“To Be Spiritually Minded is Life”

I’d rather do a hard day’s work in the field with my husband that to have to think for half an hour,” was the honest confession of a farmer’s wife as she watched a minister preparing for his evening sermon. Most people do not think for five minutes a day. They lead only mechanical lives-going and coming, getting and spending.

Intense worldliness has enslaved men’s minds. Secularism has blunted interest in things spiritual. Never were men so carnally minded. However, “to be carnally minded is death.” (Romans 8:6.) A world intoxicated with materialism remains unaware of its danger. Our thought patterns must be changed if we would meet the standards of the Spirit. We need the presiding power of the Holy Spirit to give us the mind of Christ.

Solomon said of man, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. Those who are born again will have a change of heart, a change of mind. There is a good reason why the Bible says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5. We do not naturally have such a mind. Those who would have the mind of Christ must be willing to think His thoughts after Him. As we do this, we will be of one mind, for we will think together and think alike.

Some believe we settle the final issues of the inner conflict between right and wrong solely on the basis of our desires, but while desire may make strong appeals, God purposes that desire should always be under the control of the will. It is the mind that wills to do things. The mind ponders relationships and accepts or rejects. The mind resolves the elemental issues of life-issues that affect our eternal destiny. What a man thinks determines what he is.

Men may have either of two kinds of minds. Paul said, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6. Here Paul contrasted two very different kinds of minds. To think as a worldling thinks can only eventuate in death, while to think as a converted person thinks offers peace and eternal life. He who has the mind of the Spirit will meet the standards of the Spirit. Both kinds of minds, the carnal and the spiritual, produce thoughts. How, then, do they differ? “The carnal mind is enmity against God” for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7. Here is the answer! “The carnal mind is enmity,” that is to say, at war with God. Over what? Over the law.

Moreover, this is the core of the problem. The carnal mind simply refuses subjection to God’s law. In plain language, a perpetual antagonism, or fierce resentment, toward the law dwells in the carnal mind. The requirements of the law make the carnal man fighting mad. Its restraints annoy him, and its demands irk him. When the law says, “Don’t” to his desires, the carnal nature within rises up in rebellion to defy God’s “Thou shalt not.” Moreover, even should he try to obey the law, he could not, for it is contrary to his very nature. (Galatians 5:17.) However, the new covenant promise given by God offers a brighter picture. God says, “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.” Hebrews 8:10. By the impartation of His Holy Spirit God plants His laws in the minds of those He has regenerated.

“I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:27. God assures us that the Holy Spirit will supply all the power necessary for obedience. If you believe God, He will cause you to keep and do His law. Surely, He will do in you what He has promised to do in you and what He is doing in others.

The Book of Romans stands out as one of the clearest expositions of “righteousness by faith.” Paul reaches the climax of his reasoning in Romans 8:4; “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Paul concluded that the grand purpose of Christ’s death goes beyond forgiveness for past sins and beyond the imputing of Christ’s righteousness to all who accept His vicarious death. All who have accepted Christ are to live as Christ lived and overcome temptation as He overcame. The righteousness of the law is to be fulfilled in us. How? By the Holy Spirit.

Christ offers us a twofold gift. First, He puts to our account His perfect righteousness when we accept Him by faith. That is righteousness for us, or righteousness credited to us. Those who are born again are counted righteous. Second, when we become His children, He writes His law in our hearts by the impartation of His Holy Spirit. It is obedience that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us.

Before anyone can keep the law, he must first change his mind regarding the law. Reception of-the Holy Spirit changes our minds, and we now accept the law as “holy, just, and good.” To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” This imparting of power by the Holy Spirit for living out the law is imputed righteousness, or sanctification. And accepting this we meet the requirements of the Spirit.