May 2, 2008

Romans 8:5-8 "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

It seems that these verses indicate that "the flesh" refers to one who is not truly saved.

Note: Mind set on flesh =

1). Death
2). Hostility toward God
3). Not able to subject itself to God
4). Unable to please God

Of course there are many parallels to a truly saved individual who is not walking according to the Spirit. That man is still at enmity with God, could ultimately die because of sin (though it would not necessarily be eternal death), and is most assuredly unable to please God, for God is never pleased with sin. "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear" (Ps. 66:18).

Or, what about James 4:4 - ". . .do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." These verses speak of one who has a relationship with God. Therefore, the truth of Romans 8:5-8, though it clearly seems to be talking about unbelievers, has dramatic parallels to the believer. The only place where there would be a difference would be on the third point - "not able to subject itself to God," for the true believer always has the ability to turn from his sin and confess them from a heart of true repentance (1 John 1:9) to restore fellowship with his Creator!

Flee immorality (1 Cor 6:18)

Flee from idolatry (1 Cor 10:14)

Flee from these things (speaking about things that would take us away from the true doctrine of Christ, and more specifically money - which is "the root of all sorts of evil") - (1 Tim 6:11)

Flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Tim 2:22)

April 30, 2008

~An Impotent Law~

"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh." - Romans 8:3

We will never be saved by works (Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal 2:21), as if that weren't obvious. But what are works? How would one define a work? A work would be something that one thinks he can do to attain salvation apart from God's unique prescription which is through Christ alone. So, how does one decide that a "work" of his will be sufficient (keeping in mind that no work will ever be sufficient apart from the work of Christ)? The answer is found in the law. Romans 2:15 says that "they show the work of the Law written in their hearts." We are conscious of a sense of right and wrong according to this verse. However, the condemnation goes further. Paul says in Romans 1:18 that mankind, in general, suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. Paul goes on to talk about this in detail in Romans 7 showing that the law becomes a schoolmaster, and, rather than making it easier to do right, it makes it painfully obvious how corrupt we are and incapable of doing right. Thus, whenever we try to do a "work" we are going off of a conscious standard (which is seared) and a quasi-moral standard (which is always in flux, driven by humanism).

We think because the law says "do not kill" that if we haven't killed then we are doing okay - forgetting about the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:22. Or, what about coveting, or adultery? The issue is the heart, and all the law does is expose the true wickedness (Jer. 17:9). Thus, whenever someone thinks they can arrive at salvation with their own merit they cast off this key principle that the Law is powerless in this matter!

The law is tied to the flesh and is therefore "weak through it." It can, and does, show sinfulness and guilt but cannot cleanse. Here is what the Law could not do; and, exactly at that point, where the Law lost its potency, God stepped in, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (fully human yet without sin) and for sin - the only acceptable payment. Romans 8:4 goes on to say that Christ was sent so that the requirement of the Law would be fulfilled in us (through Christ) who . . . walk according to the Spirit.