Ephesians 2:3, "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."

This morning, the contrast between individuals and groups is on our mind. For example, a certain focus group has a common denominator between them, but each of the individuals within that group is unique in some ways to all the rest. As an electrical engineer by trade, our community is full of people with common backgrounds of training, skill sets, and understanding levels about a host of things pertaining to our field. However, each of us is unique to the rest while still being an engineer. As church members, we have a common bond of union not only by relationship in Christ but also the knowledge of that relationship with a like (or common) faith and order to further unify us in that group. Yet, each church has unique members with unique preachers that are all still a part of that common bond but yet slightly different from each other. Today, we will examine the commonality and uniqueness of our sinful and corrupt condition in sin.

As Paul is labouring to show our blessed condition in Christ (which began in the early verses of the book), he has reached a point of remembrance for the readers (and himself) of what we have been [positionally] delivered from. Our sinful nature, passed from father Adam, is something that each of us inherit without the exception of one. Paul's language of the word "all" in our verse shows that this sinful condition was passed to all of us, and thereby, Adam's fall positionally threw us together into the horrible pit. During the course of our lives, we exhibit that fallen condition by engaging in fallen practices and manifesting the nature he gave to us. Such a position is inescapable by nature (of our own power), which is why Paul's later point of salvation by grace (Ephesians 2:8) is such a blessed comfort. How could we attain a higher position when fully incapable of leaving the inferior state? The abundant grace of a merciful and loving God is the only answer that poor sinners could have in this world. As we fell together in Adam, so we were raised together with Christ. (Ephesians 2:5)

By experience, we understand that even after our quickening (Verse 1) we still have the lingering problems of that old nature. While our position in Christ is comforting and fully secure, we still have the body of this death to contend with. (Romans 7:25) Until it lays down in death, we will struggle against it, fight with it, and get burdened under by it. Sometimes we have good days at battle, and other times, we have bad days in fighting. Thank God, He won the war for us, but our daily struggles and fights sometimes have varying results. Therefore, knowing this daily, experiential struggle, Paul's language speaks of something we have been positionally delivered from but still daily fight against. Let us look at the specifics of the language employed.

There are three things that Paul mentions specifically about our previous position (shown by conduct): 1. lusts of our flesh, 2. desires of the flesh, and 3. of the mind. Our conversation, according to the fallen nature, exhibits these three things. What we fulfill according to that nature is due to lust, and that lust is brought forth from our fallen flesh and fallen mind. However, notice the pronoun and particle use of Paul. In the first case he says "our flesh," but in the second and third case, he says "the flesh" and "the mind." The definite particle "the" speaks of a commonality or unity. When Paul spoke of the church of the living God, which is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Timothy 3:15), he was referencing the fact of a common and unified (and single) church and group. While the group has many bodies, they are linked in unity and commonality by their belief. What Paul attributes commonality to in our verse is the desires of the
flesh and desires of the mind.

Looking at man, by nature, we see a commonality of desires that stem from a singular, unified point: sin. What is common to mankind is that sin rules and reigns by nature in our flesh and in our mind. The desires that we have are given over to these things. Actions committed by this root point tend to unrighteousness. Sometimes actions may be committed that seem, on the surface, to be good and magnanimous. However, consider an unregenerate man that does not steal, murder, commit adultery, etc. What are his motivations for not doing something and being outwardly moral and upright? Perhaps he fears getting caught, being ostracized by the community, or sees financial detriment in his actions. These motivating factors are still desires of the flesh and mind that stem from sin and the fountain of uncleanness.

Paul also, however, ascribes a more unique and personal level to the conduct by saying "lusts of our flesh." Why is it that all Adamic men are not murderers by practice? Why do not all fulfill the desires of homosexuality, theft, etc? The diversity of sinful practices shows a uniqueness to individuals. While all the practices stem from the common fountain of "the flesh" and "the mind," not all are fulfilled exactly the same way. Some murderers are those that we call serial killers (enjoy the act itself), while others kill simply as a means to an end, power or money for instance. Some men have fleshly lusts that are fulfilled in different activities, and this uniqueness shows individuality, but also the link to our common problem in Adam.

Now the point may arise, "Well, preacher what is the point?" The point is that even after we are regenerated, the problems of the flesh are not gone and we still must fight and war against them. Knowing that we all have unique problems due to the "lust of our flesh," we need to be more readily prepared to help one another. Perhaps what bothers me the most does not trouble you in the least. Maybe the particular sins that give you the most problems really do not hit my radar that often. Part of the problem of Phariseeism in Christ's day was that they saw problems in others that they did not perceive in themselves. Maybe in some cases this was a valid observation. Perhaps they were not troubled with theft, and saw that in others. Perhaps they had no contemplations of murder, but readily assessed the error in those around them.

It is very easy to point out the problems in others that are not problems to us, but they are problems for some people. Like as we have individual components in our sinful activity, we have individual components in our spiritual walk. He has given a diversity of talents and gifts according to our several abilities, and therefore, our utility in the church varies from one another. The common point is that He is the source of all good gifts and perfect gifts (James 1:17), but we are still different from one another. Therefore, as we fight and labour in this world, we will find some burdens that are common to all of us and can be described as taking up "the cross." (Mark 10:21) But, we all have particular burdens to bear that we alone must suffer with and can be described as "his cross." (Mark 8:34)

Knowing that both our natural and spiritual natures have common and unique qualities, we are better prepared to be more understanding with one another and thereby better yokefellows together. A horse team pulling a buggy will not all pull exactly the same. Each horse will have strong points and weak points, but when the horses are unified in effort, those unique aspects of each horse do not hinder the overall goal and effort. When we understand that each of battles daily with our own cross of personal lusts and sins, we can better help our brethren bear the common burden we all have. (Galatians 6:1-5) True, there is an aspect of that burden that the individual must bear alone, but by helping one another in the common aspects, the burden of the individual aspects is thereby lessened as the overall load is decreased. Failure to recognize the differences between us, whether in the realm of fleshly lusts or spiritual benefits, will result in a horse team that jerks and slides the buggy around. May we be found in unified effort as peculiar individuals that plow together in a straight fashion through that strait and narrow gate.

In Hope,

Bro Philip