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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 070. Rom 8:6-7. The Carnal and Spiritual Mind Contrasted
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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."—Rom_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.—once holy, now impure—once happy now mis-erable—once 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—aversion and dislike to God. This aversion and dislike applies,
(1) To the law of God. "Not subject to the law of God." Disobedient—rebellious. "Who is the Lord," &c.
(2) To the ordinances of God, to his services—to his day—to hearing his word—prayer—praise, &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—grieve him—lo 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—"born of the Spirit"—possessing the influences and witness of the Spirit—led by the Spirit—delighting 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—life of holy obedience—life of hope—title to eternal life—Peace, not now opposed to God—enmity slain—reconciled to God. Peace with God—peace with conscience—and 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.