Before I begin with Part-2 of Life in the Holy Spirit, please allow me to touch on last week’s teaching about "no condemnation" because I agree. It is so important that we all get (receive) this truth.
Romans 8:1 (ESV) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Last week’s teaching pointed out many points on our standing, but the main point was that God did it all. Not us, God. We talked about how all those who have received Christ have a new "blessed position" and "blessed liberation." If you've received Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have been removed from your old position of condemnation and have been placed in your new standing, in Christ, your "blessed position" by God. And in this new "blessed position," you are free (blessed liberation) from all sin, all guilt, all shame, all wrongdoing, all condemnation.
We are no longer in our old position -in Adam (our old nature). As followers
of Jesus, we are in our new "blessed position" (our new nature) "in
Christ."
Acts 13:38-39 (NKJV) 38 "Therefore let it be known to you,
brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of
sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from
all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses."
In Warren Wiersbe's commentary, he mentioned the "law of double jeopardy." He stated, "This law states that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. Since Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins, and since you are "in Christ," God will not condemn you." In other words, the case against you, is closed. There is no condemnation. There is no obligation or debt for you to pay. No punishment. None! Your slate has been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus. And like Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30 NKJV)!
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB20) 8 "For by grace you have been saved
through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
God's goodness for salvation will not fail
because it is HIS work, not ours.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good
work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
And as Nicole put it so simply, just walk in His grace. Always remembering,
that
“…there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans
8:1)
. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
By the way, Romans chapter 8 starts with no condemnation and ends with no
separation!
LIFE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART 2(Please read Romans 8:1-8)
In his commentary, Warren Wiersbe observed four contrasts in verses 5 through 8 of Romans chapter 8. Wiersbe said that the Apostle Paul is not "describing two kinds of Christians, one that is carnal and one spiritual." He stated that Paul is "contrasting the saved and the unsaved."
FOUR CONTRASTS:
V5: IN THE FLESH -or- IN THE SPIRIT
V6: DEATH -or- LIFE
V6-7: WAR WITH GOD -or- PEACE WITH GOD
V8: PLEASING SELF -or- PLEASING GOD
V5: IN THE FLESH / IN 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.”
MIND: The Greek word used here is PHRONEŌ - Meaning: To think, to be minded in a certain way.
· to direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for; to seek one's interest or advantage
· Also means to take thought, be careful, to be minded in whatever way
By "the mind" the Apostle Paul means the "inward man."
FLESH: The Greek word is SARX - Meaning: Human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God.
· the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature"; without any suggestion of depravity’ the animal nature with cravings, appetites, which incite to sin
The Mind Set on the Flesh:
William Barclay also writes that,
"Paul is drawing a contrast between two kinds of life. There is the
life which is dominated by sinful human nature whose focus and center
is self. There is the life that is dominated by the Spirit of God. He
is Spirit-controlled, Christ-controlled, God-focused
. " The unsaved person is seeking to satisfy their fleshly
appetites, their sinful lusts that gratify the body (flesh). The mentality,
the attitude of the unsaved person is self-centered, carnally minded.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them
because they are spiritually discerned."
The Mind Set on the Spirit:
Again, the Greek word phroneō, is to think, to be minded in a certain way.
· to direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for; to seek one's interest or advantage
For the mind set on the Spirit, their interest would be to grow in their relationship with the Lord and grow in their understanding of His word. To seek Him. And the advantage is toknow the God of the bible. Knowing that the All-Seeing, All-Knowing, All-Powerful and Ever-Present God is with us and for us.
That's why we encourage one another to pray, to read the bible, to obey His word and to fellowship. The saved person (the spiritually minded person) is abiding and living according to the Spirit. The saved person has God's indwelling Spirit within them. Their mind is set on what the Spirit desires.
We have two natures. The desires of our spiritual nature pulls us in the direction of good while our carnal nature -this flesh in which we live- pulls us in the other direction. Our sinful, carnal nature and the indwelling Holy Spirit are in constant conflict every day. Galatians 5:17 (ESV) "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
David Guzik writes, "the mind is the strategic battleground where the flesh and the Spirit fight." William Barclay said, "These two lives are going in diametrically opposite directions." Romans 7:21 (NLT) "I have discovered this principle of life--that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong."
Most of you have heard the story about the Christian's inner struggle using the analogy of the two dogs. That story has been attributed to both Dr. Harry A. Ironside and to Chief Sitting Bull. “A Native American Elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: “Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time.” When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, “The one I feed the most.”
Billy Graham writes, “This story about the two dogs is apt because it tells us something about the inner warfare that comes into the life of a person who is born-again. We have two natures within us, both struggling for mastery. Which one will dominate us? It depends on which one we feed." So, the question is, which one are you feeding the most?
We must set our minds on the things of God, so that we feed the Spirit not the flesh. Romans 6:11 (ESV) "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV) 1"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
V6: DEATH / LIFE
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death…”
MIND: The Greek word for mind used here is PHRONĒMA - Meaning: Mind-set, what one has in the mind
- the thoughts and purposes - inclination
Death:
According to Walvoord and Zuck commentary, "The mind (phronēma, "mind-set") of sinful man (flesh) is death, that is, it is equivalent to death, or it leads to death in all its forms (physical and spiritual).” Adam Clarke writes, "To live under the influence of the carnal mind is to live in the state of condemnation, and consequently liable to death eternal." James 1:14-15 (NLT) 14 "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death." The carnal mind of the flesh is death, both now and forever because it pursues sin.
