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Romans 8:6-8
The Apostle Paul has taught us that those who put their faith in Jesus have a new mindset to seek the ways of God, and those who live in the ways of this world set their minds on doing things that are reflective of the sinful nature (Romans 8:5). In Romans 8:6 Paul takes it a step further by informing us that the ways of this world (as to those who live according to them) lead to eternal death, but for those who set their minds on pleasing God; their eternal destination is, “life and peace” (NKJV). Paul also tells us in Romans 8:7-8 why this is so: (NIV), “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
This is an example of the difference between being spiritually minded and being carnally minded.
This is the difference between having a mindset that is striving to please God, or a mindset of the sinful nature that is in enmity against God.
Paul supports this teaching in his letter to the Church at Galatia as he states in Galatians 6:7-8 (HCSB), “Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” This is putting on a new life in Christ Jesus that sets us free from the ways of the sinful nature. Until we open our hearts to Jesus and put our faith in Him, we cannot be pleasing to God. For it is through Jesus’ saving sacrificial death on the cross that is the requirement fulfilled that sets us free from the sinful nature; we didn’t set ourselves free from the sinful nature as the sinful nature cannot free itself because it is trapped in it, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b, NKJV). It is through the filling of God’s Holy Spirit within us as we put our faith in Jesus that guides us to having a mindset of the Spirit. Put your trust/faith in Jesus today and sincerely ask of His forgiveness. If you do, He will forgive you of your sins and set you free from the bondage of the sinful nature and give you a new life and mindset – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that it is only through Jesus that we can put our trust/faith and be set free from the mindset of the sinful nature. Please help us to see that we can only be pleasing to You through believing in Jesus, the Savior You sent to save the world from sin (John 3:16-17). In Jesus name I pray, amen.