All of us have within ourselves the conflict between the flesh and the spirit. The apostle Paul wrote about this conflict in Romans 7:21-23 “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” What a miserable condition we can find ourselves in – a spiritual war going on within us and sin claiming victories.
The apostle Paul follows the above description of our inner war with the following: Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” We should all want to be free from condemnation. The apostle Paul here lists two conditions for having no condemnation. First, we must be in Christ Jesus. There are two scriptures that tell us how we get into Christ Jesus. Romans 6:3 “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” Also Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” To have no condemnation, one must be in Christ and the way to be in Christ is to be baptized into Christ. And if we are in Christ, we have put on Christ. The expression “to put on” is like a person putting on clothes. Thus to put on Christ is to clothe ourselves with Christ – His nature, His characteristics, His service, and His obedience to the Father. Being “in Christ” means that we are justified by Christ. Our sins are forgiven. We receive the blessings of being children of God the Father and we inherit eternal life.
The second condition to be free from condemnation is to “not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”. What does that mean? Romans 8:5-8 “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. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” If one is fleshly or carnally minded, he does not subject himself to the law of God; he is an enemy of God, and therefore he cannot please God.
“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.” What we set our minds on or what we think about is what determines the result. To be carnally minded means to have our minds and thus our thinking on fleshly, physical, sensual things.
The evidence that one is fleshly minded is obvious. Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Are you fleshly minded? What evidence can be found in your life? Remember that Jesus taught that sin occurs in the mind and heart even before there is outward evidence (Matthew 5:28, Matthew 15:19). John describes the things of the world. 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” When our thoughts are on the lust of the flesh or the lust of the eyes or on our pride, we are carnally minded.
To be spiritually minded is to have our minds set on the things of the Spirit. The evidence of walking in the Spirit and being spiritually minded is also obvious. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” When our thoughts are on pleasing God, sharing the gospel with those who do not know it, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit, then we are spiritually minded.
We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds or our thinking. Whereas we were once carnally minded, now we are spiritually minded. Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” There must be a transformation from being carnally minded to being spiritually minded
My encouragement to you is given in Galatians 5:16-18 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Being led by the Spirit and being spiritually minded should be the goal of each Christian.