Romans 8

Sunday, 7 July 2013

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:9

The past verses have shown the contrast between being “in the Spirit” and “in the flesh.” Today we are told very directly that if we are in Christ, we are “not in the flesh but in the Spirit.” And then Paul qualifies his statement, “if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” This is our actual state before God if we are truly believers. We are positionally in the Spirit. As noted in previous verses, this doesn’t mean we are now glorified and incapable of sin. Nor does it mean that we can’t live as if “in the flesh.” This kind of thinking is obviously wrong and leads down avenues of absurdity.

To be in position and in practice are not always in accord with each other. In position we have moved from carnal Adam to spiritual Christ if we have believed the gospel and received the Spirit.

The next sentence goes on to state, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” This is as obvious a statement as can be seen. If we don’t have the Spirit of Christ, we don’t belong to Christ. What is less obvious is the exact meaning of “the Spirit of Christ.” Some scholars state that this is not speaking of the Holy Spirit (meaning as an entity), but rather the “temper” or “disposition” of Christ. In other words, conducting ourselves in the same type of walk as He walks.

The reason for this analysis is because the term “Spirit of Christ” is used only one other time in the Bible, in 1 Peter 1:11. That, however, isn’t a valid argument. Meaning is derived based on the intent of the writer. The intent is certainly being tied to the preceding sentence which mentions the “Spirit of God.” This then is parallelism; the repetition of a thought to make a point. The terms Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, etc. are used synonymously throughout the New Testament and such is the case here.

The Spirit issues from the God Father, through the Son as is evidenced in passages such as 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19 –

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

The issuing of the Spirit is actually more important than one might assume. Whether He issues from the Father apart from the Son or from the Father through the Son is an immensely important theological concept to be considered. Disagreement on this issue caused one of the greatest rifts in Christianity, but the Bible is clear on the progression of the Spirit. What Paul is showing us here is that “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of Christ” are one in the same; they are both terms speaking of “the Holy Spirit.”

Life application: Seemingly small matters can actually carry great theological weight and importance and therefore must be considered both carefully and with respect to the intent of God as revealed in Scripture. Little diversions from the avenue of sound interpretation can lead to great flaws in our theology.

Heavenly Father, when I look at a marvelous sunrise, I feel awe and excitement. I look at the grain of wood closely and I see beauty and it interests me. The fluttering of a butterfly and the swooping of birds catch my curiosity and I find enjoyment there. All of the creation came from Your wisdom… if it is marvelous, then how much more glorious are You! Praises be to the Source of all things in which I find delight. Amen.

Saturday, 6 July 2013

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:8

This verse is explicit and obvious – one who is “in the flesh” cannot please God. There are two possible instances tied up in the thought. The first is the unregenerate soul – the person who has not been cleansed by Jesus’ work. Any person who has not come to Christ is in this category to the full measure. The second instance is a person who has called on Christ, but has his mind and actions directed to the things of the flesh. This is the natural man being allowed to take over during our earthly walk. When we as believers please the flesh, it is obvious that we are not pleasing to God.

In the first instance, we can think of a bully down the street. He is wholly unpleasing to those around him. There are no family affections and he is kept separate from our care or concern. In the second instance, we can think of our own children when they are disobedient. At such a time, they aren’t pleasing to us and yet there is the stronger bond and tie of family. Despite their inability to please us due to their current actions, they are members of the family. Though unpleasing, they are not rejected.

In both circumstances, there is nothing to say that either child won’t voluntarily turn and make right choices. The bully could give up his ways, seeing what is right and pleasing to those around him. If he were an orphan, he may even be adopted into the family because of his turn to right living. Likewise our child will probably get over his disobedience and turn back to right living. If not, it doesn’t make him any less our child.

The concept of total depravity in a person in no way negates volitional acts of the will to “see the good” and turn to it. Nor does calling on Jesus guarantee that we are instantly perfect saints who never sin and who can’t lapse into more sin. Categories are important and acts of the will cannot be dismissed in our theological conceptions of who we are in relation to God. The difference in the two who “cannot please God” mentioned above is that one is a family member and the other isn’t. The change in relationship doesn’t necessarily guarantee that our on-going relationship will be perfect, but it does guarantee final results

Life application: Romans 8:8 is clearly stated. If we are in the flesh we cannot please God. Some people are in the flesh completely, having not called on Christ. They are apart from the covenant promises of God. Some people are living in the flesh, despite having moved from Adam to Christ. This could be us and therefore we need to be attentive to our new state and family ties, and live our lives in a manner which is pleasing to our Lord and God.

