ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
3. "For to be fleshly minded is death," v. 6 (Revised Version). 4:. "The fleshly mind is en~ mity against God: it is not subject to the law of God. neither indeed can be." v. 7. 5. "They that are in the flesh cannot please God.'' v. 8.
3. "But to be spiritually minded is life and peace," v. 6. 4. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," v. 9. 5. "But ye are not in the fl~sh. but in the Spirit, if so be (or 'since') that the Spirit of God dwell in you," v. 9.
The two spheres of life are set forth in these verses- that of the unregenerate soul. and that of the sinner saved by grace. The man "in the flesh" is the unconverted man; the man "in the Spirit" is the redeemed child of God. And what a contrast between the two! The natural man is "in the flesh." He walks "after the flesh." He minds "the things of the flesh." The principle of death is in his bosom. He is God's enemy. In no wise can he please God. These characteristics vary with different types of people. Some are sensual; their minds sink to iow levels. Others are intellectual and cultured; but because they are "in the flesh.'' they "cannot please God.'' In contrast with this dark picture. the yielded believer is not "in the flesh.'' but "in the Spirit." Since he is born of the Spirit. the Spirit dwells in Him. Please note just here that the words "if so be" in verse 9 mean "since.'' There is no doubt here; every born~again soul is in~dwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. Every Christian is not yielded fully to God. as he is exhorted to do in the sixth chapter of Romans; but every Christian should be yielded; and every Christian is em~ [Page 139
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