ROMANS 8:5-8 THE MIND People are divided into two groups: those who the mind of the flesh (the sinful nature) controls - and those who are controlled according to the Holy Spirit. By nature, we would all be in the first category where the physical lusts of the flesh would be our occupation, interests and desire. The "old man with his deeds" wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of the mouth and lies are to be "put off" when we are brought out of the dominion of sin. Those things that the mind of the flesh is attracted to, indicate that person is at enmity with God. The position and condition of such a person is that of death. The mind of the flesh is death. The disposition and direction of the mind of the flesh clearly shows that such a person is lost. Cain, Balaam, Korah and Judas are extreme examples of those whose mind is death. There are many others who for the pleasures of sin, the appeal of religion, the favor of friends or the pressure of peers have the mind of the flesh. These too are in the flesh that is enmity toward God. Nothing they can do in the flesh can please God. They have never been born again and are not "children of God by faith in Jesus Christ."
The second group of people are those who have the mind of the Spirit. When a person has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, there is something and Some One in them that is according to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit first convicted that person of sin and brought them to the place of repentance. Then the Holy Spirit and the Word of God brought about the new birth, and the Spirit indwells the one who is born again. The mind of the Spirit brings the new life we have in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. The peace He supplies is because all enmity between us and God is gone, and we live in that peace which does not end. There is a whole new spiritual environment we live in when the Spirit of God dwells in us. The disposition of the Spirit is such that we have the desire to "put on the new man" and all the attributes that are associated with the one who loves the Lord and wants to please God. Those in the flesh cannot please God no matter what they might do. Those with the mind of the Spirit have that life and peace within that motivates them to pray, praise, worship, read the Word of God and have fellowship with the people of God.
There are two groups of people that divide the human race. One, have the mind of the flesh, the other the mind of life and peace. All of us would be in the first group if Christ had not died for us. The second group is composed of those who in Him have put their trust.
We cannot serve the mind of the flesh and live according to the Spirit. And yet some believers try to no matter how often they hear it. The mind of the flesh is carnal and its result is the sinful man's death. And the Christian who tries to live that way has no lasting peace.
That one may try for some reason to be like the people around - But finds out the Spirit leads into a life where love for Christ abounds, It is then natural for the new one in Christ to do what the Spirit desires. And yielded to the Spirit's guidance, that life of faith inspires.
It is a good thing to stop and ask, "What would the Lord Jesus want me to do?" And according to the mind of the Spirit, that person wants to God to be true. The way of the flesh will always be an enemy to the law of God within. The one who God has redeemed, by grace has been saved from the power of sin.
Those in the flesh can't please God; those in the Spirit can. When the mind of the Spirit brings life and peace, that person is a different man. That person will consciously choose to center their life on God. And never wants to follow the mind of the flesh, even if they could.
"Father God, I have found that peace given to those whose mind is stayed on Thee. Please keep Thy servant from allowing my mind to stray to the ways of the flesh. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."