THE MIND
(Further reflections on “The Flesh” — Sunday 13-Sep-2020)
God spoke through the apostle Paul who demonstrated his understanding, showed empathy, identified with Christians (almost all) who are struggling with sins — the fight between the flesh (sinful nature) and the Spirit. He exclaimed (Romans 7:24), “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” And then he said in relief, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 7:25–8:1).”
The phrase “no condemnation” must be understood in the context and connection with Romans 7:1–6, where we are told (v. 6) that “now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code (the Law).” This therefore “no condemnation” has never meant the license of “free to sin,” but always the gift of “free from sin.” Reasons being (take note of the “for” in Romans 2–8), “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Now how can we practically live out Romans 8:1–8?
1./ We must begin with the mind. Our mind is no longer our mind. It must submit to God’s Word. It must be daily washed; fed; regenerated, renewed, ‘reprogrammed’. It must put to death the voice/influence of the flesh (sinful nature) and stay submitted and serving toward God’s Law — the Law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus. When a strange/sinful thought came, we must bring it to the Lord in the light of His Word, not in our own leaning or understanding. This is why it’s so crucial to know and study God’s word. Pastorally (and generally) speaking, it is already a big challenge for many to keep Sunday as a day of rest, worship, fellowship with the Body of Christ — the church. It will take “loving the Lord with all of our mind, will, emotion, and (lastly but importantly) our strength.” People usually cannot go to church (online/onsite) because they are either tired or busy with their own “try-to-do-something” on God-blessed-given-rest day. If their minds do not set on the things of the Spirit, they automatically (or by default) set on the things of the flesh.
2./ We must remember that being righteous, biblically speaking, is not about being a good person or trying to be a good Christian, but about keeping on believing, following, obeying the Word, building the relationship with the Son — who is the source of our justification and righteousness, and living under His grace. So when (not if) we mess up, we repent and go back to Jesus. Do not listen to the Devil’s voice, whispering, “God is upset with you since you have been messing up so many times. He’s tired of you.” Discard this voice and tune in to the still small voice of the Spirit who points us back to Jesus, who is the entrance/doorway to the God the Father.
3./ We must stay faithfully “married” to Jesus and do not go back to the “old husband” (the Law) even though he is holy, righteous, and good. He cannot help us, and yet he condemn us, because we will never be able to fulfill his lawful requirements! The choice is really ours.
4./ We must set our mind on the things of the Spirit and not on the things of the flesh (sinful nature). Why? It is because the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law. In fact, it cannot. More often than not, when we don’t have peace with others, chances are high that we do not have peace with God. And when you realize that something is missing in your life or you don’t have peace with God, chances are high that you didn’t spend time reading with the Word, praying/talking to the Son, and fellowshipping with the Church, and witnessing God’s greatness and goodness in your life. On witnessing, it is understandable that a number of Christians never wanted to share their testimony, because their testimony is outdated simply because they are living out the Good News that saved them. To them, their “testimony” had expired a while ago. So now, the best way to see if we are living in the Spirit is to check if we are bearing the fruit of the Spirit, namely, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (cf. Galatians 5:22–23). Do yourself a favor in next few weeks/months, take time to review your life this year if you can see any variety of the fruit? Now if you have already known that you are not in right relationship with the Lord, kneel down, repent, talk to Jesus, ask, receive His forgiveness, and rejoice!
May the Holy Spirit help us!
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Pastor Lap
P.S. The Mind is the steering wheel. The Flesh wants to steer the wheel and The Spirit wants to drive that too. The Mind needs to decide which control it yields/submits to.
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