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6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:6-11 NIV)
The psalmist said, in the King James version, Proverbs 23:7, "as a man thinketh so is he." This one verse has been the foundation for many of a prosperity gospel preacher and writer. In fact, in 2903, James Allen wrote a self-help book by that title. I've not read the book, but I would assume that it stresses putting all your efforts and energies on your goal and you will obtain it. The late Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote a similiar best-selling book called The Power of Positive Thinking which said the same things, mas o menos (more or less).
What we heard or read here is Paul telling the believers in Rome that whatever you let your mind tell you, you'll pretty much get that or go there. His first verse in this passage says, that the mind controlled by the desires of the flesh will lead you straight to death. On the other hand, Paul says, if your mind is controlled by the Holy Spirit, you get life and peace. Keep in mind Paul lived in both worlds; his first world was governed by his desire to get ahead in his career, then Jesus changed his life and mind; and he sought to be governed by God's Holy Spirit. He knew that one cannot allow both the flesh and the Spirit to compete for control. Paul writes, "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. It cannot submit to God's law nor will it. And those in the realm of the flesh cannot go about pleasing God. The truth, Paul argues, is that those in the Spirit are from the realm of the Spirit, because the Spirit lives in the believers. "But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness."
This passage has angered people since they first received the letter in Rome. Here's the reason. Some people truly understand that when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we should become, as Jesus told Nicodemus back in John 3, people born again in the Spirit. We cannot stay in the flesh, seeking to gratify the desires and temptations of the flesh. That is futile and pointless. And of course, it leads to death. I remind us the believers are not just of this physical realm, we are of the supernatural realm, the divine realm.
Paul ends this part of this passage with his promise of hope: "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His spirit Who lives in you." If we stay connected by steadfast prayer, listening, and reflection, God will guide us and the living Christ, Who lives in us, will guide us from this life to the eternal life He promised to those who live and die in Him.
PRAYER: Living God, live in us and bless us to be a blessing to others. Help us overcome doubt and the desires of the flesh. We seek to be spiritual in all areas of our lives; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Show others how the Spirit guides and blesses you so that others will want to join us.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
