070. ROM 8:6-7. THE CARNAL AND SPIRITUAL MIND CONTRASTED

Rom_8:6-7. The Carnal and Spiritual Mind Contrasted

"For to be carnally-minded is death, but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."’97Rom_8:6-7

Let us consider,

1. The Carnal Mind, its Fruit and Tendency.

By carnal, is meant fleshly, that which is unrenewed. The result of that depravity which has been transmitted from the first fallen man to all posterity; and this carnal mind is the opposite of the mind as it came originally from the hands of God, when he made man in uprightness. This contrariety will appear, if you consider the natural condition of,

1. The carnal mind Once intelligent, now ignorant.’97once holy, now impure’97once happy now mis-erable’97once bearing the image of the heavenly, now the image of the earthly Notice,

2. The fruits of the carnal mind.

"Enmity against God, not subject to the law of God." It signifies opposition to God’97aversion and dislike to God. This aversion and dislike applies,

(1) To the law of God. "Not subject to the law of God." Disobedient’97rebellious. "Who is the Lord," &c.

(2) To the ordinances of God, to his services’97to his day’97to hearing his word’97prayer’97praise, &c.

(3) To his people. Do not love them, because they are not of them. "The world hateth you."

(4) To the Spirit of God. Quench his holy emotions’97grieve him’97lo despite to him, &c. This enmity, in short, refers to all that is like God, or of him, and from him. And it is a total enmity, a universal enmity, a constant enmity. Then, observe,

3. The tendency of the carnal mind.

"To be carnally-minded is death." There is present spiritual death. "Dead in trespasses and sins." The sentence of death, "Condemned already." Exposure to eternal death. "Wages of sin, death." Let us consider,

II. The Spiritual Mind, its Fruit and Tendency.

"To be spiritually-minded is life and peace." Notice,

1. The nature and signs of a spiritual mind.

It is the opposite of the carnal mind. Mind renewed by the Spirit’97"born of the Spirit"’97possessing the influences and witness of the Spirit’97led by the Spirit’97delighting in spiritual things, and pursuing spiritual objects.

2. The fruit of the spiritual mind.

"Life and peace." Spiritual life. "You hath he quickened," &c. Life of acceptance with God. "Justified freely." Life of faith in Christ, and to Christ’97life of holy obedience’97life of hope’97title to eternal life’97Peace, not now opposed to God’97enmity slain’97reconciled to God. Peace with God’97peace with conscience’97and peace with all men. In a state of agreement with God, and all that is of and from God. Notice,

3. The tendency of the spiritual mind.

Everlasting life. Spiritual life perpetuated and consummated in heaven.

Application

Learn, (1) Man’s natural depraved state and danger. (2) The necessity of regeneration. Nothing will repair or amend it. It must be made entirely new. (3) The happiness and safety of the children of God.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS