Living According to the Flesh or the Spirit Romans 8:5-14

A. “…According to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,” (vs. 5b). Gr. phroneo From phren “diaphragm.” “It was the diaphragm which determined the strength of the breath and hence also the human spirit and and its emotions. It precisely refers to the ability not only to think but also to control one’s thoughts and attitudes” (Spiros Zodiates, Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament,” p. 1454). I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

A. “…According to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,” (vs. 5b). Gr. phroneo From phren “diaphragm.” “To keep on giving serious consideration to something – ‘to ponder, to let one’s mind dwell on, to keep thinking about, to fix one’s attention on’” (Louw and Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, Vol. 1, p. 352). I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

A. “…According to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,” (vs. 5b). It’s use in the New Testament  “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23).  “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).  “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

B. “…But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (vs. 5c). C. “For to be carnally minded is death…” (vs. 6a).  All living things are flesh. “…I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.” (Genesis 6:17).  Man was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Since God is Spirit (John 4:24), and man has a spirit (Job 32:8)—it is the spirit of man that bears the image of God. I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

B. “…But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (vs. 5c). C. “For to be carnally minded is death…” (vs. 6a).  The flesh (while not corrupt by nature) can become corrupt by doing what displeases God. “…God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” (Genesis 6:12).  Jude will speak of the flesh “defiling” someone (23) yet warning against the flesh becoming defiled (8).. I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

B. “…But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (vs. 5c). C. “For to be carnally minded is death…” (vs. 6a).  When the flesh does what displeases God it is “works of the flesh”—“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,” (Gal. 5:19, 20).  “Envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21). I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

B. “…But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (vs. 5c). C. “For to be carnally minded is death…” (vs. 6a).  Sowing to the flesh. “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.” (Galatians 6:8). I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

B. “…But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (vs. 5c). C. “For to be carnally minded is death…” (vs. 6a). D. “…But to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (vs. 6b). I. “For those who live…” (vs. 5a).

A. “…For it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (vs. 7b).  “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off…But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).  “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). II. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…” (vs. 7a).

A. “…For it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (vs. 7b). B. “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (vs. 8).  Physical death separation of body and spirit—“…the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45). II. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…” (vs. 7a).

A. “…For it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (vs. 7b). B. “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (vs. 8).  This is not as the New International Version puts it a “sinful nature.”  “Paul uses the same word of Jesus’ ancestry “according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3). Jesus did not have a “sinful nature” but he did share our “flesh.” II. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…” (vs. 7a).

Paul speaks of living “on in the flesh” (Phil. 1:22) and remaining “in the flesh” (Phil. 1:24).  “ For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death” (Romans 7:5).  “I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me” (Gal. 2:20). III. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…” (vs. 9a).

A. “…If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you…” (vs. 9b). B. “…Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (vs. 9c).  The “Spirit of God” dwelling in a person is used synonymously with the “the Spirit of Christ” Christ dwells in our hearts “by faith” (Eph. 3:17).  God, “…has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 1:22).  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16). III. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…” (vs. 9a).

A. “…If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you…” (vs. 9b). B. “…Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (vs. 9c).  “Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).  Jesus said, “…If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). III. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…” (vs. 9a).

A. “…If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you…” (vs. 9b). B. “…Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (vs. 9c). C. “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (vs. 10). D. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (vs. 11). John 5:28, 29. III. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…” (vs. 9a).

“…The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23). A. “…Not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die…” (vs. 12b-13a). B. “…But if by the Spirit [lit. “in the Spirit”] you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (vs. 13b). C. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (vs. 14).  “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26, 27). IV. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors…” (vs. 12a).