Romans 8:5-11 | Life in the Spirit

Read Romans 8:1-11

Today I want to talk to you about the importance of having the right mindset.

I will say right from the beginning that this not a “positive thinking” self-help talk.

Experiencing the Resurrection life is a super-natural life. That is why the title of this message is “Life in the Spirit.”

The passage we just read tells us why this is important.:

Your mindset today will determine the direction of your life tomorrow and for eternity.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mindset

1: a mental attitude or inclination.

2. : a fixed state of mind Your mindset today will determine the direction of your life tomorrow and for eternity.

In this world you will find two types of mindset.

Verse 4 shows us that there are two styles of living affected by two types of mindset.

Two styles of living

Those who walk according to the flesh

Those who walk according to the Spirit

Verse 5 goes further and explains that there are…

Two types of mindset

The mind is not neutral ground

Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh

Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit

What is the flesh?

The word can be used in a neutral sense to refer to the body: “Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)

The word can also be used in a negative sense to refer what theologians call “indwelling sin.”

Here’s how the Apostle Paul put it in Romans 7:14–23 “14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”

The flesh is the fallen disposition of the heart towards sin and rebellion.

Genesis 6:5 “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Like the law of gravity, the flesh is also a law. Paul calls is the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). The flesh is a force or power that pulls us to seek our own will and resist God’s will.

Those who walk in the flesh cry out, “My will be done” while those who walk in the Spirit cry out, “Thy will be done.”

“To set the mind on the things of the flesh” is a mindset of pursuing life my way and for my glory because I am on the throne.

For example: a weak prayer life leads to strong self-reliance in the flesh. The flesh does not like prayer. Our flesh will oppose our desire and resolve to follow Jesus.

On the other hand, “to set the mind of the things of the Spirit” is a mindset of daily applying the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Just take Romans 8 as an example:

There is therefore NOW NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus (v.1)

I have been set free from the power of sin and death (v.2)

I have been set free from the power of sin and death in order to walk according to the Spirit (v. 4)

The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells also in us (v.11)

I am adopted and deeply loved by the Father (v.15)

My current sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that is coming (v.18)

The whole creation along with our physical bodies will one day be completely redeemed and restored (v.23)

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (v.26).

All things work together for good for those who love God (v.28)

If God is for us, who can be against us? (v.31)

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (v.35.)

We are more than conquerors through Jesus (v.37).

A Holy Spirit mindset declares, “I have been loved by the Father, rescued by the Son and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live the life that God created me to live.”

Colossians 3:1–4 “1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Two types of mindset leads to….

Two drastic results

Verse 6.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death

But to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Here’s an example of how a flesh mindset leads to death:

Galatians 5:13–21 “13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Here’s an example of how a Spirit mindset leads to life:

Galatians 5:22–26 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

To another church Paul writes:

Colossians 3:1–2 “1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Colossians 3:12–17 “12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Which mindset will you embrace?

You cannot embrace both mindsets. The mind is not a neutral ground. You cannot drive east and west at the same time. You are either heading to Fargo, ND or Minneapolis but you cannot drive both directions.

In the same way, you cannot embrace a flesh mindset and a Spirit mindset at the same time.

Romans 8:7–8 “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.”

Romans 8:9 “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.”

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Your mindset today will determine the direction of your life tomorrow and for eternity.

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Which mindset will you embrace?

[Sin/death “trying” slide]

[Sin/death “fail” slide]

[Sin/death “freedom” slide]

[Ology Book picture slide]

Children’s book.