I’ve recently been reading a little in Romans, primarily where Paul mentions that to set the mind on flesh is death and to set it on the Spirit is life. Having read this section of scripture tons of times I still have much to learn and see. I’ve been considering again what it is to set the mind on the flesh and would like to address a few points.
First, let’s see exactly what Paul writes to the Romans:
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. – Romans 8:5-8
So if our minds are set on the things of the flesh we will live according to the flesh. It’s so easy to fall into this, especially when you have earthly responsibilities like a job, family, house, etc. Is it possible to maintain a Spirit-led life along with taking care of all these earthly things? Yes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying these are bad things. I’m merely saying it’s easy to get caught up in these areas of life as things in themselves and mindlessly go about our days without giving thought or care to Christ and pleasing God.
What it Looks Like to Set Our Minds on the Flesh
Paul tells the Galatians what the works of the flesh look like when he is encouraging them to walk by the Spirit.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. – Galatians 5:19-21
To set the mind on the flesh is to consider your own needs and wants to be greater than others’. Yes, blatant immorality like drunkenness and sleeping around is the the fruit of a mind that is set on the flesh, but it’s not always so blatant. Sometimes we have a disagreement with a brother or sister in Christ and that disagreement causes division. We become divided because we were more concerned with being right than with Christ. If our minds are set on Christ how can we be divided? We can’t.
Sometimes we desire objects like nicer cars or bigger homes and so we decide to work more and more just to be able to afford that item. We lose time with family and the body of Christ because we dedicate it all to some thing or a hope for that thing. Our hope then isn’t in Christ and our minds are not set on the Spirit. They’re set on the flesh and temporal things.
We Cannot Please God
Paul is clear when he says that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. We simply cannot accomplish what is required to please God. God finds His satisfaction and pleasure in His Son alone. If God is pleased with us then it is Christ in us that He is pleased with. Our constant trying isn’t good enough. It has to be Christ. I want my life to be pleasing to God, but for that to happen it can’t be pleasing to the flesh. Christians aren’t exempt from walking in the flesh. I can say with experience that it’s far too easy to go about my day and focus on paying bills, getting work done and trying to find time to relax without doing so to the glory of God and by the life of Jesus Christ in me. This life in the flesh has to be dealt with by the Cross.
To Set the Mind on the Spirit is Life
In my next post I’m going to hit on what life in the Spirit looks like. It’s completely opposite of the life lived in the flesh and trying to please ourselves. It’s gentle, kind and full of love and grace. It’s a life that gives Jesus Christ His rightful place as the Head of the body and the center of all things. To set the mind on the flesh is death and to set it the mind on the Spirit is life.
