Sermon Tone Analysis

In Romans 8:5-8 Paul identifies the mind as a significant area of difference between the believer and unbeliever.

Mind your own business!

“Never mind!”

Encouragement for the New Life

Assurance - though you will continue to experience this… (ch.

7), you will also experience this… (ch.

8).

Spirit (Romans 5:5) - 21 times in ch 8/34 time in Romans.

In Romans 8:1-4, Paul identifies the believer as set free from condemnation to life in the Spirit.

So, there will be a contrast/difference (as in Psalm 1).

Here (Romans 8:5-8), he identifies a significant area of difference

What is the main area of difference?

(v.

5-6)

Verse 5

“live”/ “are” (NASB) - to be

“according to” - with respect to, in relation to

“set their minds on” - one Greek word, once in verse 5, twice in verse 6, and once again in verse 7; “to give careful consideration to something, set one’s mind on, be intent on” (BDAG), “to exercise the mind” (Strong’s), basically it means to think or meditate; it is active, so the subject is doing it, which in this verse is “those who are according to...” (Romans 12:3, Romans 14:6, Philippians 2:2, Philippians 2:5, Colossians 3:2)

So this defines for us what it means to be of the flesh/Spirit - to think/meditate on...

This further defines the “walk” of verse 4.

There is a contrast of thinking - to be in according with… is to think/meditate on…

Verse 6

There’s no verb in this verse.

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (NASB).

“mind set on” - way of thinking, which is fluid

Which give us the kind of contrast we’re talking about here.

It is this serious.

It is this stark.

It is the difference between something very dark and something very bright.

“death” - what sin produces, the natural result of sin (Romans 5:12)

“life” - what the Holy Spirit produce or gives to us (v. 2)

“peace” - “a state of concord… harmony” (BDAG) with God (Romans 5:1)

old and new - sinful thinking and spiritual thinking

It categorizes two very different way of thinking.

Do you agree?

Do you believe that the one is bad and the other is good?

Do you want the one and not the other?

This is motivation for choosing our thinking.

So, the believer has to very different options for living, which is really two very different options for thinking.

What is the reason for the difference?

(v.

7-8)

Verse 7

Continuing to contrast these two ways of thinking...

“hostile” - enmity, not neutral, but opposing

Expanded/explained - “it does [not] submit” - obey

“God’s law” - what God wants

Why? “it cannot” - unable

The old man cannot… but the new man can - THIS is the reason for the difference.

This is why… (v.

8)

Verse 8

“in the flesh” - we will learn more about this (v.

9), this is not a believer, though they may be at times “according to the flesh” (v.

5).

The unbeliever is in the flesh.

The believer is in Christ, but they still have the flesh (Romans 7:25).

“please” - do or be what God wants, opposite of “hostile to God” (v.

7)

They do this… they cannot do this…

This is true of those who are only of the flesh - unbelievers.

This is why there is such hostility to God in the world (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The Holy Spirit must intervene (Titus 3:5).

That is what has happened to the believer (Romans 5:5).

So, believers are both (Galatians 5:16; Galatians 5:25).

Pleasing God is impossible for the unbeliever, because they are only flesh.

By contrast, pleasing God is possible for the believer, because they have the Spirit in addition to the flesh.

However, pleasing God is not automatic for the believer.

Remember Paul’s testimony from chapter 7 (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

Choose your thinking.

Benediction: Romans 11:33–36 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever.

Amen.”

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1