Sad State of the Flesh

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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 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.

Paul continues his explanation of the difference between the flesh and the Spirit here. He makes the distinction that for those who live by the flesh even have their minds turned to the things of the flesh. This is something, as he has stated in the previous passage, that enslaves a person. Paul shows here that this enslavement is willing, though by the mindset of the person it is almost as if they cannot fathom any other way of being. Paul is not saying this is just an unbelieving state of being but one in which even Christians can find themselves. He expresses at the end of Romans 7 that even he gets upset at his own failing of the flesh. In the same way, that is why there is the contrast to the mind set on the Spirit which brings life and peace. This idea of life and peace goes all the way back to the beginning sentence of the whole chapter. There is peace because there is no condemnation because they know they are in Jesus. Similarly, Paul shows us that this is how he gets peace too—through the Holy Spirit and having his mind focused on God.

               This idea of a mind set on the flesh is the continuing idea from the last passage of a mind that focuses on the troubles of the world and worldly pleasures. In this way we can see how they would not be able to please God. This is something we see in the world today; people cannot fathom a world where there is a God, and we can see, according to Paul, this is because they have a mind of flesh. It can be a sad view for a mind set on the Spirit to see people struggling against their own mind. We see the struggle as we try to show and help people like this why it is so hard for them to understand. This also gives us insight into ourselves and how our old natures are set towards the flesh. This is also why it is important to surround yourself with those with their minds set on the Spirit and those that think alike which will help us to stay focused on the life and peace that comes from a mind set on the Spirit. Even those who are Christians can struggle with their mindset and making sure they focus on the one who is life, which is Jesus.

               It seems kind of hopeless for those who have their mind set on the flesh. What hope can there be for those that neither want to know God nor can know and please God? This is where the rest of the passage comes into play, where those who have a mind set on the flesh can be freed only through Christ Jesus. This reminds me of when Jesus met the rich young ruler and let him know of all the different requirements to be saved and the last one was to sell all he had and give to the poor. The young man couldn’t do it. This is a mind set on the flesh, thinking about what the literal, worldly sense of this idea was (Matt. 19:16-22). When Jesus teaches His disciples, He reveals the mind set on the Spirit, though, and how that is obtained. The disciples asked who can be saved if it is impossible for this rich, righteous man, and Jesus reveals that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26). We see, now, that the mind set on the Spirit is not what you are doing but what God is doing through you. We answer those who cannot get out of their own mind of flesh that with man it is impossible, and it is only through Jesus Christ that the mind of flesh can change to one after the Spirit. We live in the reality of two worlds—the flesh and the Spirit—and only by aligning ourselves with Jesus Christ through talking with Him and seeking Him in His word can we have the mind of the Spirit.