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Response
In Romans 13:11–14, the apostle Paul shifted his focus to the end times, urging Christians to “wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (verse 11). With the end of the age approaching, Paul concluded the passage with this directive: “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” «Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.», (Romans 13:14, ESV). Instead of wasting time satisfying lustful and selfish desires, Paul urged believers to adorn themselves with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 4:22–24, Paul delivered a similarly powerful message to avoid catering to the flesh: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, discard your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (NLT).
The term “flesh” in Romans 13:14 pertains to the physical, bodily aspects of an individual as opposed to the immaterial soul or spirit. In Scripture, the flesh is often seen as the source of sin and rebellion against God.
The term for “provision” in the original language conveys the concept of “anticipating what you will do in the event of something occurring.” When we contemplate pleasing our flesh, we provide the means to make it a reality. It is as if our thoughts gather the necessary supplies to proceed and act on our lustful desires. Therefore, “make no provision for the flesh” could be interpreted as “do not dwell on how to satisfy the desires of the flesh” (NIV), “do not think about ways to indulge.”
Your evil desires” (NLT), or “forget about satisfying the desires of your sinful nature” (GW).
To make provision for the flesh is to expect to fail. It’s like an alcoholic who’s trying to stay sober but tucks away a little liquor in a secret stash, “just in case.” By doing this, he’s making provision for the flesh and will likely fail to remain sober. Similarly, those striving to live godly lives must identify their stumbling blocks and eliminate them.
Believers are called to live and behave as Jesus Christ did. To achieve this, we must dismiss fleshly thoughts from our minds. Scripture reveals that the battle against sin takes place in the mind (Romans 7:21-25). The apostle Peter urged the early disciples “to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” «Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; », (1 Peter 2:11). Sinful thinking impacts our behavior to the extent of indulging the cravings of our flesh «among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. », (Ephesians 2:3). When we dwell on sin, we follow its desires.
Scripture underscores the immense power of the thought life. Making no provision for the flesh involves taking “captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” «casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; », (2 Corinthians 10:5). How can we achieve this? By guarding our hearts and contemplating about
It is written in Philippians 4:8 to focus on worthy things: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” «Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. », (Philippians 4:8).
Colossians 3:1–2 advises making no provision for the flesh as follows: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (NIV).
As new creatures in Christ «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17), “we have the mind of Christ,” said Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:14. In Philippians 2:5, he taught Christians to “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” The mind of Christ is revealed to believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26;John 16:12-15;Romans 8:9;1 Corinthians 2:11-13). By yielding to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we are transformed through the renewal of our minds and can better discern the will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
Paul instructed the Galatians to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” « This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. », (Galatians 5:16). We do not make any provision for the flesh when we live in obedience to God and His Word and “keep in step with the Spirit” by crucifying “the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24-25). The only way to experience real abundant life in the Spirit is to die to the flesh: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:12-13).