Heavenly Father, You adopted me into Your family because of Jesus. How unworthy I was of that honor and how unworthy I still am. My thoughts and actions at times belie the person I have been called to be and I ask that You redirect me in those times, turning me back to the straight and narrow path which is pleasing to You. Thank You for Your attentive care. Amen.

Friday, 5 July 2013

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Romans 8:7

This verse reiterates the phrase used in Romans 8:6, phronēma tēs sarkos or “the carnal mind.” This is more often than not misunderstood to refer to the mind itself as if it is an authoritative statement on the depravity of man. But Paul is speaking of the minding of the flesh rather than the state of it. Whether a man is in Adam and minding the flesh or dead to Adam and alive in Christ, either way he can mind the flesh. When he does, this avenue is one which is at enmity with God.

There is a second problem with the misuse of this verse. Far too often it is used as a text to claim that any person who hasn’t called on Christ is unable perceive any good at all or even understand the contents of the Bible in an real capacity. It becomes a tool of “superior knowledge and spiritual depth” for the believer against the lesser “unregenerate mind.” This is problematic, because it would then logically imply that nobody could call on Christ. The message would be beyond fallen man’s ability to grasp. This leads to the misguided Calvinist doctrine of being “regenerated” in order to believe. After this according to Calvinism, the belief is then what leads to salvation. This concept is found nowhere in the Bible.

If it were true, then after being regenerated the Bible should suddenly be completely understandable to the “now regenerate” soul. This is the last thing seen in believers. There is more disagreement about biblical doctrines among faithful believers than there are grains of sand on the sea.

Another validation of this can also be found in Old Testament verses such as Genesis 5:22-24 – “Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” If Enoch and many others prior to Christ walked with God, then it is obvious that the Calvinist viewpoint is untenable on this issue. “The carnal mind” is the minding of the flesh, not the state of it.

Such things as those found in Calvinist doctrine on this issue are not taught by Paul, nor does the Bible imply them at any point. In fact, throughout the Bible, those who have the Spirit – (David for example in the Old Testament and the Corinthian believers in the New) continuously fail to meet the law of God, and often they even fail to properly grasp it at all. Instead, they mind the flesh – even though they have the Spirit and thus “are not subject to the law of God.” When minding the flesh, indeed, they cannot be. This truth is even seen in the apostles as times.

Where this verse says, “for it is not subject to the law of God” the “it” is speaking of the carnal mind, not the person. This carnal mind, be it in a believer or in a non-believer, is not and cannot be subject to the law of God. This is the reason why we are asked to think on that which is noble, reject that which is evil, fix our thoughts on Jesus, etc. When we fail to do this, our minds are obviously not subject to the law of God.

Life application: When you are born as a human, you can never get “more human,” but humanity can get more of you. When you are born into Christ, you can never get more “born again,” but Christ can get more of you. This is what Paul is speaking of. A person in Christ is in Christ, but Christ is in people in varying degrees. This is a state that we allow based on our obedience to Him, our proper knowledge and yielding to Him, and our fellowshipping with Him. If this is the state you desire, then fix your thoughts on Him and allow His Spirit to fill you and guide you.

Lord Jesus, You are my hope, my desire, my longing. I shall set my gaze upon You and fix my thoughts upon You. Fill me and guide me. Keep me from myself and my earthly desires and give me the ability to understand the things of God which are revealed through You and Your Holy Spirit. I praise You for what You have done and will continue to do in me. Amen.

Thursday, 4 July 2013

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6

This continues the explanation of 8:2 – 8:5. It is now the fourth “for” in those verses. Paul’s idea here is the building up of a storehouse of knowledge concerning his thought in verse 1. It is a logical defense of the difference between being in the Spirit and being in the flesh and what the benefits of being in the Spirit are.

