Romans 8:5,6 May 4, 2008
One Step At a Time, Part 3
How (not what) Should a Christian Think?
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer
We are in the third of a 6-part series of sermons that are meant to help us focus on the basics of the faith. “What is a Christian?” “What Does a Christian Do?” And today we ask the question, “How (not what) Should a Christian Think?” I must say I am sort of surprised that all of the Scriptures I have been led to study for this series so far have been from the book of Romans. I’m not surprised that the answers we seek are in Romans – it is such an amazing book – but I am surprised that we have landed not once, not twice, but now three times in the same place. I hope this series will spark your interest, and encourage you to sit down and read all of Romans. But today, we’re only going to look at 2 verses. Please open your Bibles to Romans 8:5,6:
From the NRSV Translation: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Here are the same two verses from The New Living Translation: “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.”
Folks, those who are Christians, those who confess that Jesus Christ is LORD (over all things and over our lives), are in a battle. We are in a battle between what we want to do (meaning what our sinful self wants to do, or another way to put it is what our flesh wants to do), and what God wants us to do (meaning what the Holy Spirit leads and encourages us to do, always in accordance with the Word of God). We are in a battle. If we are not Christians, because we are not yet confessing Jesus as LORD, then we are not in this battle. If you are not a Christian, you are completely okay with “doing life” however you choose to do it (and the ways of God seem to be foolishness to you). This way, though it may sound pretty good, according to Scripture is the way of death - it is the way that leads into a pit of darkness that will cover us and consume us forever and ever. Christians walk in the light. In 1 John 1, we read that if we walk in the light with Jesus, we have fellowship with him and with one another and the blood of Jesus covers our sin. When we walk in the light, we remain in the light. The Scripture tells us that once we belong to God, nothing can snatch us out of His hand. So, once we’re in the light, we’re in the light forever. That’s the good news. The tough news is that while we walk in the light, we still battle the darkness. Though the devil has already been defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, he has not yet been destroyed and he is working to get us to doubt the goodness of God. 1 John 1 also tells us that if we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us, and we deceive ourselves. We are sinners. As Christians, we are redeemed, forgiven sinners, but we are still sinners through and through – mind and body – sinners. We still battle our sinful self. We still battle all those ungodly ways of thinking. We still battle all those ungodly behaviors and attitudes that we packed up and brought with us over into the light.
So, we need to recognize and to admit that we’re still battling. But, as Christians, who confess that Jesus is LORD, we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us. The Holy Spirit, (we’re going to talk more about this next week as we celebrate the Day of Pentecost – the day the Holy Spirit was sent to empower the Church of Jesus Christ) is the Spirit of Truth, of Comfort, of Counsel, of Conviction, of Peace, of Power, of Unity. The Holy Spirit, who lives within those who walk in the light, is armed and ready to help us walk the victory march in the midst of the battle. But, we have to do our part. We have to do our part.
First, we do as we talked about last Sunday. By the mercies of God, we present our bodies to God as living sacrifices: We lay ourselves in his capable hands, and allow him to mold our lives into the beautiful, powerful vessels of love, adventure, and grace that will make a transforming impact on people around us who are still groping around in the darkness. This is a choice, and it is our choice whether or not we really live for Christ in the hands of God, or whether we just say we’re living for Him, but stay in attitudes and behaviors that reveal otherwise. Remember, we shall be known by our fruit. Is there good fruit being borne through your life – fruit that feeds and nourishes the people around you? By the mercies of God, we must choose to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices in order to bear good and eternal fruit.
Secondly, we must choose to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. Let me read again those verses from Romans 8: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [Galatians 5:19-21: When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin.], but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22ff: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, & self-control]. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Now, we’re not talking about setting the table here – just loosely putting plates and cups down. In Romans 8, the use of the word ‘set’ is to be translated ‘set’ as in concrete that has ‘set.’ It is hard, firm, immovable.
Have you ever known anyone who was stubborn? Have you ever had your mind made up about something and were not willing to consider another way? In other words, have you ever set your mind on something?
• I will never move out of this house.
• I will never forgive that person.
• I am afraid of the water. I will never get into a swimming pool.
• I don’t want children.
• I will not stop dieting until I have lost 25 pounds.
