As we’ve effectively dealt with three out of three times so far in our study on Romans 8, we are sinners and Jesus Christ is our Savior. While studying Romans 8:1, we saw that Christ’s death paid the debt we earned with our sin, not just in the past and present, but also in the future. While studying Romans 8:2, we saw that because Jesus paid the price for all our sin, we no longer need to try secure our own salvation (which is impossible for us to do anyways). While studying Romans 8:3-4, we saw how this freedom was bought through Christ’s substitutionary death.
Today, we’re going to be studying Romans 8:5-11 where we’ll see the differences between living content in our sin and living for God. Again, there’s the signal word “for” that starts our passage, so let’s be sure to include Romans 8:1-4 again so we get the context of our passage.
Romans 8:1-11 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
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. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
English Standard Version
In today’s passage (starting with “For those who live according to the flesh”), we see a clear contrast between the flesh (meaning our sinful nature) and the Spirit (the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us [makes us grow more and more to be like Christ who is holy]). Let’s dive into this contrast.
First, we can see that “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh” while “those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). Like what Quill discussed last week, what we devote our minds to determines how we live, and vice-versa.
If we live in sin, we think about sinful things, which doesn’t just lead to death–it is death according to Paul: “To set the mind on the flesh is death” (Romans 8:6a). Living in sin is living without Christ, which is spiritual death deserving of eternal punishment in hell. In contrast, if we live in the Spirit, trusting in Christ for our salvation, we think about God-glorifying things. “To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6b)–see that? If we live to glorify God, we experience both spiritual life (eternal joy in heaven) and peace. As Christians [those who have a relationship with Jesus], our eternal future is secure in Christ–we will, without any form of doubt, be in heaven eternally with God (a very encouraging thought in these times!).
Here, we come to the final contrast in this section. In Romans 8:7-8, Paul writes, “The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Paul is painstakingly clear here–living in sin is active rebellion against God, and we cannot live in our sin without rejecting God. As my former pastor always said, “This, my friends, is simply a matter of life and death.” If you or I choose our sin over obedience to God, we are choosing our own eternal punishment. If you are not trusting in Christ for your salvation, I plead with you–make yourself right before God by submitting to Him and trusting in Jesus to save you from the eternal payment your sin demands.
If you are trusting in Christ for your salvation, Paul’s second paragraph here is for you. He explains, “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. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:9-10).
If you trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit is working in you to make you more like Him–and not only that, you are guaranteed eternal life! Look at Romans 8:11: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Just like God raised Christ from the dead, He will raise you when He returns to everlasting life with Him. Praise the Lord for how amazing this is!
