Notes of Faith April 6, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8
April 14, 2002
“PEOPLE PICTURES”
Romans 8:5-8
In Romans 8:4 Paul tells us that the way to fulfill the requirements of God’s Holy Law is to walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Then in verses 5-8 he tells us why this is true.
A Picture of People in the Flesh
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh v. 5a.
In other words, the natural man has a natural mind only. Thus, the only way he can go is the way his mind dictates. In Colossian 3:2 we are admonished to set our minds on this things above where Christ is seated, not on the things of earth.
A Picture of People in the Spirit
. . . but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit v. 5b.
This is a given. Those who have experienced the new birth are taken up with a new genre. The contrasting results are seen in verse 6:
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
The mind that concentrates on the flesh – death. On the other hand, the mind that concentrates on the things of the Holy Spirit experiences life and peace.
In verse 7 we have an explanation of the experience of the mind that follows the flesh. That mind is hostile toward God – an enemy of God. It does not voluntarily subject itself to God’s law. Furthermore, it is not able to seek God. A forthright statement might be, “The mind set on the flesh doesn’t seek God because it unable to seek God. It is virtually impossible for the man outside of Christ to even like the things of God.”
A definite conclusion is that those in the flesh cannot please God. It is a waste of time to urge a natural man to follow God. What then shall we do? How do we approach such a person? We look for the answer to our Lord Jesus Himself as he met with Nicodemus and tells him, “You must be born again or you cannot see or even perceive the Kingdom of God (John 3).”
Beloved, our mandate is that we are dealing with men and women who are in the flesh. They cannot change their actions until God changes their hearts. They need the Gospel. The words of the song are so true, “People need the Lord.”
Let us rejoice in the things of the Spirit and endeavor to bring others into that same realm of enjoyment. God bless.
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
Let us fervently pray that those God places around us be broken by His Spirit, to see their sin as He sees it, that they might repent, turn to Him for forgiveness and salvation and that we, being used by God to share the truth of the gospel, might bring forth much fruit, pleasing to God in every way!
Be the church! Be the heart, hands, and feet of Christ every day!
Pastor Dale