Obedience in the Flesh?
In Jesus, Ken Page
How in the world could trying to be obedient be called walking in the flesh? It is because that the only holiness with substance or the only real righteousness is a work of God. This "God righteousness" is never owned or derived by us. It is given to us and it will not be taken away. The goal of human obedience is to own this righteousness for ourselves. While it is a God driven desire for us to be obedient, we must understand that it is a fruit of Christ's righteousness and a work of His Spirit-period.
In order to begin the journey of experiencing obedience, holiness or righteousness we must come to the end of ourselves. We must believe what the Bible says; "All of us like sheep have gone astray- each of us has turned to his own way." This is not only to be understood in the light of salvation, but also in the light of sanctification. We misunderstand the Gospel if we separate salvation from sanctification (That was the Galatians problem.). Paul said in I Corinthians 1:30 that Jesus is our everything. "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption," We must believe for ourselves what Jesus said about Himself, "I can do nothing of my own initiative".
Jesus said, "unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit"; and also, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. There are two ways to understand this. One way is to feel that I must deny myself; I must crucify myself; and I must exert my will to be obedient. This is to walk by the flesh. The other way is recognize that I am unable to bring life to myself; recognize that I am unable to be holy; and recognize that I do not have sufficient will power. I have recognized my will and abilities as crucified (I no longer pick up human will power); I have denied my flesh of its self-righteousness. My cross is the death of myself to create life and obedience in myself.
There is only one solution to this human mess and that is to do as Paul says, "But I say Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh". This walking by the Spirit is simply to walk by God and His power within. I have crucified my power- now my only hope is in His power. This "walking by the Spirit" is not to be confused with the pursuit of "spiritual" phenomena and weird experiences. This "walking" is the rock solid belief and life that is lived in dependence on the work of God alone. This is what it means to "glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh".