The Flesh And The Spirit: What Life Are We “After?”
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 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.
The Lord Jesus Christ taught about the heart of the man in Matthew 6:21 when He said, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Man’s heart is going to be “after” whatever his “mind” desires, and once HE determines what is well pleasing, good, or anything that will benefit his flesh, or the flesh of others, he is ‘all in’ so to speak (This is the same thing Adam and Eve did with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). But when man with his “mind” determines something to be well pleasing, good, or of any benefit to his flesh, and the flesh of others; then he determines to “walk after” these lusts, it becomes his way, his life, it becomes the “law” of his flesh! He becomes “subject” unto the “law” of his flesh, and this is because his “mind” has determined this to be what is well pleasing in his sight, and satisfies his flesh and he places more emphasis upon the law of his mind and the law of his flesh and by doing this he is not subject onto the will the way and the life and the law of God and by doing this he lives in a carnal mind and is not subject onto a spiritual mind.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Subjection is the highest form of obedience given to a ‘power,’ or a person, you become UNDER its dominion, you fall UNDER its will, and its “law,” you become a “debtor” unto it. This does not carry the same rule as in marriage, with marriage; both ought to be “subject” unto the will of God in the marriage, NOT UNDER the will, and “law” of the spouse, and what their “carnal mind” determines how to “walk” in marriage. The only way we can “please God,” is we CANNOT be “in our flesh!” We must ‘get out of our own way,’ when it comes to how we are going to live our sanctified life as “sons and daughters,” we are going to have either a selfish “walk” as saints, or a selfless “walk” as “sons and daughters” by His word.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Notice verse 9 says “in” the flesh, and “in” the Spirit? YOU become “one” with it, you become part of its body, and even though our flesh is already part of our earthly bodies; we have to remember that our inward man is now permanently enjoined to Christ, regardless how WE desire to “walk,” but we as “sons and daughters” are beseeched to “mind the things” of the Spirit (the living word of God), and by doing this; we will desire to allow our inward man to be subject unto the will of God, the Life of God, the Word of God, and His “Law.” We will be “debtors” to the “Spirit,” which is His living Word, and debtors, and part of its Body, and thereby walking IN its will, life, and by its “law.” And in verse 9 Paul says, “if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you,” and then he says, “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ.” The ‘Spirit of God dwelling’ within the believer refers to what was just taught in verses 1 through 8. This means to be walk in the Spirit, and to mind the Spirit, and to be led by the Spirit, this is what Paul teaches in Colossians 3:16 when he says, “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,” and in Ephesians 5:18 when he says, “be filled with the Spirit.” But now, when he says, “if and man HAVE NOT the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His,” this is referring to salvation from the debt and penalty of sin. Paul is saying, ‘if any man have not the Living Word of Christ, he is none of HIS.’ There is a difference being made by Paul in this verse for the reason of reminding us ‘Who’ we ought to be living after, and Who we ought to desire to “please.”
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Therefore, notice in verse 11 Paul says that if the Spirit of God “dwell in” us, our “mortal bodies” shall also be “quickened” by His Spirit that we are ‘minding,’ and we are desiring to “walk in.” Paul confirms this in the following verses about the effectual working by His Word. And at this point we ought to know Who we ought to be a “debtor” unto, and when we are “after” the Spirit, and not “after” the flesh, we are living as His “sons” AFTER “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” But the Saint does not HAVE TO live unto the Lord Who died for him, he doesn’t HAVE TO live unto the Father Who desires to “receive” us as “sons and daughters,” and he does not HAVE TO be a “debtor” to live after the Spirit either. But this would be living a “life” unto himself, and to his “flesh,” and his “walk” will not be ‘pleasing’ unto God, he will operate upon a “carnal mind,” and this life will only bring forth fruit unto death in the sight of our Father and is not the “walk” of the “sons of God.” And so, as verse 14 says, “for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” this is conditional. The Saint “in Christ” could either live his life after his flesh, and by his carnal mind reject to live his life after the Spirit of God and please Him. Or he could “live” his “life” after the Spirit, and by the Spiritual mind he would “walk after,” and be “led by” the Living Word of God as the “sons of God” would live unto the Father. Many do not understand and appreciate that Paul teaches in Romans chapter 8 the ‘life of a son of God,’ unto “heirs of God.”
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
The Father desires that we “live after” the Spirit, and “receive” His Living Word, He desires that we are “led by” His word, and this the only way we can “serve” Him, this is the only way that we can live unto Him, and this is the only way we can be the “sons and daughters” that He desires to “receive” and educate! Notice in verse 13 it says the “deeds of” the body, we ought to be led by the deeds or ‘works’ of His Living Word that is how we ought to functionally “live after” His Word, His will, and His law, we ought to be a “debtor” to do “the deeds” of the Spirit, (the Living Word of God) and walk in Its Law. And it all boils down to what we are going to be minding, and what we are going to be affectionate unto, and what we are going to be indebted unto as well. And whatever the man is after, is going to be what he sets his mind to do, and what to love in his own time and life. And God knows that we are conformed to this world, but it is by the renewing of our mind that we be transformed unto His will, and the renewed mind of our Father's will by His Word. And we are “called” by our Father's Word to “BE separate,” and to set us apart from the conformity of this world and work effectually within us.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Notice verse 17 says “come out,” and “BE ye?” It is the heart and mind of the saint that determines how they will walk, and what their minds will be “after,” and the “sons and daughters” in the context of verses 17, and 18 refer only to the saints who has desired to “BE” not after his flesh, and this world, but after His Word, and His Law. And it is often thought that because we are going through the sufferings of this present time that we are also suffering with Christ. But this is not the case at all, even the unsaved are going through the sufferings of this present time. What Paul was teaching unto Timothy, and what he was giving unto the Romans in chapter 8 was living godly after His image, and in His likeness. And being conformed to the image of His Son, your walk would be after the living word of the living God, and your decision making would be after the Spiritual mind, and you would live as a debtor unto the Father as a living sacrifice. And this type of walk would not be conformed to this world, and the Saint would no longer live like those of this world, he would ‘stand out’ so to speak, he would “shine as lights, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.” Timothy was not being a “partaker of the afflictions of the gospel,” Timothy was denying to charge those that they teach no other doctrine, because he knew he would face the afflictions of the gospel for Christ’s sake. And Paul taught Timothy about those who would oppose the gospel, but that Timothy would preach Him, “in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine,” and make to full proof of his ministry. And as the Thessalonians knew, and Timothy learned, they were “appointed thereunto” the afflictions of the gospel IF they desired to be led after the living word of God and not their flesh and be a debtor and a living sacrifice out of selfless love for Christ’s sake not their own.
1Th 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2Ti 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Rod Jones