2 Corinthians 10:3-5. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
One of the questions every Christian needs to ask daily is, In what ways am I walking in the flesh? And even more important, In what ways am I waging war according to the flesh?
One of the primary ways that the flesh grabs hold of our hearts and minds is through what Paul calls arguments and lofty opinions. Through our pride and haughtiness, or our pretensions. Arguments born out of self-confidence and self-exaltation. These lofty opinions of ourselves are a fortress or stronghold that needs to be breached. A tower that needs to be pulled down. Why? Because clearly this way of thinking is against the knowledge of God andit is disobedient to Christ.
In short, it’s not gospel thinking.
But what exactly are these arguments that Paul is looking to destroy? Well, he doesn’t specifically say. But we know they are born of pride. We know they were arguments against Paul, his authority, and his gospel. They were arguments against the reality of Christ and his cross. In 2 Corinthians 11:4 Paul will say that his opponents preach a “different Jesus.” The fact that Paul says Jesus and not Christ is significant. It may be his way of saying that they follow the Jewish Jesus, but not the risen Christ. They’ve turned Jesus’ teachings into a new law to follow for righteousness, instead of relying on the CROSS alone as the source of all life and grace.
These are the same arguments that we fight against in our own minds still – the argument for a law-based self-righteousness. A righteousness that is obtained by our good works. A sanctification that is achieved rather than received. Don’t we all default to this law-keeping? Don’t we all default to this self-righteousness? What is more lofty or prideful than this sort of rejection of Christ? Any notion that we can earn God’s favor is against the knowledge of God and disobedient to Christ.
Any idea that removes the need for Christ must be destroyed. And this includes a lot of ideas about Jesus. It’s easy for Christians to turn Jesus into a new form of law. How many times have you heard a Christian say that they are trying to “be like Jesus?” Or “trying to be a good Christian?” But this is the pride of the flesh. It’s way too easy for us as Christians to let our minds be taken captive. But our union with Christ leaves no room for this kind of pride within our thinking. Turning Jesus into another form of law IS this lofty thinking that Paul is combating.
Is it really possible for us to live a pride-filled, Christ-less Christianity? I think it is. When we make the Christian life more about our progress and less about our position, we face this danger. When we make the aim of our faith to “be better” or “be more like Jesus” rather than about needing grace, we are placing our faith in a fleshly, lofty opinion, that is against the knowledge of God. Any way of thinking that takes away from God’s grace must be taken captive and destroyed.
To live is Christ removes the need for this pride-filled, fleshly thinking by reminding us that we are both righteous in Christ, yet still sinful in the flesh. Therefore, the Christian life is not about the pride-filled journey of getting better and better. It is about the never-ending need for grace. Grace that will ultimately make you like Jesus.
You: Are you fully relying on God’s grace today, or has your life been more about your behavior than his grace?
You in Christ: How does union with Christ allow us to place our faith in a position and not in our own progress?
Christ in you: What specific lofty opinion about yourself do you need to take captive and execute today?
To Live is Christ 