Living Spiritually

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,

the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally

minded is death, but to be spiritually

minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:5–6

            Clarity of thought and words are not to be dismissed, as if they were in a confused state unless one ignores this clarity and makes it uncertain or ambiguous. To ignore or make uncertain a truth, a truth that is clear and precise is to only prefer a person’s presupposition, a presupposition in opposition that is so plainly stated. How much more clear can it be stated: if you live carnally, that is according to fleshly desires means death, and to live according to the Spirit means life. Carnality is to be in opposition to God and His law, and this carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be: therefore there is a need to remove from a person this carnality of mind; “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, no indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). Live carnally and you will be an enmity with God, God who gave to His children faith, righteousness, grace, and blessing, a blessing of eternal life: “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). To not live carnally is difficult for we are still subject to original sin but it is not so any longer for those who do not dismiss what Scripture is teaching us: that we are no longer of this world and we are to live as eternal saved persons now, in the present. Does this mean that we are to recluse ourselves from this world, or to go and live in a cloister, as did many of the monks and priests in earlier times of Christianity? NO! We live the life God gave to you; go fishing, shopping, playing, working, being a husband and a wife, children under the authority of your parents, and all you do, do as what and whose you are: a child of God, and the Bride of Christ, and Ambassador for the kingdom of God. Keep you mind on things above and let go of the things of this world, those things that will influence you to live carnally and not spiritually. How can this be done? Not easily of course: but, it can be done: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:9–10). The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead and it is Jesus Christ who dwells in you, so conjoining the Spirit dwelling in you and Jesus Christ dwelling in you for they are of the same essence and a Person of the Godhead: But if the S;pirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). The Greek word, “έι” is not the Greek word, “εάν” both translated into English as “if” but these Greek words are used differently to denote, first as if conditionally, and we are to understand that in this verse quoted the word is to telling us that “if” the Spirit raised Jesus then we are to understand our part in this resurrection that it is fact and by this fact that Jesus was raised from the dead then when it is said that through this Spirit we have life, there is no doubt, we will have life because of the Spirit. Now, if the second Greek word was used then we have a different take, that is, there would not be a definite hope and fact, all would be undetermined and left up to us for our salvation: this is not the teaching of Scripture that man can save himself. Salvation is of God, through the resurrection of His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, God paid our debt of sin, this debt was not only paid but our indebtedness removed but not removed so as that we were not still a debtor. Yes, debt removed, but we still are a debtor. Example: A man goes to prison and pays his debt to society, and yet he still is a debtor only no longer one who must pay his debt, paid by his time in prison. We are now free of our debt and are now a bondservant of God to whom we owe all things, in that since there is a debt, but to live willfully carnally is to live for the flesh and to be a debtor to the flesh and there will come a time of reckoning: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors––not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the  flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Who, or what is leading you? The carnal flesh, or the Spirit of God? You are sons and daughters of God, so why then live as though you were not: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14)?

            This being Friday, two days before the first day of the week, a day set aside by the early Church as the Sabbath for Christians, and being the Sabbath and that we are under the New Covenant, we are still under the Law of God to keep His Sabbath, that one day of the week to be set aside and kept holy; therefore, unless we are in a work that demands care for others, or protection for society, then we are not to buy, sell, or do anything that requires others to serve us: NO! Here then is where the rubber meets the road: will you dismiss this law, this special time of God for you own lusts and desires, that carnality that God hates? Is your life simply a witness for God in all you do, or does the world see you saying one thing and doing another? Are you spiritually minded? My prayer is that you are spiritually minded and that you will set time aside on God’s day to worship Him, to sing praises to Him, and to enjoy the fellowship with your eternal brothers and sisters.

Riches do not profit in the day

            Of wrath.

But righteousness delivers

            From death.

                        Proverbs 11:4

Trust In God

Richard L. Crumb