I have always struggled trying to understand Paul, it may be that I think in black & white, but Paul has always confused me. I groan when it is time to read one of Paul’s epistles.
But recently, when I was assigned to read Romans 8, after much whining, I found what seems to be a key to understanding much of what has always been confusing.
To me this is black & white:
The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
(Rom 8:7-8)
Wow, If I do not subject myself to God’s law, I am hostile to Him! Some versions say “is an enemy to God”! And, therefore, subjecting yourself to the law makes you pleasing to God!
Now that is straight forward, no beating around the bush there, Paul goes on to say:
But you are not in flesh, but in Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, this one is not His. But if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Rom 8:9-10)
Not quite as straight forward, but now I can hear, “in the “Spirit” is because of righteousness, again I hear Paul saying, “In the Spirit” is that you are subjecting yourself to God’s law.
Now Paul is not so hard to understand, because he mentions “in the flesh” and “in the spirit” a lot.
Flesh = Lawlessness, Spirit = Righteousness, Got It!
Comments