Life:
Walvoord continues , "On the other hand, the mind (phronēma, "mind-set") controlled by the Spirit (literally of the Spirit) is life (eternal resurrection life) and peace." Romans 8:13 (NKJV) "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." Galatians 6:8 (NKJV) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."
In his commentary, David Guzik writes, "In this battle to tame the flesh, the law is powerless." It is only through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit that helps to overcome the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
V6-7: WAR WITH GOD / PEACE WITH GOD
6 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 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.”
HOSTILE: The Greek word is ECHTHRA - Meaning: Enmity; opposition; hatred. It is the opposite of "agape" love.
War with God:
Those that are in the flesh, do not want to submit to God's law. The carnal flesh does not want to live out Galatians 5:24 which says, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (ESV).
Adam Clarke, regarding setting the mind on the flesh, writes, "it is a carnal mind and relishes earthly and sinful things, and lives in opposition to the pure and holy law of God." James 4:4 (NKJV) "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
The unsaved, those that are governed by the flesh, are at war with God. Isaiah 48:22 (NKJV) "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." And again in Isaiah 57:21 (NKJV) "There is no peace," Says my God, "for the wicked."
Wiersbe writes in his commentary, "The unsaved person is alive physically but dead spiritually. The inner man is dead towards God and does not respond to the things of the Spirit." He also stated that, "This does not mean that the unsaved person never does anything good or the saved person never does anything bad. This is talking about "the bent of their lives." One lives for the flesh, the other lives for the Spirit." (For clarification on the “bent of their lives,” it means the dominant direction or focus of their actions, thoughts and desires, their inclination.) You are either living primarily for worldly and fleshly pursuits or you are embracing a Spirit-led, Christ-centered life.
Peace with God:
Those who submit to God, who yield to the Holy Spirit, have peace with God. The mind that is governed by the Spirit is life and peace. It is the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God, both now and forever. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ will enjoy "peace with God ." Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Romans 5:1 (NKJV) "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
As a sidenote (Walvoord and Zuck commentary): Paul used the words Righteousness and Justify many times throughout all his epistles. Though they are seemingly unrelated in English, they are related in Greek.
RIGHTEOUSNESS: DIKAIOS – Meaning: Innocent, faultless, guiltless / approved of or acceptable of God.
JUSTIFY: DIKAIOO – Meaning: To declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous.
Paul used the word "righteousness" 28 times in Romans, and he used the word "justify" 15 times in Romans. The Walvoord and Zuck Commentary describes justification this way: "to justify a person is to declare him forensically (legally) righteous."
GotQuestions.org defined it this way, "Simply put, to justify is to declare righteous. Justification is an act of God whereby He pronounces a sinner to be righteous because of that sinner's faith in Christ and has come into a righteous relationship with God."
Forensically Righteous! - Justified! - JUST IF I'D NEVER SINNED! The power of the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all (ALL) our sins, guilt, shame, wrongdoing. Romans 8:1 (ESV) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." God declares us Righteous, by faith, in Christ.
V8: PLEASING SELF / PLEASING GOD
“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
CANNOT: The Greek word is OU – Meaning: Nay, no, not, the absolute negative.
Pleasing Self:
Unbelievers, selfishly have their minds set on satisfying their own fleshly desires and are captured by sin and are unable to do what God commands. Wiersbe writes, "To be in the flesh means to be lost, outside of Christ. The root of sin is selfishness - "I will" and not "Thy will."
The unsaved person lives to please themselves and rarely (if ever) thinks about pleasing God. They are living a life that caters to their sinful appetites and selfish impulses. They are totally void of spiritual life and are therefore, completely and utterly unable to please God (Wiersbe).
The Passion Translation on Romans 8:7-8 (TPT) puts it this way, 7 "In fact, the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to his direction, because it cannot! 8 For no matter how hard they try, God finds no pleasure with those who are controlled by the flesh." Matthew Poole writes, "neither they, nor anything they do, is pleasing unto Him; their best works are dead works."
Pleasing God:
What pleases God? Faith. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." "Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because faith is the avenue by which we come to God and trust Him for our salvation. It is also impossible to live for God—to follow and serve Him daily and persevere until the end—without faith" (GotQuestions.org).
Galatians 2:20 (NASB20) "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” "Since we died with Christ on the cross, we have a different life. Our old life lived under the law is dead. Now we are alive to Jesus Christ and Jesus is alive in us" (Guzik).
Martin Luther said this about being dead to the law and alive in Christ Jesus. He said, “Blessed is the person who knows how to use this truth in times of distress. He can say: Mr. Law, go ahead and accuse me as much as you like. I know I have committed many sins, and I continue to sin daily. But that does not bother me. You have got to shout louder, Mr. Law. I am deaf, you know. Talk as much as you like, I am dead to you. If you want to talk to me about my sins, go and talk to my flesh. Belabor that, but don’t talk to my conscience. My conscience is a lady and a queen, and has nothing to do with the likes of you, because my conscience lives to Christ under another law, a new and better law, the law of grace.’”
We put our faith in Jesus Christ, and in His finished work on the cross, trusting in Him for our salvation. Because faith is the only way by which we can please God. Colossians 1:10 (NKJV) "that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;"
Philippians 4:6-9 (NKJV) 6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."
Remember, "…as it is written, the just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17b) May the Holy Spirit help us to saturate our minds with the word of God, as we live and walk, by faith, in Christ Jesus. Amen!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Warren Wiersbe, Be Right (The BE Series Commentary)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck
BlueLetterBible.Org
GotQuestions.org
David Guzik, Enduring Word Commentary
William Barclay
Billy Graham
Matthew Poole
Adam Clarke