Religion in the Flesh
Religion in the flesh leads to pride, selfishness, and becoming servants of sin, but true spiritual growth and obedience come from letting the Spirit lead and rule in our lives.
Andrew Murray emphasizes the dangers of relying on 'religion in the flesh,' warning against the pride and selfishness that can arise from self-righteousness, as exemplified by the Pharisees. He highlights the Galatians' struggle with trying to perfect their faith through fleshly works rather than through the Spirit, cautioning that such an approach leads to bondage and conflict among believers. Murray asserts that true worship and obedience can only occur when the Spirit leads, and that self-denial must begin in our relationship with God before it can manifest in our interactions with others.
Text
Do we not know, how the Pharisees, with 'self-righteousness and carnal religion, fell into pride and selfishness, and became the servants of sin? Was it not just among the Galatians, of whom Paul asks the question about perfecting in flesh what was begun in the Spirit, and whom he has so to warn against the righteousness of works, that the works of the flesh were so manifest,and that they were in danger of devouring one another? Satan has no more crafty device for keeping souls in bondage than inciting them to a religion in the flesh.
He knows that the power of flesh can never please God or conquer sin, and in due time the flesh that has gained supremacy over the Spirit in the service of God, will assert and maintain that same supremacy in the service of sin.
It is only where the Spirit truly and unceasingly has the entire lead and rule in the life of worship, that it will have the power to lead and rule in the life of practical obedience. If I am to deny self in: intercourse with men, to conquer selfishness and temper and want of love, I must first learn to deny self in the intercourse with God. There the soul, seat of self, must learn to bow to the Spirit, where God dwells.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Danger of Religion in the Flesh
- A. Pride and Selfishness
- B. Servants of Sin
- II. The Contrast between Flesh and Spirit
- A. Flesh cannot please God or conquer sin
- B. Spirit must lead and rule in life of worship
- III. Denying Self in Interourse with God
- A. Bowing to the Spirit
- B. Learning to deny self in God's presence
Key Quotes
“Satan has no more crafty device for keeping souls in bondage than inciting them to a religion in the flesh.” — Andrew Murray
“It is only where the Spirit truly and unceasingly has the entire lead and rule in the life of worship, that it will have the power to lead and rule in the life of practical obedience.” — Andrew Murray
“If I am to deny self in: intercourse with men, to conquer selfishness and temper and want of love, I must first learn to deny self in the intercourse with God.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We must deny self in our relationship with God in order to learn to bow to the Spirit and live a life of practical obedience.
- Our worship must be led by the Spirit, and we must let the Spirit have the entire lead and rule in our lives.
- Religion in the flesh is a crafty device of Satan to keep souls in bondage, and we must be aware of this danger in our own lives.