6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. – Romans 8:6
Two Classes
In Romans chapter eight, Paul makes a distinction between the only two classes of people that ultimately matters. Those who set their mind on the flesh and those who set their mind on the Spirit. The distinction couldn’t be more vivid. One is marked by despair, the other by assurance.
Paul begins this great chapter by telling us that there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Yes, the wages of sin is death. Yes, sin demands a penalty. Yes, sin is a terrible master. But in Christ, condemnation has been replaced by justification and sanctification. Those in Christ will not only escape the penalty of sin but also experience freedom from sin’s enslaving power.
Setting the Mind
Paul expands this teaching by furthering his distinction between the flesh and the Spirit. He tells us that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free in Christ from the law of sin and death. Although the Law condemned us, it was unable to save us. Since mankind was helpless and the requirements of the law had to be fulfilled, God sent His Son to become flesh and die in our place. On the cross of Cavalry Jesus bore the punishment for the sins of mankind. The wrath of God was satisfied. To this day and forever, the cross separates humanity into two groups; those in the flesh and those in the Spirit.
Paul tells us in verse five that, “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.” He is talking about domination and control. A person doesn’t “decide” to live according the the Spirit one day and the flesh the next. Paul’s purpose is not to encourage us to make a choice between the two, rather it is to show us the great contrast between them and the end result of each.
Flesh
Those who live in the flesh live in the realm of death. They live their lives separated from God. Their estrangement from God is illustrated well by the words of the Prophet Isaiah.
2 but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear. – Isaiah 59:2
Those in the realm of the flesh are marking time. They are nothing more than dead people walking in the dark. As Paul goes on to say they are hostile to God. They do not and cannot submit to His law. Controlled by their sinful nature they are incapable of pleasing God. Their lives are best summarized by the theological terms total depravity and total inability. Paul reminds us that this is what the grace of God saved us from.
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:2-10
Spirit
By the grace of God, we have been transferred from the realm of the flesh to that of the Spirit. Instead of death and despair, our lives are marked by life and peace. Whereas before we were dead to God, now we have live. Eternal life. The ability to know and fellowship with the Trinity (John 17:3). Instead of being at enmity with God, we now have peace with Him. The life and peace Paul is speaking of here is not subjective but objective. He is assuring us of our position in Christ. He is talking about our salvation obtained and secured by the finished work of Christ.
Paul proceeds to tell us that as His redeemed, the Spirit of God now lives in us. Further, with Christ in us our spirits are alive because of righteousness. In His mercy, God has imputed the righteousness of Christ to us. While our bodies are dead to sin, the Spirit is our guarantee that someday we will be raised in glorified bodies. Mortality will completely put on immortality. The presence and effects of sin will be no more.
Mortification
Until we are home, Paul tells us our position in Christ entails an obligation (verse 12). Specifically, Paul tells us that we must practice what is referred to as the mortification of the flesh. A topic he covered in his letter to the Colossians.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. – Colossians 3:5-10
It is only because of our new position in the Spirit that we are able to “put to death the misdeeds of the body” (verse 13). When we were merely dead people walking in the darkness of sin marking time, God saved us from the flesh and indwelt us with His Spirit. He delivered us from the realm of death into life and peace. May we not yield to the pull of the world or succumb to the temptations of our old master.
Those of us who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (verse 14). We are not indwelt with a spirit of fear but rather a Spirit of Sonship by whom we are able to cry “Abba, Father” (verse 15). Further, the Spirit testifies with our spirits that we are God’s children (verse 16) and heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (verse 17). This is what it means to be in the Spirit. This is what it means to have assurance. This is what it means to have life and peace. Where once we were separated from God, now we never can or will be.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
Awesome!