The War Within
Who Can be Against Us • Sermon • Submitted
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The War Within
The War Within
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Key verse
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
There is a battle that lies at the heart of the Christian Life.
There is the spirit life
There is the life of the flesh
For the Christian we have the Hoy Spirit that indwells in us to live a holy and sanctified Christian Life.
The Holy Spirit is a helper who teaches and reminds.
The Holy Spirit is a helper who teaches and reminds.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
In John 14:26 Jesus told his disciples, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).
The Greek word “Parakletos” in this passage is translated “Helper” in the ESV, “Advocate” in the NIV, and “Counselor” in the KJV. The meaning of this word relates “legal counsel.”
The Holy Spirit provides wise counsel to Christ’s followers. Jesus knew he would be going away and that his followers would need the Holy Spirit as a helper and an advocate to remind them of his teachings.
For our text today ......
Flesh
or the spirit
Two ways of thinking
Two ways of living your life
It must be spirit controlled
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.
Romans 8:5-8 makes it very clear that there are only two ways in this world.
This passage draws a sharp line of distinction between these two classes of people.
The key in understanding this passage is that its the spirit that changes you not yourself or trying harder.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The outline is very simple. In verse 5, there are two mindsets. In verse 6, there are two destinies. In verses 7-9, there are two dispositions.
I. Two Different Mindsets (8:5)
I. Two Different Mindsets (8:5)
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
They are at war with each other :
Two minds
Everyone in the world has one of two mindsets.
Paul tells us, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh” (verse 5).
Those who are “according to the flesh” are those who are “in the flesh” in verse 8. This means that the realm in which they live is a carnal, fleshly realm.
They are governed by their flesh, rather than by the Spirit of God.
The “flesh” refers to their carnal appetites, sinful desires, worldly pursuits, material pleasures, secular beliefs, self-interest, and self-promotion. Their minds are set on these things. They have a worldly mindset.
The phrase “set their minds” (phroneo) is one word in the Greek.
It means to be absorbed with something, to focus sharply on something.
So absorbed or cinsumed
It is not just occasionally glancing at fleshly things, but living life with their mind set on the things of the flesh. “Of the Spirit”
Then note the stark contrast in the middle of verse 5,
“But those who are according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
Paul makes a clear distinction, using the word “but” to mark the stark contrast. He is now referring to a believer.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We all entered this world living according to the flesh with our mind set on the things of the flesh. It is only by the new birth and the truth of regeneration that we are transferred from the fleshly realm where we lived for the flesh to the spiritual realm where we live for the Spirit.
To become a Christian is to be moved from the first realm into the second realm. We no longer live in the old realm. We cannot have one foot in and one foot out.
When you are born again, you are completely uprooted and replanted in this totally new realm, the realm of the Spirit.
You now have the mind of Christ with a totally new worldview and perspective on life.
Illustration - when I got saved I recieved a new set of
priorties
values
family bible reading church attendance
This is transformation that comes from inside...
You now see with a divine and eternal perspective. It brings about a radical change in your life.
The two realms are totally different and you cannot live in both at the same time.
Now just because I am saved does not mean that the war is over there is a pulling away
Struggle
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
The two mindsets are completely different.
II. Two Different Destinies (8:6)
II. Two Different Destinies (8:6)
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Two - Destinys -
Death
Life could not be more radically different
Dead and alive
The mind set on the flesh” is obviously not talking about the believer, but rather the unbeliever, who was born in and continues to live in a spiritual state of death. When Paul says, “the mind set on the flesh is death,” he is really referring to the outcome of this life, which is eternal death, the second death.
In this context he is talking about eternal life and salvation.
“Life and Peace”
The second half of Romans 8:6 is the total contrast.
It refers to true believers, those who have been born again. Paul writes, “but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (verse 6). This describes every true believer in Jesus Christ, those who have been born again.
Their mindset has been totally reversed.
There is a total turnaround in their life so that their mind is now set on the Spirit and the things of the Spirit. The resulting outcome is the total opposite of death—it is life and peace.
This “life” refers to eternal life in the ages to come.
But in verse 6, “peace” refers to the opposite of hostility. It is the opposite of being at enmity with God.
Those who have a mind set on the Spirit are now at peace with God, because they have been reconciled to God through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. This peace refers to the eternal state of reconciliation and acceptance with God.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The two different mindsets lead to two different destinies. There could not be a more dramatic difference than death and life.
It is like the difference between light and darkness. It is a total juxtaposition. Every person’s life is headed to one of these two outcomes, either to eternal life or to eternal death.
III. Two Different Dispositions (8:7-9)
III. Two Different Dispositions (8:7-9)
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
In verses 7-9, we see two different dispositions that are indicative of these two different classes of people.
Verses 7-8 refer to those who are unbelievers, who are according to the flesh, whose outcome is death.
Verse 9 refers to true believers, who are according to the Spirit, whose outcome is life. These verses talk about the totally opposite dispositions of the two groups.
Disposition means the heart, the nature, the inner person, the bent of their life.
Disposition of an Unbeliever
There are four things to note about the unbeliever in verses 7-8.
First, we see their hostility toward God. Paul writes, “Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God” (verse 7).
This hostility can be represented either in active rebellion against God or in passive indifference toward God.
Either way, Paul says it is hostility toward God. The unbeliever is “hostile in mind” toward God (Colossians 1:21). It goes deeper than their actions, it is the very mindset of the unbeliever. They push against God. They do not want God to tell them how to live their life. They want to go their own way and do their own thing. They do not want to be bound by God.
James also says that unbelievers have “hostility toward God” and are “an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
This refers to every unbeliever on the earth. They may be someone who attends church, grew up in a Christian home, or went to a Christian school. But until they come to faith in Christ, they are still keeping God at arm’s length. They only want God on the superficial exterior façade of their life. They do not want Him on the interior, governing and controlling their life. They reject and refuse God, wanting to continue to go their own way.
2nd disposition
Second, we see the mindset of superiority within the unbeliever.
They are arrogant, self-elevating, and prideful. Paul continues, “for it does not subject itself to the law of God.” “It” refers to the mind set on the flesh.
There is no humility, submission, or surrender within them. They refuse to come under the authority of the word of God. They may have some outward morality, but in their heart, they refuse to come under the authority of God’s word.
Third, we see the moral inability of the unregenerate flesh. It is incapable of submitting to the word of God. Paul continues, “For it” referring to the mind set on the flesh, “is not even able to do so” (verse 7).
There is a stubborn resistance in the nature of every unbeliever who has not been birthed from above by the Spirit of God. Note that they are “not even able to do so.” They need God to dramatically lay hold of them and to intervene, interrupting their life, and transplanting them into His kingdom. Unless God grants salvation, they are unable to follow the Law of God.
Fourth, we see that it is impossible for the unbeliever to please God. Paul continues, “And those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (verse 8).
To be “in the flesh” is the same as being “according to the flesh” (verse 5) and “setting your mind on the things of the flesh” (verse 6).
Disposition of a Believer
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
You are not in the flesh ....
In verse 9, Paul moves to the believer. He begins with, “However,” which is a way of stating a stark contrast to what was previously said.
No believer lives in the flesh. We still retain the flesh and make fleshly choices, but the pattern of our life is not in the flesh.
We live in the Spirit. It is a whole different kingdom. There is no straddling the fence. There is not a third category that is in the middle of these two. You are either in the flesh or in the Spirit.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
The battle is to be lead by the spirit:
Two Mindsets
Two Outcomes
Two Dispositions