• I will never get into an airplane.
• I don’t like that person, I never have, and I never will.
• Dodge trucks are the only real trucks for real men.
We get our minds set on certain things – things that may be silly to someone else, but are not silly to you; things that may seem outrageous to someone else, but are not outrageous to you. But here’s the challenge to those who call themselves Christians: Set your minds on the things of the Spirit: be firm, immovable regarding the ways, the words, and the wonders of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t want our minds to be set on the ways that lead to death in our relationships with the people around us, because it is through our relationships with others, that the love of God is revealed. The way we think matters. It’s not the heart that leads the mind. It is the mind that leads the heart. The way we think affects the way we feel. We must bring our attitudes in line with the Scripture, or we are giving off an offensive, stinking flesh odor that does not honor God and certainly doesn’t attract anyone to consider Jesus Christ as LORD.
I have here a beautiful treasure from my past. This little bird & cage belonged to my mother’s parents. This little cage always sat on a small table in our living room when I was growing up. We played with it carefully – and loved to show it to our friends. This little bird sings the same song over and over again. It has not changed. The tune is the same. His feet are set on that little perch. He’s not going anywhere, his tune made fade as he gets older, but his tune is the same.
We are called, as Christians, to take every thought that comes into our minds, and allow the Spirit to transform that thought into something that is pleasing to God before we do or say anything in response to that thought. As sinful human beings, we cannot fully control the thoughts that pop into our minds. Geez, I’m glad there are no bubbles over our heads that reveal all the thoughts that come into our minds. We’re sinful. We think poorly of others, we think unkindly of others, we think judgmentally of others, we think highly of ourselves, we think proudly of our actions, we think lustfully about others, we think revengeful thoughts – our minds can be cesspools. Let’s face it. That’s the truth. UNLESS, we take every thought that comes into our minds and let the Spirit of Christ shine the light onto it, showing us (almost like a blacklight) what is bright about that thought, and what is dark about that thought. And if we’re willing to allow our thoughts to be exposed like this, and if we are willing to do something about what the Spirit shows us, and if we follow through in speech, in attitude, and in behavior, then we live in abundant life and peace. And after a time, we find we’re singing the same song, we’re firmly set on the same perch of God’s truth, and all those stinkin’ lies that the prince of darkness, the devil, speaks into our minds, gain no territory – no foothold whatsoever.
I suppose most of us know that the afflictions we bear: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual, are greatly affected by what we do with the thoughts that come into our minds. What we do with our thoughts affect our health and wholeness. Last week, in Romans 12 we read: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.”
We are to make nothing of the following ways of thinking:
• Nothing will ever change.
• I’ll always be an outcast.
• I’ll never have as much faith as other people.
• I’ll always be unworthy.
• I’ll never be accepted.
• My pain will always dominate my days.
• I am alone.
• My mother was a worrier, so I was born a worrier, too.
What does GOD say about his children? Does he say things like:
• Your circumstances will never change.
• You’ll always be an outcast.
• You’ll never have as much faith as that person.
• You’re not worthy.
• I won’t accept you.
• Just learn to live with the pain. You’ll get used to it.
• You are alone.
• Yep, worrying is a generational thing. Once it’s in your family, you’re stuck with it.
Is that the way God talks? If you’ve spent any time in the Bible, you know that is NOT the way the heavenly Father speaks about or to His children. The Scriptures reveal to us the promises and power of God to fulfill His promises:
I am accepted...
I am God's child ~ John 1:12
As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17
I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~
1 Corin. 6:19-20
I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14
I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
I am secure...
I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemnation brought against me,
and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~
Romans 8:31-39
I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~
2 Corin. 1:21-22
I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4
I am confident that God will complete the good work
He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6
I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20
I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~
1 John 5:18
I am significant...
I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine,
and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16
I am God's temple ~ 1 Corin. 3:16
I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21
I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6
I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10
I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13
Let’s set our minds on God’s promises, not on our problems or our opinions or our interpretations of the circumstances in our lives. Let’s get on the perch of God’s truths, and remain there singing our songs of thankfulness – taking every thought into the transforming light, and showing others the JOY of knowing Jesus Christ as LORD over all creation. Amen.
