Romans 8:7-8 (ESV)
[7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it
does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh
cannot please God.
“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Wow! That’s pretty strong
language. Religious activity done in the flesh brings God no glory. Singing
gospels songs, quoting Bible verses, and saying our prayers in the flesh brings
God no pleasure. Doing good deeds, helping the needy, serving those less
fortunate gains no favor in God’s eyes. Why? Because it is done in the flesh,
that broken part of us that is separated from God’s presence and power. But
there is good news in this chapter. The next verse, Romans 8:9, says, “You,
however. . .” That’s believers, those who have put their faith in Christ as the
means by which we gain God’s favor. “You,
however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.” Not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit? How can that be? You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of
Christ does not belong to him.” In other words, we are either in the Spirit or
we are not saved. As believers, we received the Spirit when we put our faith in
Christ. It is as simple as that.
But that raises another question. If all true believers are in the Spirit
then why does it seem that we walk in the flesh so often? The passage goes on
to say,
[10] But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of
sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who
raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in
you. [12] So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh (Rom 8:10-12).
“We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh.” Believers are raised with Jesus to new life. Believers
are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and empowered to live in holiness and right
living. Believers are no longer debtors to the flesh, yet we forget that. Having
lived most of our lives in the flesh, realizing the freedom we have in Christ
is sometimes a stretch for us. We can’t make use of what we don’t know we have.
We may be indwelt and empowered by the Spirit, but we still often think like
those who are in the flesh. That is why the renewing of the mind in Romans 12
is such an important part of the transformation process. It is not so much
about learning new patterns of thinking and doing, but about realizing what we
have in Christ, about realizing the power that dwells in us in his Spirit. As
we come to realize who we are in Christ, we are able to come to a place of obedience
from a position of resting in Him.
As believers, we received the Spirit when we put our faith in Christ. We are therefore not in the flesh but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in us. May we learn what that means, and learn to walk by his power following his lead.
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