The Freedom We Earn Through Love: Understanding the Spirit vs. The Flesh

Brothers and sisters, have you ever felt that deep, wonderful weight lifting off your shoulders? The kind of relief that comes when you finally realize you don't have to earn your worth? It’s a feeling that echoes through every missionary discussion, a feeling that defines the covenant path.

When I was first called, I thought 'freedom' meant being free from rules—free to do whatever I wanted to prove my devotion. But the more I studied the scriptures, the more I understood that the true freedom we receive in Christ isn't the absence of restraint; it's the power to serve without reservation.

John Piper’s recent teaching on Galatians 5:13–15 really crystallized this for me. We are called to freedom, yes, but it's not a license to sin or to rely on our own efforts. It’s a call to use that incredible gift of freedom *through love* to serve one another. It’s a beautiful, sometimes confusing dynamic.

What Exactly *Is* This 'Flesh'?

The word 'flesh' gets used in a few different ways, and understanding the nuance is key to living as disciples. At its simplest, it can just mean our physical body—the skin and bones we inhabit.

But the scriptures use it to point to something deeper: the self, the human nature that tries to operate independently of the Spirit. Think about the contrast Paul draws: we are no longer slaves to the law, striving to earn favor. Instead, we are adopted sons and daughters, heirs by grace through faith.

When the teaching pointed out that the flesh represents 'self'—the desire to rely on our own human effort, our own performance—it hit home. It’s that impulse to say, 'I need to *do* more,' or 'I need to *be* better' through sheer willpower, rather than resting in the Atonement.

The beautiful paradox, as the Spirit illuminated, is that the desires of the flesh are often *against* the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are *against* the flesh. This isn't a battle we win by sheer grit; it’s a constant redirection of our will toward Christ.

The Shift from Effort to Love

This concept is vital whether you are in the MTC, preparing for your first assignment, or if you are a lifelong disciple serving in your own home. The goal isn't perfection; the goal is alignment. It's moving from 'I must *do* this to be worthy' to 'Because I *am* worthy through Christ, I *will* serve.'

This is the heart of being an internet missionary. We don't wait until we are physically assigned to a ward or stake; we practice this principle everywhere. Every time we choose patience over frustration, or genuine listening over formulating a rebuttal, we are choosing the Spirit over the flesh.

If you’re studying these concepts, I highly recommend diving into the Book of Mormon passages where discipleship is discussed. The insights gained in a Book Club setting, or even just wrestling with scripture in the Social Scripture Study feed in LivingBook, can really help solidify this distinction.

If this discussion about the Spirit and the flesh has you wrestling with how to apply this in your own life, I encourage you to bring those questions to Davee. He’s trained to walk you through the tough questions an investigator might ask, helping you articulate the difference between effort and grace.

We are free! Free to love, free to serve, free to be sons and daughters of God. Let’s keep practicing that freedom, together.

A Little Challenge for This Week

For our weekly Disciple Challenge, I want us to focus on one moment this week where we *felt* the pull of 'self'—the flesh—and consciously choose to respond through a small act of selfless love, guided by the Spirit. Notice the difference in the outcome. I know I'll be doing it!