Pastor Peter, @PeterC
You said:
I’m feeling inadequate to express my thoughts on this, concisely, and in a way that can be received, but I’ll try. Please forgive my weakness in this area.
As you pointed out, whereas The Apostle John is careful to say:
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:12-14)
and
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. (1 John 4:2-3)
The Apostle Paul mollifes any impression that one might adopt that The “Incarnate” Messiah was (or became) “carnal” or subject to “sinful flesh”. A good example of this mollification is found in the Romans passage I shared.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors–not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:1-14)
In this passage (and others) the apostle demonstrates how God “tabernacling” among us in “the likeness of sinful flesh” (v3) “condemns sin in the flesh”. Our savior does not become carnal, but condemns carnality while housed in its image. Even though The Savior bears the image of sinful flesh, He is never subject to it because He is never devoid of The Spirit, because He is The Spirit (as you pointed out). Through His condemnation of sin we too are enabled to abandon walking in the flesh while embracing our gifted ability to walk in His Spirit; leaving the corrupt while receiving the incorruptible. The apostle says it is a “carnal mind” which leads to death, not a body of flesh. Having a carnal mind makes it impossible for us to please God, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” This point must not be overlooked; YOU are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. The apostle doesn’t allow for coexistance, they do not coexist, nor does one slowly displace the other. One is removed and the other moves in. It is Finished!
Before God will indwell the tabernacle, it requires a comprehensive cleaning. (Lev. 16:16-33, 2 Chr. 29:12-19, etc.) Every remnant of sin must be removed before The Spirit of Shekinah Glory will “dwell between the cherubim” (2 Sam 6:2, 2K. 19:15, 1Chr. 13:16, Ps. 80:1, Ps 99:1, Isa. 37:16).
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)
The cosmic purpose of God is to dwell WITH (in) His beings who are created in His likeness (image), forever. WE are His tabernacle now, we are His home on Earth, WE are where Heaven and Earth overlap. We are not instructed to try to be light and salt while we patiently wait for Him to return, we ARE light and salt of His presence! (Matt 5: 13 & 14). We ARE light and salt, now, if The Spirit of God (Jesus) dwells in us. An important distinction!
Every remnant of flesh is removed, through blood, so The Spirit can inhabit. “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Exactly how this miracle of “indwelling” is a sure reality, yet not cognitively experienced by disciples of Jesus is the subject of another discussion.
I hope this is clear.
Your Bro
KP