One Step At a Time, Part 3
How (not what) Should a Christian Think?
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer
We are in the third of a 6-part series of sermons that are meant to help us focus on the basics of the faith. “What is a Christian?” “What Does a Christian Do?” And today we ask the question, “How (not what) Should a Christian Think?” I must say I am sort of surprised that all of the Scriptures I have been led to study for this series so far have been from the book of Romans. I’m not surprised that the answers we seek are in Romans – it is such an amazing book – but I am surprised that we have landed not once, not twice, but now three times in the same place. I hope this series will spark your interest, and encourage you to sit down and read all of Romans. But today, we’re only going to look at 2 verses. Please open your Bibles to Romans 8:5,6:
From the NRSV Translation: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Here are the same two verses from The New Living Translation: “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.”
Folks, those who are Christians, those who confess that Jesus Christ is LORD (over all things and over our lives), are in a battle. We are in a battle between what we want to do (meaning what our sinful self wants to do, or another way to put it is what our flesh wants to do), and what God wants us to do (meaning what the Holy Spirit leads and encourages us to do, always in accordance with the Word of God). We are in a battle. If we are not Christians, because we are not yet confessing Jesus as LORD, then we are not in this battle. If you are not a Christian, you are completely okay with “doing life” however you choose to do it (and the ways of God seem to be foolishness to you). This way, though it may sound pretty good, according to Scripture is the way of death - it is the way that leads into a pit of darkness that will cover us and consume us forever and ever. Christians walk in the light. In 1 John 1, we read that if we walk in the light with Jesus, we have fellowship with him and with one another and the blood of Jesus covers our sin. When we walk in the light, we remain in the light. The Scripture tells us that once we belong to God, nothing can snatch us out of His hand. So, once we’re in the light, we’re in the light forever. That’s the good news. The tough news is that while we walk in the light, we still battle the darkness. Though the devil has already been defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, he has not yet been destroyed and he is working to get us to doubt the goodness of God. 1 John 1 also tells us that if we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us, and we deceive ourselves. We are sinners. As Christians, we are redeemed, forgiven sinners, but we are still sinners through and through – mind and body – sinners. We still battle our sinful self. We still battle all those ungodly ways of thinking. We still battle all those ungodly behaviors and attitudes that we packed up and brought with us over into the light.
So, we need to recognize and to admit that we’re still battling. But, as Christians, who confess that Jesus is LORD, we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us. The Holy Spirit, (we’re going to talk more about this next week as we celebrate the Day of Pentecost – the day the Holy Spirit was sent to empower the Church of Jesus Christ) is the Spirit of Truth, of Comfort, of Counsel, of Conviction, of Peace, of Power, of Unity. The Holy Spirit, who lives within those who walk in the light, is armed and ready to help us walk the victory march in the midst of the battle. But, we have to do our part. We have to do our part.
First, we do as we talked about last Sunday. By the mercies of God, we present our bodies to God as living sacrifices: We lay ourselves in his capable hands, and allow him to mold our lives into the beautiful, powerful vessels of love, adventure, and grace that will make a transforming impact on people around us who are still groping around in the darkness. This is a choice, and it is our choice whether or not we really live for Christ in the hands of God, or whether we just say we’re living for Him, but stay in attitudes and behaviors that reveal otherwise. Remember, we shall be known by our fruit. Is there good fruit being borne through your life – fruit that feeds and nourishes the people around you? By the mercies of God, we must choose to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices in order to bear good and eternal fruit.
Secondly, we must choose to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. Let me read again those verses from Romans 8: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [Galatians 5:19-21: When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin.], but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22ff: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, & self-control]. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Now, we’re not talking about setting the table here – just loosely putting plates and cups down. In Romans 8, the use of the word ‘set’ is to be translated ‘set’ as in concrete that has ‘set.’ It is hard, firm, immovable.
Have you ever known anyone who was stubborn? Have you ever had your mind made up about something and were not willing to consider another way? In other words, have you ever set your mind on something?
• I will never move out of this house.
• I will never forgive that person.
• I am afraid of the water. I will never get into a swimming pool.
• I don’t want children.
• I will not stop dieting until I have lost 25 pounds.
