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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
- Romans 8:5-11
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
- Romans 8:5-11
Our Old Nature
Verse 7
So why is it that the mind of the flesh is death? Verse 7 answers this for us. It’s because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God.
It’s nature is opposed to God. The carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God. The Law of God is the revelation of his nature. Therefore, the opposition to the law is opposition to God.
Paul seems to indicate that it’s not a passive state, it’s not a casual state. It’s a purposeful and active action against the nature of God. Those who are in the flesh are actively against God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 also asserts that the natural, carnal man is not only in opposition to God, but cannot accept the things of God and counts the things of God as foolishness.
So why is it that the mind of the flesh is death? Verse 7 answers this for us. It’s because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God.
It’s nature is opposed to God. The carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God. The Law of God is the revelation of his nature. Therefore, the opposition to the law is opposition to God.
Paul seems to indicate that it’s not a passive state, it’s not a casual state. It’s a purposeful and active action against the nature of God. Those who are in the flesh are actively against God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 also asserts that the natural, carnal man is not only in opposition to God, but cannot accept the things of God and counts the things of God as foolishness.