The mind set on the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5-8)

The mind set on the Holy Spirit

 

 

 

[Romans 8:5-8]

 

 

 

                Look at Romans 8:5-8: “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Frequently used words here are “the flesh” (5 times) and “the Spirit” (3 times).  Here, we will meditate on only verses 5 and 6.

 

                In Romans 8:5-6 we read, “…  those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  …  the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”  Here, “the Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, “those who are according to the Spirit” means ‘those who follow the Holy Spirit’ and “the mind set on the Spirit” refers to the ‘the mind of the Holy Spirit.’  Here I want to think about three things: (1) Who are the followers of the Holy Spirit? (2) What is the work of the Holy Spirit? (3) What is the mind set on the Holy Spirit?

 

            First, who are the followers of the Holy Spirit?

 

                The followers of the Holy Spirit can be thought of in three ways:

 

(1)    Those who follow the Holy Spirit were people who belonged to the flesh.

 

As for the people who belonged to the flesh, they used to be belonged to sin and death before they became the followers of the Spirit since sin entered into the world, and death through sin through one man Adam, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (Rom. 5: 12).

 

(2)    Those who follow the Holy Spirit are those who died on the cross with Jesus Christ.

           

                  Look at Romans 6:6 – “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.”  Here, “our old self” refers to the people who belonged to the flesh who was under the law of sin and of death (8:2).  In other words, when we belonged to the flesh, when we were old people, before we believed in Jesus, and were under the law of sin and of death, we were crucified with Jesus, so that our sinful body died and we are no longer enslaved to sin.  Rather, we are justified and freed from sin (6:7), becoming slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification (v. 19).  Look at 2 Corinthians 5:14 – “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died.”  Here, “one” refers to Jesus Christ.  Because Jesus Christ died for us, our old self, the people who belonged to the flesh, has already died on the cross with Jesus Christ.  The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is once for all death.  Look at Romans 6:10-11: “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  Look at Hebrews 10:10 – “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

 

(3)    Those who follow the Holy Spirit are those who have been resurrected with Jesus Christ.

 

Look at Romans 6:10-11: “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  Look at Ephesians 2:1 – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (KJV).  Look at 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 

 

In a word, those who follow the Holy Spirit are those who have been resurrected with Jesus Christ and have been regenerated or born again.  Those who follow the Spirit are those who walk in the Spirit.  Look at Romans 8:4 – “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  We who walk according to the Holy Spirit are those who follow the Holy Spirit.  Look at Galatians 5:25 – “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”  If we live according to the Holy Spirit, we must obey the Word of the Holy Spirit.  We must put into practice the teachings of the Holy Spirit.

 

                How are we?  Were we who belonged to the flesh were crucified and died with Jesus Christ? Are we really alive with Jesus Christ?  Are we really born again?  Have you been reborn?  Have you become a new creature (new man)?  Are we really following the Holy Spirit?  Are we walking according to the Holy Spirit?  Or are we still following the flesh?

 

            Second, what is the work of the Holy Spirit?  In other words, what does the Holy Spirit do?

 

                The Holy Spirit testifies Jesus Christ.  Look at John 15:26 – “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.”  The Holy Spirit came because God the Father and Jesus the Son sent the Holy Spirit.  At the same time, the Holy Spirit came of himself willingly and gladly.  Look at John 16:8 – “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”  The Holy Spirit comes and testifies Jesus Christ to us.  The Holy Spirit regenerates us, convicts us of repentance, enables us to believe in Jesus Christ, enables us to fight the good fight, works out salvation, sanctifies us (sanctification), and makes us to imitate Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit gives us gifts, leads us and edifies us, and sets us up and sends us to spread the gospel just as the church in Antioch set up Barnabas and Paul and sent them out to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Look at John 14:12 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”  Jesus said that the works that Jesus does, the Holy Spirit will also do, and greater works than those the Spirit will do.  Look at Acts 1:8 – “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  When Jesus was on this earth, He preached the gospel only in a limited area.  But the Holy Spirit made it possible to spread the gospel to a wider area only through Paul, for example.

 

                Even now, the Holy Spirit is using many missionaries to spread the gospel around the world.  Even in this corona virus era, the Holy Spirit is making us spread the gospel everywhere, even through the Internet.  We must be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive power to become witnesses of Jesus.  If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we must boldly preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with the faith of a martyr in the midst of any difficulties, adversity, obstacles, and persecutions.  In this way, the Holy Spirit is doing great things (Jn. 14:12).  Look at Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

 

            Third and last, what is the mind set on the Holy Spirit?

 

                The mind set on the Holy Spirit is “life and peace.”  Look at Romans 5:6 – “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”  What is “life” here?  The Holy Spirit is the God of life.  The Holy Spirit is the God who creates life.  The Holy Spirit is the God who gives us life (Rom. 8:2).  “Life” is three things: (1) Life is a sweet communion with God.  Until Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he had sweet fellowship with God.  This was life.  However, his fellowship with God was cut off because he sinned by disobeying the commandments of the God of the covenant. That is death.  (2) Life is the presence of God's sufficient love in the heart.  (3) Life is the fullness of the joy of God.  Life is to rejoice in hope for the glory of God (Rom. 5:2).  We will reach the world of glory.  Seeing it and rejoicing in it is life (eternal life).  Then what is “peace” (8:2)?  It is peace with God (or reconciliation with God).  Look at Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  When we are reconciled to God, we will have peace in our hearts.  If we do not have peace (peace) in our hearts, we are not enjoying peace with God.  The reason we complain and grumble in our hearts is because we are not at peace with God.  The world cannot take away the peace that Jesus Christ gives us.  Look at John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  Jesus came to give us peace in a world where there is no peace, and He enjoyed peace.  We, too, should enjoy the peace that the Lord gives us in the midst of difficulties, not in peace because everything is going well because we are in good health.  Although sorrows, wretched things, sinful things, and dead things are piled up in this world, we enjoy peace of mind because of the peace that the Lord gives us.  We are able to sing “I cannot tell thee whence it came, This peace within my breast; But this I know, there fills my soul A strange and tranquil rest.  There's a deep, settled peace in my soul, There's a deep, settled peace in my soul; Tho' the billows of sin near me roll, He abides, Christ abides” (Hymn “I Cannot Tell thee Whence it Came” v.1) because peace that the Lord gives.  This is the peace that Christ gives us.  We must first be at peace with God (reconciliation) and enjoy peace with our neighbors while enjoying peace of mind.  I hope and pray that all of us will become apostles of peace and carry out the ministry of peace well.