Emnity Against God
Romans 8: 1 – 5 speaks of the necessity of those who are truly believers in Jesus Christ to walk after the dictates of the Spirit, which is living according to the Word of God, rather than walking or living after the dictates of the flesh.
Then in Romans 8: 6 – 7 we see a switch in terminology. Rather than referring to the flesh, Paul uses the term, carnally minded or the carnal mind.
Romans 8: 6 says to carnally minded is death. Why?
Romans 8: 7 explains why. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…”
The word, enmity, is the Greek word, echthra, which means hostility, hatred and opposition.
The carnal mind is that which has been educated by the dictates of the flesh. Before someone receives Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, their minds have not been renewed to the Word of God and its truths.
In Matt. 6: 33, Jesus tells us to seek FIRST the kingdom of God. To the newly born again believer, this is a must, and must continue as we grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God.
Romans 12: 1 – 2 tells us not to be conformed to this world, its ways of thinking, speaking and living. We are to be transformed (in our minds) by renewing our minds to the Word of God.
Our carnal or flesh led minds have to be transformed to a new truth. Romans 12: 2 says that we may prove (know and to live) what is the good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Our formal beliefs about God, life and ourselves need to be changed.
If our thinking remains the same, our behavior will actually be opposed to the truths of God’s word. We will be in opposition to the will of God.
Romans 8: 7 says that our old ways of thinking and living; our former values and morals will be in opposition to the way God wants us to think, speak and live.
Romans 8: 8 “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
To live in the flesh is a lot more than just not obeying the Word of God. It involves living by the directions of our flesh. Our flesh is self-seeking, possessive and demanding.
To live by your flesh means you have no control over what you say, how you think and how you live. Can you control your flesh? Your flesh loves to eat to the point of making us fat and inactive. Controlling your flesh involves eating to live healthy and not living to eat.
Do you discipline your body by denying what it wants to eat to satisfy itself? Do you discipline your thought life by denying your flesh the right to dwell on unhealthy thoughts?
Obeying the Word of God many times is in direct opposition to what your flesh wants to do. Your flesh will rationalize not giving your tithe and your offerings to your place of instruction and fellowship: your church.
Your flesh will fight your desire to attend church. Your flesh will pick and chose who they want to like and dislike. Your flesh will want you to give in to every ache and pain and every symptom that tells you, you are sick.
Your biggest enemy is not the devil. Your biggest enemy is your flesh. When you decide to live after the dictates of your spirit which is in agreement with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, you will experience what true spiritual warfare is all about. However with the help of the Holy Spirit and speaking the Word of God, you can and will overcome your flesh.
It all boils down to who you decide will be the boss in your life. The Word of God, or what your flesh is screaming to have. Your choice!
- Pastor Jim
Then in Romans 8: 6 – 7 we see a switch in terminology. Rather than referring to the flesh, Paul uses the term, carnally minded or the carnal mind.
Romans 8: 6 says to carnally minded is death. Why?
Romans 8: 7 explains why. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…”
The word, enmity, is the Greek word, echthra, which means hostility, hatred and opposition.
The carnal mind is that which has been educated by the dictates of the flesh. Before someone receives Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, their minds have not been renewed to the Word of God and its truths.
In Matt. 6: 33, Jesus tells us to seek FIRST the kingdom of God. To the newly born again believer, this is a must, and must continue as we grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God.
Romans 12: 1 – 2 tells us not to be conformed to this world, its ways of thinking, speaking and living. We are to be transformed (in our minds) by renewing our minds to the Word of God.
Our carnal or flesh led minds have to be transformed to a new truth. Romans 12: 2 says that we may prove (know and to live) what is the good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Our formal beliefs about God, life and ourselves need to be changed.
If our thinking remains the same, our behavior will actually be opposed to the truths of God’s word. We will be in opposition to the will of God.
Romans 8: 7 says that our old ways of thinking and living; our former values and morals will be in opposition to the way God wants us to think, speak and live.
Romans 8: 8 “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
To live in the flesh is a lot more than just not obeying the Word of God. It involves living by the directions of our flesh. Our flesh is self-seeking, possessive and demanding.
To live by your flesh means you have no control over what you say, how you think and how you live. Can you control your flesh? Your flesh loves to eat to the point of making us fat and inactive. Controlling your flesh involves eating to live healthy and not living to eat.
Do you discipline your body by denying what it wants to eat to satisfy itself? Do you discipline your thought life by denying your flesh the right to dwell on unhealthy thoughts?
Obeying the Word of God many times is in direct opposition to what your flesh wants to do. Your flesh will rationalize not giving your tithe and your offerings to your place of instruction and fellowship: your church.
Your flesh will fight your desire to attend church. Your flesh will pick and chose who they want to like and dislike. Your flesh will want you to give in to every ache and pain and every symptom that tells you, you are sick.
Your biggest enemy is not the devil. Your biggest enemy is your flesh. When you decide to live after the dictates of your spirit which is in agreement with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, you will experience what true spiritual warfare is all about. However with the help of the Holy Spirit and speaking the Word of God, you can and will overcome your flesh.
It all boils down to who you decide will be the boss in your life. The Word of God, or what your flesh is screaming to have. Your choice!
- Pastor Jim
Posted in Blog, Life According to God
Tagged with Walk After the Spirit, Put off the flesh, Carnal Mind, Truth, The Kingdom of God, Discipline
Tagged with Walk After the Spirit, Put off the flesh, Carnal Mind, Truth, The Kingdom of God, Discipline
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