Understanding Romans 8:5-9

[Van]

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.

Who are those who are “according to the flesh?” They are natural fallen people, unsaved, unelected and unregenerate. They are “in Adam” and not “in Christ.”

What are the “things of the flesh?” They are, in this context, ungodly behaviors such as immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and things like these.

Who are those who are “according to the Spirit?” They are people who have been elected, saved and regenerated (born anew). They are “in Christ" because God transferred them from the realm of darkness (in Adam) into the Kingdom of Christ, within Christ's spiritual body.

What are the “things of the Spirit?” They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So our first question, and one we will revisit as we work our way through the passage, is whether those who are according to the flesh do at times set their minds on godly things, even though their natural inclination would be set their minds on the things of the flesh. And the answer is that verse 5 does not say.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 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, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Why is the mind set on the flesh death? This refers to the result or outcome of such behavior. If we set our minds on the things of the flesh, ungodly sinful things, we will reap corruption, and become more hardened and that path leads to death.

Why is the mind set on the Spirit life and peace. If we set our minds on the Spirit we will reap the rewards on following the paths of righteousness, i.e. the things of the Spirit including but not mentioned above, eternal life. Paul provides a caveat later in the passage for this outcome.

Thus Paul is aligning the chosen mind set –whether in Adam or in Christ – with the behaviors that go with those mental , ungodly behaviors with godly behaviors.

Next, Paul addresses additional things that go with being in Adam with the choice of setting their minds of the flesh. First, the mind set on flesh, referring to the things of fleshly ungodliness are (1) hostility toward God, and (2) not submissive to God’s law. Thus, those whose minds are set on the things of the flesh are not able to either be devoted to God or follow the law. This is because they are doing just the opposite. It is impossible to be godly at the same time as being ungodly.

And finally, Paul says those who are “in the flesh” cannot please God. Here we have a difficulty. In the flesh can mean in the natural fallen unregenerate unsaved state, or simply the condition of a person in either state, setting their minds on things of the flesh. However, here, I think Paul is saying in addition to points one and two, unsaved people cannot please God even if they set their minds on godly behavior because all our works of righteousness are as filthy rags. This view bolsters his argument for godly behavior of those "in Christ," because they were created for good works.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Here in verse 9 Paul shifts his topic from the expected behaviors of those who are "according to the Spirit" to the essential prerequisite of being “according to the Spirit” rather than striving to please God with godly behavior. Unless we have been born anew, and sealed with the Holy Spirit spiritually within Christ, such that we are in Christ and Christ is in us, our efforts at godliness will not please God.

And if we continue reading in Romans 8 we will see that if Christ is in us we also have God the Father (Abba) and we are spiritual children of God.

Now lets return to our unanswered question, does this passage say or suggest those who are according to the flesh, unregenerate and unsaved, cannot at any time set their minds on spiritual things such as the milk of the gospel. The answer of course is yes, because the lost do seek God, and some find Him. But, our godly behavior (our works of righteousness) cut no ice if we are still "according to the flesh." Praise God for the fact that "faith" is according to grace, not works, and therefore our faith, in a fallen state, does indeed provide our access to God's grace of salvation.

 

[Van]

Does Romans 8:5-6 say or suggest that those who are "according to the flesh," meaning unregenerate and unsaved, cannot set their minds on some spiritual things, such as the spiritual milk of the gospel? Nope. That is why spoke to "men of flesh" using spiritual milk. 1 Corinthians 3:1. He spoke to the lost in the same way he spoke to new indwelt believers, because they too could not understand spiritual solid food.