Abstaining from Fleshly Lusts

Other than a couple of comments and graphics from me, the following are excerpts taken from “Abstaining from Fleshly Lusts” by Teacher and Greek Scholar, Rick Renner, based on I Peter 2:11.

Get ready for some steak here guys – so good!

Beseech

The word “beseech” in the greek is parakaleo. Para means alongside, like one who comes up close alongside another person.

The word kaleo means to call, to beckon, or to beseech. But when these two words are joined to form the word parakaleo.

It presents the picture of one who has something so important to say that he pulls right up alongside his listener, getting as close to him as possible; then he begins to literally plead with him to take some course of action.

This person urgently calls out, pleading with his listener to hear what he has to say and to do what he is suggesting.

Abstain

The word “abstain” is the Greek word apechomai, which means to deliberately withdraw from; to stay away from; to put distance between oneself and something else; or to intentionally abstain.

Yep. You may have to withdraw from your laptop. Your tablet. Your smart phone. For a time.

Really?

How bad do you want out?

Xavigm via Getty Images

Fleshly Lusts

When Peter speaks of “fleshly lusts,” he uses the word sarkikos for “fleshly.”

This word describes the impulses, cravings, and desires of the carnal flesh — those things that appeal to our lower side.

The word “lusts” is the word epithumia, a compound of the words epi and thumos.

The word epi means over, and the word thumos depicts passion.

When compounded into the word epithumia, it pictures a person so overcome by some passionate desire that he completely gives himself over to it.

Let me stress something here that is imperative for you to understand:

Your flesh is never content until it has completely taken you over and consumed you.

Once you have given your flesh permission to have its way and to exercise even a small amount of power in your life, it will try to latch hold of you.

Eventually it will wage war for total control of your life.

Please don’t think you can participate in only a little taste of sin and then walk free of it.

Once the flesh has been allowed to indulge in sin, the cry of the carnal nature to indulge in sin once more will become stronger and stronger, ferociously working against you in its attempt to pull you deeper and deeper into sin until you are completely conquered by it.

That is why Peter so firmly tells us to “…abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

The word “war” is the Greek word strateuomai.

This word is derived from the word stratos, from which we get the word strategy.

But when it becomes the word strateuomai as used in this context, it pictures a fiercely committed soldier who possesses a warring mentality.

Because he is so committed to waging war and destroying his resistance, he fights tactically, strategically, and aggressively.

Furthermore, the Greek tense accentuates the fact that once the flesh has been allowed to express itself, it will wage continual warfare and its assault will be unending.

War Against Your Soul

Peter’s chief concern is that the flesh will wage continual warfare against the “soul.”

The word “soul” is the Greek word psyche, which describes a person’s mind, will, and emotions.

The New Testament writers clearly understood that the mind, will, and emotions are where Satan wages his greatest warfare against the saints.

Therefore, Peter urges his readers not to open the door and invite this warfare to begin by deliberately participating in sinful activities.

Instead, he tells them to abstain from fleshly lusts, thus keeping their mind, will, and emotions free of unnecessary battles.

In Summary

Peter’s words in First Peter 2:11 could be interpreted to mean:

“Dearly beloved, I sincerely beg and warn you to live as if you are travelers here in this world. Never forget that this is not your real residence and that you must not become too attached to the environment around you.

I urge you to refrain from any carnal, low-level desires that try to engulf you and thus drag you into a very long, protracted, strategic, and aggressive war in your mind, will, and emotions.”

To learn more about Rick Renner and his teaching on Abstaining From Fleshly lusts, check out Rick Renner Ministries