have fulfilled the Law in Christ.
3. We are sons of God.
4. We follow the new Law of Life of God.

You may also randomly pick any concept and trace it back to learn more.

Hope your knowledge and understanding of this key concept of Flesh, Spirit, and Body are enlightened by this visual map.

Lim Liat (c) 8 Feb 2013

Update 26 Jan 2023

David Jeremiah defined flesh as Self-centredness. It is FLESH minus the H and read backward. You get SELF without Him.