Carnal Mind or Spiritual Mind Romans 8:6

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome how God sent, “his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” so, “the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,

who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” He continued, “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”, and in chapter eight and verse six of Romans, Paul shared the consequences of being, “carnally minded” or “spiritually minded” where we read:

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

The verse begins, “For to be carnally minded is death;” Paul began with the words, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” to be carnally” which means “being of mere human and earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God” “minded” or “inclined, purposed or in thought” “is death” which means “comprising all the miseries arising from sin as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth which is to be followed by wretchedness in hell”. Paul concluded that that having a “fleshly or carnal mind” condemns a person not only in this life but also in the life to come.

The verse goes on to say, “but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Paul added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “to be spiritually” which refers to “having the disposition or influence of God's Spirit which fills and governs the soul of any one” “minded” which means “inclined, purposed or in thought” “is life” or “living a real, genuine, active and vigorous life which is devoted to God, blessed and in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, and these shall after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions with a more perfect body which shall last for ever” “and peace” which means “security, safety, prosperity and felicity,”. The benefit to having “thoughts, intents and purpose” toward God's Spirit is not only “living a real, genuine, active and vigorous life”, but also having “security and prosperity” that shall last forever.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see the great benefit to living according to “God's Spirit” versus living according to the “fleshly mind”. Jesus lived according to “God's Spirit”, and He obeyed everything the Heavenly Father told Him to do - (“for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me” John 5:36). Jesus desires the same for us as well. When we receive Jesus Christ as our personal “Savior and Lord”, “God's Spirit” begins to “rule” in our lives, and we live according to the direction of His “Spirit” which is being “spiritually minded”. As we live “spiritually”, we receive His promise of “real life” and “peace”, and everyone reading these words should receive Jesus and begin to live “spiritually minded” and enjoy “life and peace”.

Next time Paul shares tells his readers concerning, “the carnal mind is enmity against God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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