The Old Man of the Flesh is the New Man of the Spirit

**The Old Man of the Flesh is the New Man of the Spirit**

The conflict between the old man of the flesh and the new man of the spirit is a central theme in Christian Scripture. The apostle Paul clearly articulates this struggle throughout his letters, urging believers to live by the Spirit rather than by the carnal mind. Understanding this battle requires rejecting modern psychological terms like “ego” or “egotism,” which carry meanings foreign to biblical thought. Instead, the New Testament reveals a profound spiritual warfare between the *carnal mind*—the old man of the flesh—and the renewed mind in Christ, the new man of the Spirit.

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### The Carnal Mind: The Old Man of the Flesh

The carnal mind is the natural, fleshly orientation that opposes God’s will. It is driven by self-will, indulgence, and selfish ambition, and Paul warns that this mind is hostile to God:

> “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.”

> —Romans 8:6-7 (NKJV)

This carnal mind represents the *old man*, the inherited nature ruled by fleshly desires and self-interest. It is a mind deeply rooted in the senses and the self’s willful insistence on control. This is the “mind of the flesh” that causes division, rivalry, and strife.

Paul admonishes believers to put off this old self:

> “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”

> —Ephesians 4:22 (NKJV)

The *carnal mind* is the source of selfish ambition and vain conceit, described vividly in Philippians 2:

> “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

> —Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)

Paul urges believers to reject contentiousness and selfishness. Instead, the community of believers must cultivate humility, mutual respect, and genuine concern for others:

> “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

> —Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)

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### The Spiritual Mind: The New Man in Christ

In contrast to the carnal mind, the new man lives by the Spirit and reflects the mind of Christ. This renewed mind is not merely a psychological transformation but a spiritual rebirth through union with Christ:

> “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

> —Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

The *new man* is characterized by Christ-consciousness, where the believer’s identity is found not in self-will but in Christ living within. This spiritual mind governs the believer’s life with love, peace, and selflessness.

Paul exhorts believers to live according to this spiritual reality:

> “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

> —Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)

Walking in the Spirit means rejecting the carnal mind’s impulses that produce jealousy, strife, and envy:

> “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

> —Galatians 5:26 (NKJV)

The contrast is clear: the carnal mind produces division and selfishness, while the spiritual mind fosters unity and love.

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### The Battle Within

Paul’s letters reveal that the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit is internal:

> “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

> —Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)

This battle is one of *will*, a tension between the old man ruled by self-interest and the new man ruled by God’s Spirit. The carnal mind constantly tempts believers to revert to selfishness, but the Spirit enables them to overcome:

> “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”

> —Colossians 3:5 (NKJV)

> “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?”

> —Colossians 2:20 (NKJV)

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### The Role of the Heart and Mind

The natural inclination toward the carnal mind is rooted deeply in the human heart, which Scripture calls “deceitful” and “desperate”:

> “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

> —Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV)

This deceitfulness fuels self-interest and self-exaltation, making the heart the battleground for spiritual renewal. Only through constant engagement with Scripture, prayer, and community can believers resist the carnal mind’s influence.

Paul acknowledges the ongoing tension but promises victory for those who yield to the Spirit:

> “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

> —Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

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### Conclusion: Living as the New Man in the Spirit

The “old man of the flesh” and the “new man of the spirit” represent two opposing realities within the believer. The carnal mind—characterized by selfish ambition, rivalry, and vain conceit—is the old self that must be put off. The spiritual mind—the life-giving union with Christ—represents the new self, empowered to live humbly, lovingly, and in unity with others.

Paul’s exhortations in Philippians and Galatians emphasize this transformation:

> “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any fellowship with the Spirit, any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

> —Philippians 2:1-2 (NKJV)

> “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

> —Galatians 5:26 (NKJV)

Through the Spirit’s power, believers can overcome the carnal mind’s pull and live as new creations in Christ—walking humbly, considering others above themselves, and reflecting the love of God in every relationship.

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Would you like additional reflections on how this spiritual renewal aligns with other biblical passages or Christian practice?