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
Introduction
It’s always fun starting a lesson off with a “Therefore” or a “For” because that means that instead of moving forward to start off the lesson, we get to move backward. What did we learn about last week in the first 4 verses of Romans 8? Well let’s backtrack and read Romans 8:1-4 to jog our memories.
The Main idea that we see in the first 4 verses is that we are free in Christ Jesus because the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death! How amazing, and how is this possible? Because in verse 3 Paul tells us that God did for us what the law, that which was weakened by the flesh, could not do. God actively, and purposefully did this for us because the law couldn’t. And it wasn’t the law’s fault, it was ours. Because of our flesh, not because the law was inherently evil, as we discussed back in Romans 7. So then we who walk according to the Spirit, we who walk in light of the righteousness of Christ, we who strive for holiness because of walking in accords to the Spirit, can have the righteous requirement of the law fulfilled in us by the Holy Spirit. We are called to be holy, because not being holy, not striving for holiness, not striving to be like Christ, not living in the Spirit, leads to death, but we have life because of the spirit and can walk in holiness which is life by the Spirit.
Or More Simply Put in outline form:
Or More Simply Put in outline form:
- Romans 8:1 – justification is by faith
- Romans 8:2 – believers are not under the law
- Romans 8:3-4 – the law is insufficient for our justification; God has accomplished this by the sacrifice of His Son.
- Romans 8:4 – this blessing is never disconnected with a holy life
The Old Nature vs the New Nature
Verse 5
Then we get to the for… for this reason.. or because. So we are really answering the question “How is this possible?” or simply put, “Why?”
And the answer? Because those who live according to the flesh, have their minds set on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on things of the Spirit.
So we see, that there are two types of people in the world. We see that there are those who follow after the flesh, and those that follow after the Spirit.
The Fleshly Person
When a person is in the flesh, when a person is after the flesh, a person will mind the things of the flesh. So what does Paul mean by the word “mind”? We see this Word come up through out scripture:
Paul doesn’t use the typical greek word for mind here though. He uses a more intentional word. The typical greek word for mind means the function of the brain. The word he uses here is different. The word he uses is φρόνημα (phronema). Again, this isn’t just the brain’s functions or activity. Paul is specifically talking about the disposition of a person. He’s talking about the purpose, the aspirations, or more simply put, the way a person is bent. Unbelieving people are bent towards the things of the flesh or of the world. Unbelieving people have a disposition towards the things of the flesh or of the world.
The Spirit-filled Person
When a person is in the spirit, a person will mind the things of the Spirit. We are contrasting two different thoughts here. So if those who are in the flesh have a disposition to the things of the flesh, that means what? When a person is in the spirit, they have a disposition to the things of the spirit. Paul, when talking about his struggle between the two natures in the previous chapter says that he ultimately delights in the law of God. Romans 7:22
We who have been redeemed have been given a new nature and are now walking in the direction of the Spirit instead of the direction of fleshly things, or worldly things. A life marked by unholiness is inconsistent with the character of a Christian.
The idea is that objects of attention, desire, and pursuit to the carnal flesh are worldly and corrupt, but the objects of attention, desire, and pursuit to the spiritual are things that the Spirit condones and approves. Two people, two dispositions, two dire consequences.
Then we get to the for… for this reason.. or because. So we are really answering the question “How is this possible?” or simply put, “Why?”
And the answer? Because those who live according to the flesh, have their minds set on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on things of the Spirit.
So we see, that there are two types of people in the world. We see that there are those who follow after the flesh, and those that follow after the Spirit.
The Fleshly Person
When a person is in the flesh, when a person is after the flesh, a person will mind the things of the flesh. So what does Paul mean by the word “mind”? We see this Word come up through out scripture:
- Matthew 16:23
- Philippians 2:5
- Philippians 3:19
- Colossians 3:2
Paul doesn’t use the typical greek word for mind here though. He uses a more intentional word. The typical greek word for mind means the function of the brain. The word he uses here is different. The word he uses is φρόνημα (phronema). Again, this isn’t just the brain’s functions or activity. Paul is specifically talking about the disposition of a person. He’s talking about the purpose, the aspirations, or more simply put, the way a person is bent. Unbelieving people are bent towards the things of the flesh or of the world. Unbelieving people have a disposition towards the things of the flesh or of the world.
The Spirit-filled Person
When a person is in the spirit, a person will mind the things of the Spirit. We are contrasting two different thoughts here. So if those who are in the flesh have a disposition to the things of the flesh, that means what? When a person is in the spirit, they have a disposition to the things of the spirit. Paul, when talking about his struggle between the two natures in the previous chapter says that he ultimately delights in the law of God. Romans 7:22
We who have been redeemed have been given a new nature and are now walking in the direction of the Spirit instead of the direction of fleshly things, or worldly things. A life marked by unholiness is inconsistent with the character of a Christian.
The idea is that objects of attention, desire, and pursuit to the carnal flesh are worldly and corrupt, but the objects of attention, desire, and pursuit to the spiritual are things that the Spirit condones and approves. Two people, two dispositions, two dire consequences.
Parallels
Verse 6
We already have the contrast, now Paul gives us an addition and deeper reason why believers do not walk after the flesh. The reason? Because the flesh is death.
Notice how it doesn’t say that to be fleshly minded leads to death or that spiritually minded leads to life, but rather that fleshly minded is death and spiritually minded is life and peace.
What type of death are we talking about here? Physical or Spiritual? It would seem Paul is indicating Spiritual death, not physical death. Alienation from God, unholiness, misery, spiritual death. They may live physically, but not spiritually.
φρόνημα τοῦ πνεύματος – mind of the Spirit. This is the mind that is produced by the Spirit which reveals itself, similarly to the mind of the flesh, it reveals itself in the desire and pursuit of things of the Spirit. And when we desire and pursue things of the Spirit, our state of mind can be one of peace.
True believers have their minds controlled by the Spirit. Some may have that more than others depending on what state you are in in the Sanctification process, but if we have our minds controlled by the Spirit, we can have life and peace through Jesus Christ.
But the person who does not know God is dead:
But again, to be spiritually minded is life and peace. When we are redeemed we are given life. Romans 6:4 says that we died with Christ, and we will also rise with Him. But not only will the spiritually minded person have life, but they will also have peace.
It’s interesting here because Paul says that to set the mind of the flesh is death. 1 thing. Death. But if we set our mind on the Spirit what is it? 2 things! Life.. and if that wasn’t enough, peace. Life and Peace.
I’m always challenged by Paul, because he always seems to make the distinction between living in the flesh and living in the spirit as 2 very different and separate beings. Black and white. You’re either in the flesh, or in the Spirit. Which is why I appreciate the struggle that Paul brought out at the end of Chapter 7. Even though we are redeemed and pursue the things of the Spirit, it doesn’t mean that we are perfect. Remember we talked about how sanctification is a growing process. One that we will always be growing in, but will never achieve this side of death.
The idea is not simply that if we seek after earthly things of the flesh that it leads to death, but that a worldly / fleshly state of mind, which reveals itself in the pursuit of carnal things, leads to death. So the pursuit of carnal things is simply an outward revealing of the mind which has its focus also on carnal objects and this mindset leads to death.
So even though we pursue things of the Spirit, it doesn’t mean we will be perfect. It doesn’t mean we always pursue them. Before we were redeemed we never pursued them. Now that we are redeemed, sin is still in us, though it doesn’t dominate us anymore. When we are glorified we will no longer be in the flesh, but until then, the battle goes on. An unsaved person though, doesn’t have this battle against sin, because he is bent towards it. His disposition is towards it. A Christian has to battle against it because he is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and the Spirit and the Flesh are always at Odds.
So what are signs that we are in the spirit or in the flesh? Galatians continues on and gives us a good comparison and contrast. I love that he doesn’t just give us 1 of the natures works and leaves us to presume on the others. Well, the works of the flesh are this, so that means the works of the spirit are the opposite. But it’s like he knows that we need it spelled out for us.
The Spirit filled life is a journey where we will always struggle with our humanity until glorification.
We already have the contrast, now Paul gives us an addition and deeper reason why believers do not walk after the flesh. The reason? Because the flesh is death.
Notice how it doesn’t say that to be fleshly minded leads to death or that spiritually minded leads to life, but rather that fleshly minded is death and spiritually minded is life and peace.
What type of death are we talking about here? Physical or Spiritual? It would seem Paul is indicating Spiritual death, not physical death. Alienation from God, unholiness, misery, spiritual death. They may live physically, but not spiritually.
φρόνημα τοῦ πνεύματος – mind of the Spirit. This is the mind that is produced by the Spirit which reveals itself, similarly to the mind of the flesh, it reveals itself in the desire and pursuit of things of the Spirit. And when we desire and pursue things of the Spirit, our state of mind can be one of peace.
True believers have their minds controlled by the Spirit. Some may have that more than others depending on what state you are in in the Sanctification process, but if we have our minds controlled by the Spirit, we can have life and peace through Jesus Christ.
But the person who does not know God is dead:
- Ephesians 2:1
- 1 Timothy 5:6
But again, to be spiritually minded is life and peace. When we are redeemed we are given life. Romans 6:4 says that we died with Christ, and we will also rise with Him. But not only will the spiritually minded person have life, but they will also have peace.
It’s interesting here because Paul says that to set the mind of the flesh is death. 1 thing. Death. But if we set our mind on the Spirit what is it? 2 things! Life.. and if that wasn’t enough, peace. Life and Peace.
I’m always challenged by Paul, because he always seems to make the distinction between living in the flesh and living in the spirit as 2 very different and separate beings. Black and white. You’re either in the flesh, or in the Spirit. Which is why I appreciate the struggle that Paul brought out at the end of Chapter 7. Even though we are redeemed and pursue the things of the Spirit, it doesn’t mean that we are perfect. Remember we talked about how sanctification is a growing process. One that we will always be growing in, but will never achieve this side of death.
The idea is not simply that if we seek after earthly things of the flesh that it leads to death, but that a worldly / fleshly state of mind, which reveals itself in the pursuit of carnal things, leads to death. So the pursuit of carnal things is simply an outward revealing of the mind which has its focus also on carnal objects and this mindset leads to death.
So even though we pursue things of the Spirit, it doesn’t mean we will be perfect. It doesn’t mean we always pursue them. Before we were redeemed we never pursued them. Now that we are redeemed, sin is still in us, though it doesn’t dominate us anymore. When we are glorified we will no longer be in the flesh, but until then, the battle goes on. An unsaved person though, doesn’t have this battle against sin, because he is bent towards it. His disposition is towards it. A Christian has to battle against it because he is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and the Spirit and the Flesh are always at Odds.
- Galatians 5:16-17
So what are signs that we are in the spirit or in the flesh? Galatians continues on and gives us a good comparison and contrast. I love that he doesn’t just give us 1 of the natures works and leaves us to presume on the others. Well, the works of the flesh are this, so that means the works of the spirit are the opposite. But it’s like he knows that we need it spelled out for us.
- Galatians 5:18-25.
- Galatians 5:18-21 give us the sins produced in us by living in the flesh
- Galatians 5:22-24 give us the virtues the Spirit produces in us
- Galatians 5:25 concludes that if we are in the Spirit, we need to walk that way.
The Spirit filled life is a journey where we will always struggle with our humanity until glorification.