“The sinful mind is hostile to
God” (Romans 8:7).
It is impossible for a person
who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior to
please God.
Two different mindsets have two
entirely different end results. One produces peace
with God and the other hostility toward God.
Everyone needs to ask a critical question of
ourselves: Is my mind dominated by “sinful nature,”
or is it under the control of the Holy Spirit?
The sinful mind is hostile
toward God. That is the result of total radical
depravity. There is no way it can possibly please
God.
The apostle Paul said, “They
that are in the flesh cannot please God” (v. 8).
“The mind of the flesh is enmity against God” (v.
8). It is hostile toward God. It hates God. It is
impossible for anyone who is dominated by the flesh
to gain divine approval.
It is the total inability of
the natural man to be well-pleasing to God or to do
what is well-pleasing to God. "Enmity against God"
is nothing other than total depravity and "cannot
please God."
The governing principle of the
mind of the flesh is “enmity toward God.” All sin is
against God.
Underlying all activity of the
“mind of the flesh” is opposition and hatred of God.
“After the flesh” (vv. 4, 5)
and “in the flesh” (vv. 8, 9) have the same effect
of the human nature that is corrupt, directed, and
under the control of sin.
On the other hand “after the
Spirit” (vv. 4, 5), and “in the Spirit” (v. 9) are
of the same effect as one is under the control and
conditioned to the Holy Spirit.
“The mind of the flesh” (v. 5)
is to have the things of the flesh as the
preoccupation of thought, interest, affection, and
purpose.
“The mind of the flesh”
includes the cognitive activities of reason, the
emotional responses, and volition controlled by the
sinful flesh.
“The things of the Spirit” (v.
5), “after the Spirit,” “in the Spirit,” “the mind
of the Spirit,” and “walking in the Spirit,” or
“after the Spirit” takes in the opposite direction
with completely different principles. It is to be
under the habitual control of the Holy Spirit.
The outcome of both principles
is also very clear. “The mind of the flesh is death”
(v. 6). It has the effect of separation from God.
The “mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (v. 6).
It produces fellowship with God. When we are at one
with God we experience His deep, deep peace. The
opposite of enmity and death is reconciliation.
Are you walking in the sinful
flesh or in the Spirit? This is a very serious
question. It is not something in which we can be
careless. Eternity hangs in the balances. Only you
can decide as the Spirit of God speaks to your
heart. But the Holy Spirit will never contradict the
written Word of God, and will always lead in ways
that conform us to the likeness of Christ. He will
never lead us into sin or compromise behavior.
Are you a saved person? Have
you been born again? Do you have the testimony of
the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit? What is
in habitual control of your life? Is it the “sinful
nature” or the Holy Spirit? If our minds are set on
“sinful nature” we had better ask some serious
questions about our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Do you have spiritual life? Are you responsive to
the things of God? What is your response to the
pricking of your conscience by the Holy Spirit? Are
you alive spiritually or spiritually dead to God
just as if you were physically dead?
The Christian has his mind “set
on what the Spirit desires.” Is this your habitual
thinking? Do you desire to please Him? The
unbeliever has his mind set on what the “sinful
nature” desires. The action of one is spiritual life
and peace, whereas the other is spiritual death.
Have you passed from death to life? Have you been
born again?
“The sinful mind is hostile to
God” (Romans 8:7).
It is impossible for a person
who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior to
please God.
Two different mindsets have two
entirely different end results. One produces peace
with God and the other hostility toward God.
Everyone needs to ask a critical question of
ourselves: Is my mind dominated by “sinful nature,”
or is it under the control of the Holy Spirit?
The sinful mind is hostile
toward God. That is the result of total radical
depravity. There is no way it can possibly please
God.
The apostle Paul said, “They
that are in the flesh cannot please God” (v. 8).
“The mind of the flesh is enmity against God” (v.
8). It is hostile toward God. It hates God. It is
impossible for anyone who is dominated by the flesh
to gain divine approval.
It is the total inability of
the natural man to be well-pleasing to God or to do
what is well-pleasing to God. "Enmity against God"
is nothing other than total depravity and "cannot
please God."
The governing principle of the
mind of the flesh is “enmity toward God.” All sin is
against God.
Underlying all activity of the
“mind of the flesh” is opposition and hatred of God.
“After the flesh” (vv. 4, 5)
and “in the flesh” (vv. 8, 9) have the same effect
of the human nature that is corrupt, directed, and
under the control of sin.
On the other hand “after the
Spirit” (vv. 4, 5), and “in the Spirit” (v. 9) are
of the same effect as one is under the control and
conditioned to the Holy Spirit.
“The mind of the flesh” (v. 5)
is to have the things of the flesh as the
preoccupation of thought, interest, affection, and
purpose.
“The mind of the flesh”
includes the cognitive activities of reason, the
emotional responses, and volition controlled by the
sinful flesh.
“The things of the Spirit” (v.
5), “after the Spirit,” “in the Spirit,” “the mind
of the Spirit,” and “walking in the Spirit,” or
“after the Spirit” takes in the opposite direction
with completely different principles. It is to be
under the habitual control of the Holy Spirit.
The outcome of both principles
is also very clear. “The mind of the flesh is death”
(v. 6). It has the effect of separation from God.
The “mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (v. 6).
It produces fellowship with God. When we are at one
with God we experience His deep, deep peace. The
opposite of enmity and death is reconciliation.
Are you walking in the sinful
flesh or in the Spirit? This is a very serious
question. It is not something in which we can be
careless. Eternity hangs in the balances. Only you
can decide as the Spirit of God speaks to your
heart. But the Holy Spirit will never contradict the
written Word of God, and will always lead in ways
that conform us to the likeness of Christ. He will
never lead us into sin or compromise behavior.
Are you a saved person? Have
you been born again? Do you have the testimony of
the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit? What is
in habitual control of your life? Is it the “sinful
nature” or the Holy Spirit? If our minds are set on
“sinful nature” we had better ask some serious
questions about our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Do you have spiritual life? Are you responsive to
the things of God? What is your response to the
pricking of your conscience by the Holy Spirit? Are
you alive spiritually or spiritually dead to God
just as if you were physically dead?
The Christian has his mind “set
on what the Spirit desires.” Is this your habitual
thinking? Do you desire to please Him? The
unbeliever has his mind set on what the “sinful
nature” desires. The action of one is spiritual life
and peace, whereas the other is spiritual death.
Have you passed from death to life? Have you been
born again?
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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