Mind on the Flesh Results in Death

Romans 8:1-8 ESV

 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not 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 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.”

 

[Verse 1 in the KJV: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”]

 

To be “in Christ Jesus” is more than just making a one-time profession of faith in him whereby you were promised that all your sins are forgiven (past, present, and future) and that heaven is now your eternal home. To be “in Christ” involves us being crucified with Christ in death to sin, and us being raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. And it involves us daily dying with Christ to sin and walking in obedience to his commands (Romans 6:1-23; Luke 9:23-26; Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 Peter 2:24).

 

And to be “in Christ” means that we no longer walk (in conduct, in practice) according to the flesh, but we now, by the Spirit, walk according to (in agreement with) the Spirit of God. For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, instructs us to renounce (say “No” to) ungodliness and fleshly lusts and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s soon return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14; Romans 8:1-4; cf. Eph 2:10).

 

For if we live according to the flesh, setting our minds on the things of the flesh, it leads to death, not to life eternal with God. But if we live according to the Spirit, setting our minds on the things of the Spirit, it results in 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.” So we need to believe this, and we need to put it into practice, for where we will spend eternity depends on us obeying our Lord and walking in holiness and righteousness and not walking in sin.

 

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10; 2 Co 5:10; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

 

Romans 8:12-14 ESV

 

“So then, brothers, 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 all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

 

A lot of people these days have a false idea of the gospel of Christ and of our salvation and of the faith that is required of us to be in Christ and to have the hope of eternal life with God. So, let’s begin with “faith.” Jesus is the author and the perfecter of our faith, so our faith comes from God (Hebrews 12:1-2). And the faith to believe in Jesus is not of our own doing, but it is gifted to us by God (Ephesians 2:8-10). And we can’t even come to faith in Jesus Christ unless God the Father first draws us to Christ (John 6:44).

 

So, we don’t get to decide what this faith looks like. God does because the faith comes from him and it is gifted to us by him and we can’t even come to him in faith unless God the Father first persuades us (the meaning of faith) as to his holiness and righteousness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent of (turn away from) our sins and to follow our Lord Jesus in obedience to his commands under the New Covenant. And we are able to see what that faith is in action as we read the Scriptures.

 

[Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Co 6:19-20; 2 Co 5:15,21; Tit 2:11-14; Jas 1:22-25; 1 Jn 1:5-9; Rom 12:1-2; Eph 2:8-10; Heb 12:1-2; Jn 6:44; 2 Pet 1:1; 1 Co 15:58; Php 2:12-13; Col 1:21-23; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13]

 

And then there is the subject of our salvation. We are not saved once, done deal, and now heaven is secured us regardless of how we live. We are saved (past), we are being saved (present active), and we will be saved (future) when Jesus Christ returns for his bride which is when our salvation will be complete. But this is conditional on how we live and what we practice, for if sin is our practice, and not obedience to our Lord, its end is death, not life.

 

Yes, there are conditions to this. We must continue to walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, or we will die in our sins. And we must be putting sin to death, in practice, by the Spirit, and then we will live. And then we must continue in these walks of faith until the end of our lives or until Jesus returns and he takes us home to be with him for eternity. For it is all who are being led by the Spirit who are the children of God, not those who merely profess his name but then continue on in their sins.

 

[Matt 24:9-14; Rom 8:24; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Jn 8:31-32; Jn 15:1-12; Rom 11:17-24; 1 Co 15:2; Col 1:21-23; 2 Tim 2:10-13; Heb 3:6,14-15; 2 Pet 1:5-11; 2 Pet 2:20-22; 1 Jn 2:24-25]

 

Full Release  

 

An Original Work / April 15, 2012

 

Walking daily with my Savior

brings me joy.

Loving Father; precious Jesus;

He’s my Savior and my Lord.

Gently leads me; follow Him.

I’ve invited Him within.

Now abiding in His presence,

oh, what peace.

From my self-life

He has brought me,

By His mercy, full release.

 

Hope and comfort,

peace and safety Jesus brings

When I daily bow before Him;

Obey freely; do His will.

Follow Him where’er He leads.

Listen to Him; His words heed.

Now obeying his words fully,

oh, what love

That He gives me

through salvation,

By His Spirit, from above.

 

Loving Father; precious Jesus,

He’s my friend.

With my Savior, by His Spirit,

I will endure to the end.

Share the gospel, tell what’s true.

Witness daily; His will do.

Tell the world of how their Savior

bled and died.

On a cruel cross He suffered

So that we might be alive.

 

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