For the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it cannot.
(Romans 8:7) ESV
Are we living in a very religious culture? According to the polls, a whopping 76% of Americans profess to be Christians. Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism collectively make up about another 5% of the population claiming to be religious. This means that at least 81% of our population claim to be religious. But, there seems to be a great void between what is claimed and what is seen in real life America.
Obviously the lack of religion in our country is not our problem—the problem lies in the little word “self”. SELF, in most folks who say they are Christians, is on the throne of the heart and mind as indicated by their attitude toward and attendance of worship services—only 36% state they attend church regularly. The Apostle Paul had something to say on the subject of “self” (the flesh). He said “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…to set the mind on the flesh is death…For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot…those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Rom. 8:5, 6, 7, 8) Simply stated, these are the people who live for Self.
Those who live according to the flesh are always thinking about themselves; this results in death because they hate God and His word and will not and cannot submit to God and His word—they cannot please God.
Scripture presents very serious charges against Self- ruled hearts and minds. A person may be very religious; praying, attending church regularly or irregularly out of duty not true worship, engaging in doing many mighty deeds to draw attention to self, giving financially to the church and even personally supporting a missionary or a mission program; and yet, — be living according to the flesh – living for self and unsubmissive to the word of God. This person is not pleasing to God, and, according to Romans, cannot please God in this state of mind for his mind is fixed on pleasing self.
Self-serving people have not savingly met the Savior, for if they had, Paul said that they would not be living according to the flesh, but their minds would be fixed on the things of the Spirit. When the Spirit of Christ has taken the throne of the heart and mind, motives and desires are directed away from self. The true Christ follower lives for Him and desires to please Him. Those same activities mentioned before will be done with an entirely different mindset. In other words, they would be attending church regularly, worshipping God, and seeking to glorify Him by serving Him in good works, financial support of His ministries all for a love for Him and not a love for Self’s desires.
Let me add, Self never abdicates the throne peacefully; and will continually make every effort to claw, scratch, and slither back onto the throne of the heart of even the child of Christ.
Are you living in the flesh or the Spirit of God? “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” (Romans 8:13).
“Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins.”
― Thomas Brooks