Two thoughts to reconsider are that anyone who has called on Christ is positionally “in the Spirit.” However, we can and often do live in the flesh actually. Paul is giving this instruction to show us the importance of living in the Spirit. As he says today, “to be carnally minded is death.” Those who haven’t called on Christ are already condemned (John 3:18) and they cannot please God because the wall of sin and death from Adam remains.

Those who have called on Christ are the ones with the dilemma to resolve. If we remain carnally minded and don’t give up on life in the flesh, it can only lead to death. A person who returns to drugs after calling on Christ will eventually suffer the results of the addiction. This is true with whatever carnal sin captivates our mind. It leads to corruption and death.

On the other hand, Paul say that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Calling on Christ is what restores us to God. It is the bridge we need to move to peace and fellowship with Him. If this is so, then the obvious path to peace and life would be to live in the Spirit which was granted when we made the call. God will not work contrary to His own will! Therefore, what He wills us to do is what is right and proper.

This train of thought is the obvious conclusion of what Paul is saying as is evidenced by verse 12 which still lies ahead. There he says that “we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” The choice must remain or he couldn’t even make this statement. Yes, we are saved, but we can and far too often live as if we are not. It is our choice and so we should endeavor to choose wisely.

Life application: It is often said that the Bible is a book of “don’ts.” This is true to an extent, but every “don’t” is given by the One who created us and therefore it is an admonition which looks to our ultimate good and for our benefit. Don’t get bogged down in the mire of dismissive people’s comments about the negative side of the Bible. Instead, know that for every negative, there is a resulting positive. God loves you and has blessed you with valuable instructions for life and peace.

Heavenly Father, I know that there are many “don’ts” in the Bible, but I also know that every one of them is meant to lead to a resulting good. If You give a “don’t” it is because You fashioned me and have my best in mind. I will rejoice in the “don’ts” because they will mold me into Your likeness as much as the “do’s” do. Thank You for the “don’ts.” Amen.

Wednesday, 3 July 2013

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, the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5

A good complimentary passage to this verse can be found in Galatians 5:19-26 and will help one understand the difference between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Also, in Matthew 15:19, we see Jesus’ words concerning such things – “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

These are things which could be described as “according to the flesh.” It should be noted that some of them are a result of our humanity and not necessarily our physical being itself. In other words, the word “flesh” which comes from the Greek word sarx, gives the idea of something physical and tangible, but the things Jesus mentions like “thoughts,” “false witness,” etc. are not physical in nature. Instead they come from the mind.

This then is tied into what Paul is saying. Those who live “according to the flesh” will inevitably “set their minds on the things of the flesh.” This is the state of man, even those who are believers. The state of our walk with the Lord can be determined by how much of our mental capacity is spent mulling over the things which are flesh-directed. But it’s important to note that being “in the flesh” isn’t the same thing as the flesh being in us.

When we receive Christ as Lord, we move from being “in the flesh” to “in the Spirit.” The old man is crucified and our headship changes from Adam to Christ. The flesh is still in us and it will remain so until we die or until the Lord comes at the rapture. Until one of those events occurs, we should attempt to live the life we have been granted. As we develop and mature as Christians we should “live according to the Spirit.” This is an attitude where our minds and our lives are directed away from worldly things and lusts and toward the heavenly, eternal things.

For some, the change never really takes hold. For others, it may be delayed for even years and then suddenly grasp them. And yet others may have a profound change in their lives from the moment they receive Christ. In the end, the sadness of a life saved by the Lord and then never bearing fruit for Him will be realized in many when they stand before His judgment seat. Let us endeavor to not be in this position on that day.

Life application: If we are “in the Spirit” then we should endeavor to have the Spirit in us. Be filled with the Spirit through right thinking, reading and studying of the word, a healthy prayer life, and fellowshipping with others in praise and worship of the Lord. This is certainly pleasing to God and is His desire for your life.

Lord Jesus, You saved me from the pit and have set me in broad spaces. Now be with me as I learn Your word and endeavor to live according to its precepts. Help me not to misuse the intent of Your word, but to walk rightly and with pure doctrine. Lead me, guide me, and instruct me in the beautiful pages of the Bible. Amen.