Christ and Flesh

Aim: To be clear in our thinking about Christ and flesh.

Doctrine: All our flesh's pomp is to be despised—for Christ. This means we quit trusting in our advantages and cast ourselves entirely upon Christ.

Exegesis: Why the issue of Christ and flesh is so important: because the flesh never stops preaching its virtues (v. 4) and promoting its credentials (vv. 5-6), and must be intentionally subjected to Christ (v. 7).

Further application: How to gain Paul's perspective on Christ as flesh: first, admit the struggle (and the difficulty of it); then, choose Christ wholeheartedly (while abandoning the flesh).

Key verse: v. 7 ''But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.''