Sunday, January 28

Romans 8:6

Romans 8:6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.


In verses 1-5 it is clear that there is only one important way to distinguish between people. They are either in Christ or not in Christ. In verse 5 Paul tells us what these two kinds of people set their minds on, and what they seek. Here in verse 6, Paul tells what the outcome is for these two kinds of people. Unregenerate man runs after and in fact is in bondage to sin and death. The world and temporal concerns are his focus and the object of his affections. This verse does not leave any wiggle room for the antinomian carnal Christian view that a person can have faith in Christ but be unchanged and continue to live with a mind totally set on the flesh. This is a false dead faith that does not save and this verse nails the lid shut on this false teaching.

In stark contrast the man regenerated by the Spirit of God has a new heart and a new attitude that is set on the Spirit and the things of God. He thinks in spiritual terms and is concerned with spiritual matters that bring life. Even in times of affliction and poverty, this man is at peace and will respond in Spiritual ways to whatever grief comes his way. While he may struggle with sin and his old nature, the spirit of God dwells in him and this is the victory that overcomes the world. In and of himself man would not overcome, but with the power of God at work in him, success is assured.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved from the eternal consequences and grip of sin.

6 comments:

mark pierson said...

"the spirit of God dwells in him and this is the victory that overcomes the world."

Amen!

Craver Vii said...

What is the bird sitting on?

You know, people say all the time, "There are two kinds of people in this world..." Your example is infinitely better!

May I be so bold as to suggest a modification? Rather than saying you will be saved from the consequences of sin, I'd suggest we're saved from the "eternal" consequences of sin. There's still a bunch of temporal consequences on this side of heaven.

jazzycat said...

Thanks Mark and Craver,

The bird is on my head in London in the 1970's.

Good suggestion. I have already changed it.

Even So... said...

Good stuff...

We are saved from the penalty of sin (justification), and the power of sin (sanctification), and in heaven, from the presence of sin (glorification)...

I pray, as AW Pink did, to be saved from the pleasure of sin...however, I have found God uses the tension rather than take desires away, but he does answer this prayer at times and for certain things...

Dawn said...

Groovy post Jazzy!

jazzycat said...

Dawn,
Thanks, That is my head with much more hair than I have now.