I. Плоть и дух

“Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on carnal things, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on spiritual things. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for they do not obey the law of God, and indeed cannot. Therefore those who live according to the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:5–8). “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Rom. 8:9). “Therefore, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if in the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the flesh, you will live” (Rom. 8:12–13). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). “Do not turn the cares of the flesh into lusts” (Rom. 13:14). “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh, for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh: they oppose each other, so that you do not do what you would like” (Gal. 5:16-17). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). “He who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:8). Discourse on Flesh and Spirit In a person who has accepted the Christian faith, two laws are found: the law of the flesh and the law of the spirit, or the law of the body and the law of the mind, as the holy Apostle Paul depicted, saying: “I see in my members (bodily) another law, warring against the law of my mind” (Rom. 7:23). Or, as the same apostle says, flesh and spirit are opposed in man: “the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the flesh: they oppose each other” (Gal. 5:17). The difference between the law of the flesh and the law of the spirit There is a constant battle between these laws: what one wants, the other turns away from; what the flesh wants, the spirit does not want. The flesh wants to be proud, magnified, exalted, but the spirit wants to be humble. The flesh wants to be in glory and honor, but the spirit “counts all things as rubbish” (Phil. 3:8). The flesh wants to rest, but the spirit wants to stay awake and work. The flesh wants to celebrate, get drunk, and have fun, but the spirit wants to abstain, fast, and lament about sins. The flesh wants to take revenge on its enemies, and the spirit wants to love its enemies and do good to those who hate. The flesh wants to steal the things of others, and the spirit and its own to give to those who demand it. The flesh wants to please its sensuality, but the spirit wants to be chaste. The flesh wants to do its will in everything, and the spirit wants to do the will of God. So in other things, flesh and spirit oppose each other. The difference between carnal and spiritual wisdom From these two opposites there are two opposite wisdoms: carnal wisdom and spiritual wisdom. Carnal wisdom is when one does what the flesh wants; spiritual wisdom when doing what the spirit wants. Carnal wisdom is pride, arrogance, lust, intemperance, fornication, uncleanness, love of money, theft, murmuring, slander, enmity, quarrel, rancor, revenge, and other things that are contrary to the law of God. Spiritual wisdom is humility, abstinence, chastity, purity, patience, peace, meekness, forgetfulness of malice, and other things that the law of God wants. From these two opposing wisdoms, a twofold and opposite person becomes: carnal and spiritual. Whoever philosophizes is called such a person. He who listens to the flesh and philosophizes from the flesh is called a carnal man; He who follows the spirit and subdues the flesh to the spirit is spiritual. Signs of a carnal and spiritual person A carnal man has all his mind and plans only for the acquisition of the temporary, but a spiritual man always strives for the eternal. A carnal man passes his title for his temporary gain alone, but a spiritual man works for the glory of God and for the benefit of his neighbor. The natural man, if he does anything worthy of praise, seeks reward in this age; and the spiritual expects reward from God for virtue in the next century. A carnal man, although he does something praiseworthy, does it for the sake of vanity and the acquisition of vain glory, but a spiritual man extends all his intentions to the glory of God and the hope of eternal life. A carnal man is proud of everyone, he is exalted, no one is equal to him, he puts himself above everyone, he despises everyone, but a spiritual man humbles himself before God and people. A carnal man does not tolerate being despised, but a spiritual man willingly accepts it. The natural man blasphemes the one who blasphemes, the one who reproaches, he reproaches, the one who slanderes, he hates the one who hates, but the spiritual man, when he is blasphemed, is comforted, when he is persecuted, he endures, he blesses the one who curses, and he does good to the one who hates. A carnal man does not love his neighbor, but a spiritual man does not withdraw his love from his enemies. A carnal man is vindictive and seeks revenge for a small offense, but a spiritual man prays for those who take his life: “Lord! Do not count this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). The carnal man acts insidiously, flatteringly, cunningly with everyone; and the spiritual is simple-hearted with everyone. The carnal man robs and steals the things of others; but the spiritual one gives of his own to those who demand it. The carnal man is irreconcilable, but the spiritual man “is at peace with those who hate the world” (Ps 119:6). A carnal man follows unclean inclinations and desires, but a spiritual man follows purity and chastity. A carnal man always uses his mind either for his own gain or for the ruin of his neighbor, but a spiritual man puts all his efforts into the building of his brethren. And therefore, a carnal person is harmful to society, but a spiritual person is useful. A carnal man regards every sin as nothing, but a spiritual man flees from every sin, even the slightest, as from the face of a serpent. A carnal man places his hope in honor, in wealth, in his strength, in his patrons, but a spiritual man places his hope in the help of the Most High and the merciful Providence of his Creator. A carnal man fears most of all that he will lose honor, wealth, and be expelled, but a spiritual man will willingly, or generously, show himself ready for all this. The carnal man does not want to part with this light, but the spiritual man joyfully desires to be freed from bodily bonds. The end of the carnal and spiritual Death is terrible for a carnal man: “The death of sinners is cruel,” says the Psalmist (Ps. 33:22), but for a spiritual man it is peaceful. The carnal, dying temporarily, dies eternally: “To be carnally minded is death,” says the apostle. But the spiritual through this death comes to eternal life, “for to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6), says the same apostle. Help in feat against the law of the flesh or against the flesh. First. God's grace, without which we cannot do good. “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), - Christ says to the apostles. The grace of God is sought through fervent, frequent and humble prayer. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” says Christ (Matthew 7:7). Second. Try diligently to stand against natural evil and force yourself to do good, for “those who make effort take away the kingdom of heaven,” says Christ (Matthew 11:12). Third. Have a good upbringing at a young age. For all life depends on education. Fourth. To think that for transgression of God’s law and temporary execution is sent from God. Fifth. To think and firmly know that nothing is inconvenient for those who wish and try, for Almighty God helps those who wish and try. Sixth. Either struggle against sin and with Christ here and in the next century have participation in His kingdom, or submit to sin and be condemned with the devil for eternity: one of the two follows without fail. (See more about this in the discussion about sin.) You might be interested in: