The Mind Set on The Spirit...Romans 8

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.(Romans 8:5-6)

Why is it that “there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”? One of the reasons is that those in Christ Jesus are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and live their lives by the Spirit of God.

In the last article we looked at Paul’s expression, “They that are after the flesh“, that is those who are unregenerate, and “in Adam”. These are not a ‘lesser category of christian”, these are the unregenerate, they have not been born again.

Here we look at what the same passage teaches us about those who live “after the Spirit”. What does the Word of God say about these, who are “In Christ”,living by the “law of the Spirit of Life” ?

* They are after the Spirit – The Christian has become spiritual, his life is now influenced by the Holy Spirit, He wants to follow a spiritual path, for he is now ”Led by the Spirit” as verse 14 will tell us.

* They that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit- The mind, affections, desires and will of the christian have become spiritual, by the new birth. The Christian lives by new impulses, He sets his mind on the Spirit.

What are these things of the Spirit? They are the things that God, the Holy Spirit, puts into our hearts to seek after, and concern ourselves with.

For example, the christian cares about his own soul; its health, its relationship to God, it’s development. This doesn’t come naturally, the man who lives ‘after the flesh’ regards such concern as ‘foolishness’. But the Spirit ever draws our attention to the condition of our souls.

Connected to this Spirit inspired interest in our souls, is the desire to be free of and through with sin. Christians are made to care about victory over sin itself, and to have an interest in living a holy life.

Another of the things of the Spirit, that those truly saved ‘set their minds on’, is the desire to glorify Jesus in our lives. It would never occur to the man after the flesh to do so, this is a holy affection imparted to us by the Holy Spirit himself.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.(1 Cor 2:14)

The Christian finds himself grieved by things like blasphemy, the profanity of God’s name, the denial of Christ in himself and others by word and action. He desires to see Christ himself glorified because he is now truly spiritual, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit!

The Spirit makes us want to know, love and imitate Jesus christ. The Spirit gives the hunger to seek Him and worship him. The Spirit causes us to want others to Know Jesus as well.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.(John 16:14)

Another of the things of the Spirit, is everything about Salvation; the way of salvation, the truth about it, the sharing of the gospel of it, the distortion of it, these are concerns that christians have , which the man “After the flesh” would consider foolishness.

These are not mere academic concerns either, the Spirit causes us to care deeply about them. Spiritual men cannot be indifferent about the things of salvation, the Spirit within them won’t allow that.

The carnal man, yet” in Adam” cannot figure out why christians can’t just get along with each other, “why do they have to fight and split hairs over doctrinal issues?”.

Because they aren’t spiritual, they do not share the deep passionate concern for the “truth of the gospel” that the Holy Spirit imparts to all who are born of him.

There is no way they would ever ‘get’ the book of Galatians, Paul’s most vehement letter, written to christians who were ‘just adding a little Jewish tradition to the gospel they had received’.

The natural man would look at the situation and shake his head saying, ‘They still believed in Jesus, and used the scripture, and called upon the name of the Lord, whats the big deal? Can’t we all agree to disagree?”

It is the Spirit who burn in us a holy passion for the truth of the gospel, a concern about it; ours and everyone else that we meet. The Holy Ghost imparts to us , a holy interest in how we stand with our Creator, a desire to stay current with God, grief that God is not glorified in the world, a hunger for God’s truth. This is what it means to be spiritual, to set our minds on the Spirit.

The Spirit gives us an understanding, the lowliest christian actually knows what is wrong with the world, at least in essence. The Spirit puts the desire to worship and commune with God in our hearts as well.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.(I Cor 2:12)

What does it say about a person who is void of these things? Who just doesn’t “get it” and does not ever “set his mind on the Spiritual things? There are many who have only religion, they aren’t spiritual , because they have not truly been saved!

Having the yearning and desire for these things of God in our hearts is one of the most significant signs that one is born again of the Spirit, and living by the Spirit, this is what the text means when it proclaims,

Those who walk after the flesh, mind the things of the flesh, those who walk after the spirit, mind the things of the spirit.
For we are not saved or justified by the works of the flesh, for anyone who has ever been saved was not reborn by the will of man, but, by the spirit of God.
Those who try to earn their salvation, those who try to be approved by God and of God by their works, those who believe that the law will save them are living in the flesh, and those who trust on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ are living in the spirit.

Galatians 2

16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3

1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Those who live by the law, by their works, who try to obtain their salvation by their works, or their own self righteiousness can never be justified in the eyes of God.
Those who live by faith, who trust on Christ alone are justified, those who trust in Christ Jesus, those who are in Christ Jesus, for there now is no condemnation for them.

**love and imitate Jesus christ**

That phrase really explains how many, many folks think that they are born again. They read or hear messages from the four gospels, are touched, convicted, moved in their hearts, and are told by someone that has only gone that far themselves, that they ‘are saved’.

From there they go on to the epistles, since the book of Acts is ‘just a book of history’, and proceed to ‘imitate’ Jesus Christ, WITHOUT being born again the BIBLE way.

The people Peter preached to on the day of Pentecost were ‘pricked in their heart’, and said unto Peter AND the rest of the the apostles, Men and brethern, “what must we do?”

The Protestant answer commomly is Paul’s introductory comment to the distraught and suicidal jailor: “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”. This is taught as ‘full gospel’, when it is actually leaving out HOW to believe on Him. Paul and Silas went on and spake the word of the Lord, and baptized them, ‘STRAIGHTWAY’.

Peter told those pricked in the heart to “Repent, and be baptized EVERY ONE of you in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the REMISSION of SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

Saul/Paul was brought low by the Lord, and told, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: is it hard for thee to kick against the pricks?” I think Paul probably believed on Jesus BIGTIME, right then and there. But what did the Lord say next? “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be TOLD thee WHAT thou MUST DO.” MUST DO? Well, we know that Paul was baptized (and probably didn’t have to wait for the next church service when all the aunts, uncles, and cousins could be present).

Cornelius was instructed by the angel of what he MUST DO. Peter came, preached, and upon seeing and HEARING those folks be filled with the Holy Ghost, instantly declared that they must be baptized. (Oh..hold on...we really ought to wait until next weeks service when we can have the water ready, it’s kinda cold right now).

If souls want to imitate Jesus Christ, they need to start by being ‘buried with him in baptism’. It’s in his NAME for the REMISSION of SINS. If you could have been literally wrapped up with him in those grave clothes, and buried, you would literally have gotten his blood on you. God knew that was not literally possible for everyone present and in the future, so he has given this baptism with him to spiritually get his blood on you.

“..without shedding of blood is no remission.” Heb. 9:22
The Lord has commanded baptism in his name for the remission of sins. Could it not be any clearer? (but maybe thou hast to go and ‘sell’ all that thou hast; such as giving up years of protestant tradition, a loyal following, maybe even monetary gain)

A sidenote:
Nevermind A.A. Cunnigham’s opinions about your ‘multiposts’, he just a loyal RC from the ‘old school’ (circa 1200 A.D.) lol

“..without shedding of blood is no remission.” Heb. 9:22

Hello Zuriel..How's things? This oft' quoted Hebrews passage is a misquotation of Lev 17:11. Lev 17 is about the prohibition against eating blood. Why? Because the only legitimate purpose for blood outside the body is in sacrificial service. It is not to be used as a food or anything else. Leftover blood from a sacrifice is to be dumped on the ground. Even foreigners dwelling among the Israelites are forbidden from eating blood.

What is does NOT say, is that the ONLY means of atonement is the shedding of blood. Lev 5:11... 11 “‘If, however, they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the LORD. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

No blood shed....sins forgiven. Additionally, The vast majority of animal sacrifice is for UNintentional sin. Only about 5 or 6 INtentional sins require an animal sacrifice.

How are intentional sins forgiven? Prayer, repentance, charity, fasting....no blood required.

Blood

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