• I will never get into an airplane.
• I don’t like that person, I never have, and I never will.
• Dodge trucks are the only real trucks for real men.
We get our minds set on certain things – things that may be silly to someone else, but are not silly to you; things that may seem outrageous to someone else, but are not outrageous to you. But here’s the challenge to those who call themselves Christians: Set your minds on the things of the Spirit: be firm, immovable regarding the ways, the words, and the wonders of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t want our minds to be set on the ways that lead to death in our relationships with the people around us, because it is through our relationships with others, that the love of God is revealed. The way we think matters. It’s not the heart that leads the mind. It is the mind that leads the heart. The way we think affects the way we feel. We must bring our attitudes in line with the Scripture, or we are giving off an offensive, stinking flesh odor that does not honor God and certainly doesn’t attract anyone to consider Jesus Christ as LORD.
I have here a beautiful treasure from my past. This little bird & cage belonged to my mother’s parents. This little cage always sat on a small table in our living room when I was growing up. We played with it carefully – and loved to show it to our friends. This little bird sings the same song over and over again. It has not changed. The tune is the same. His feet are set on that little perch. He’s not going anywhere, his tune made fade as he gets older, but his tune is the same.
We are called, as Christians, to take every thought that comes into our minds, and allow the Spirit to transform that thought into something that is pleasing to God before we do or say anything in response to that thought. As sinful human beings, we cannot fully control the thoughts that pop into our minds. Geez, I’m glad there are no bubbles over our heads that reveal all the thoughts that come into our minds. We’re sinful. We think poorly of others, we think unkindly of others, we think judgmentally of others, we think highly of ourselves, we think proudly of our actions, we think lustfully about others, we think revengeful thoughts – our minds can be cesspools. Let’s face it. That’s the truth. UNLESS, we take every thought that comes into our minds and let the Spirit of Christ shine the light onto it, showing us (almost like a blacklight) what is bright about that thought, and what is dark about that thought. And if we’re willing to allow our thoughts to be exposed like this, and if we are willing to do something about what the Spirit shows us, and if we follow through in speech, in attitude, and in behavior, then we live in abundant life and peace. And after a time, we find we’re singing the same song, we’re firmly set on the same perch of God’s truth, and all those stinkin’ lies that the prince of darkness, the devil, speaks into our minds, gain no territory – no foothold whatsoever.
I suppose most of us know that the afflictions we bear: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual, are greatly affected by what we do with the thoughts that come into our minds. What we do with our thoughts affect our health and wholeness. Last week, in Romans 12 we read: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.”
We are to make nothing of the following ways of thinking:
• Nothing will ever change.
• I’ll always be an outcast.
• I’ll never have as much faith as other people.
• I’ll always be unworthy.
• I’ll never be accepted.
• My pain will always dominate my days.
• I am alone.
• My mother was a worrier, so I was born a worrier, too.
What does GOD say about his children? Does he say things like:
• Your circumstances will never change.
• You’ll always be an outcast.
• You’ll never have as much faith as that person.
• You’re not worthy.
• I won’t accept you.
• Just learn to live with the pain. You’ll get used to it.
• You are alone.
• Yep, worrying is a generational thing. Once it’s in your family, you’re stuck with it.
Is that the way God talks? If you’ve spent any time in the Bible, you know that is NOT the way the heavenly Father speaks about or to His children. The Scriptures reveal to us the promises and power of God to fulfill His promises:
I am accepted...
I am God's child ~ John 1:12
As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17
I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~
1 Corin. 6:19-20
I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14
I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
I am secure...
I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemnation brought against me,
and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~
Romans 8:31-39
I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~
2 Corin. 1:21-22
I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4
I am confident that God will complete the good work
He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6
I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20
I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~
1 John 5:18
I am significant...
I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine,
and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16
I am God's temple ~ 1 Corin. 3:16
I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21
I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6
I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10
I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13
Let’s set our minds on God’s promises, not on our problems or our opinions or our interpretations of the circumstances in our lives. Let’s get on the perch of God’s truths, and remain there singing our songs of thankfulness – taking every thought into the transforming light, and showing others the JOY of knowing Jesus Christ as LORD over all creation. Amen.
