All Doves:
Romans chapter 8 is the capstone chapter of Paul's letter to the Roman Christians, and to all Christians today. Paul sets forth doctrinal truth for which we are deeply indebted to because if Paul had not laid the theme of the believer being "in Christ" we would never have got out from under the burden of the Jewish Law, which most unfortunately, the Jewish religious elected to use it as a "hammer" over everyone's head rather than to teach that it was to serve as a "school teacher". Whether it was the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Scribes, or Rome, or Sabbath observant churches today and the works-righteousness folks, humanity has been, for the most part, manipulated to the benefit of the religious institutions.
The fact is that most churches treat Paul's epistles with somewhat of a degree of contempt. Because of the Covenant/Reformed theology approach to the Bible, Paul's teachings are relegated to a lesser place in the 'Common Lectionary Readings' used by pastors. 90% of the church, follow the 'Common Lectionary Readings', which is used as the basis of most denominational pastors for their Sunday sermons. The remaining 10% of the church that follows Dispensational theology, treat the Scriptures as being literal first, they do elevate Paul's epistles. While I was a pastor, I always maintained a current 'Common Lectionary' for my reference. In the United Methodist Church, a pastor is highly encouraged to use the Lectionary for sermon preparation. I didn't like it but used it intermittently back in the days but I understand that most pastors become dependent on its use. I know too many pastors that are mentally unable to prepare their own messages, and thus the 'Common Lectionary' actually saved their bacon every Sunday. I did not like the 'Common Lectionary' because the readings jump around too much from week to week and have no real continuity, and thus people do not learn the Bible as if you were to teach by the book or by theme. I know all the reasons given for the 'Common Lectionary' but all too often it was like wearing handcuffs.
Paul's message is without debate, precise, to the point, no room for second guessing or inferring something else. I pick up now with verse 3 of chapter 8, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, and for sin, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." Two words keep appearing again and again in this chapter: "flesh" (sarx) and "spirit" (pneuma). Paul often uses these words in his epistles. "Sarx" is used in three different ways. He speaks of literal flesh, such as physical circumcision, "in the flesh" -(2:28). Then he speaks of 'kata sarka" or "according to the flesh", which means from the human point of view, such as the Jews were Jesus "kata sarka", or kinsmen -(1:3). Such usage refers to human relationship -(1:3; 9:3). The word is again used in a way peculiar to Paul, such as "en sark' -(7:5; 8:4-6, 8, 9, 12). In these instances he is not referring to our bodies, flesh, and blood, but rather to human nature, dominated by the desires of the sinful, lower side of man's nature -(Galatians 5:19-21).
The words "what the law could not do" could be rendered "the impossible (thing) of the Law." The Law was "weak through the flesh" in that it could do nothing with flesh except stir it up -(7:7-14). It could condemn the sinner -(3:19), but it could not stop his sinning. Christ Jesus could and did solve both problems.
He came "in flesh" -(Romans 1:3; John 1:14), but not in sinful flesh. He "knew no sin" -(2nd Corinthians 5:21), even though He was fully human. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh; His flesh was not sinful flesh for there was no sin in Him -(Hebrews 4:15). It's absolutely amazing how many people, including Christians who don't know this. Survey after survey yields as high 70% believe Jesus sinned. This indicates a lack of solid Bible teaching and preaching, a serious remiss on the part of pastors to teach Biblical doctrine.
Christ's mission was "for sin". He came and condemned sin through the Atonement. Jesus became the perfect sin offering when He took our nature, lived a sinless life that condemned sin in our lives, and then, nailed to the cross, took God's condemnation of sin. By this act, conceived in the counsels of eternity, sin's doom was pronounced, and God rejected its claim upon us.
At this point we can begin to ask the question of who am I and what am I? "In Christ, we are:
I am a new creature -(2nd Corinthians 5:17; confirmed Galatians 5:6; 6:15; Ephesians 2:10).
I am a saint -(1st Corinthians 1:2).
I am a part of His Church -(Ephesians 2:21-22).
I am a temple for God's Spirit -(Ephesians 2:22).
I am in the eternal plan of God -(Ephesians 1:4; 2nd Timothy 1:9)
I am complete and filled full with the fullness of Christ Jesus -(Colossians 2:9; compare Colossians 1:19).
I am enriched -(1st Corinthians 1:5).
I am accepted because God's favor has been poured out upon me -(Ephesians 1:6).
I am light -(Ephesians 5:8).
I am secure in the love of God -(Romans 8:38-39).
I am established, rooted, and built up -(2nd Corinthians 1:21; Colossians 2:7).
I am circumcised inwardly -(Colossians 2:11).
I am near to the heart of God -(Ephesians 2:13).
In the next part of this post I will address the believer's responsibility in light of these Biblical established points, but let's look at Romans 8:4-6 for a second. "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they 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 the spiritually minded is life and peace."
"Righteousness" (diakaioma) is used here in its most usual meaning as "righteous requirement". It is fulfilled in us by the One who lives within: "Christ in you, is the hope of glory" -(Colossians 1:27). The Law could not become flesh and live within us. Jesus became flesh, fulfilled the Law, and now lives in us. As we walk after the Spirit, we are "dead indeed unto sin" -(6:1) and to self -(8:8-10), and alive to God through Christ Jesus -(6:11). Verse 5 sets forth two classes of men; those who live to the flesh and those who live to the Spirit are set in contrast here. The believer does not have to walk after the flesh, but he can still allow the flesh to dominate his life. Note the significance that Paul makes in regard to the mind. We can know to what extent the old nature is influencing us by what our minds like to dwell on. If you sense the roll of the will is an issue you are right. In the last verse above, "mind" (phroneo) is found in verses 5 and 6 here. It means to have understanding, to think, to direct the mind, to seek or strive for. The human mind is indeed difficult to define fully. Words are at times are frail vehicles by which to convey the concepts of deep reality. The mind uses the brain, but it cannot be completely identified with the brain. The brain per se is not what is being discussed here; it is physical and is not necessarily changed by the new birth.
It could be said that the mind is the way the spirit of man uses the brain. Without the brain the mind cannot manifest itself. It is closely related to the basic attitude or stance in the heart -(Romans 10:10; Proverbs 4:23; 23:7; Philippians 4:7; 1st Peter 3:4) or spirit of man -(1st Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12). This presents the issue of free will or choice.
"To be carnally minded" is literally the mind of the flesh. The noun "phronema" is found ONLY in Romans 8 (verses 6, 7, & 27) and means the pattern of thought and motive, the interests and aims. The carnal mind is the mind dominated by the flesh.
"To be spiritually minded" is to have "the mind of Christ" -(1st Corinthians 2:16). A renewed spirit will result in a renewed mind as we walk after the Spirit. At this point I will break and next time we will examine my responsibility in light the facts we have covered.
May God renew your mind toward being "In Christ".
Pastor Bob