Rom 8:5-6 “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, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
QUESTION: Can a person who claims to believe in Jesus as God’s Son expect to go to heaven if he lives his life according to the flesh?
It is almost sickening the way most people view their religion today. They feel like they can live anyway they choose, do whatever they choose, and talk anyway they choose and God will still save them. Is that what the Bible teaches? We need to pick our Bibles up off of the coffee table, dust them off and get to studying.
There is especially one chapter in Romans that answers that question clearly. In Romans 8, Paul distinguishes between two natures, the flesh and the Spirit. In verse 6, Paul in one succinct statement declares, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” How much more clearly can the Spirit led apostle make it? If we are carnally or fleshly minded we are dead! In verses 7-8, Paul gives us the reason why those who cater to their flesh are lost, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Those who are determined to do their own will are an enemy of God because he is not subjecting himself to God’s law. What does it mean to walk after the flesh? The Holy Spirit directed Paul to write, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” Gal 5:19-21. Notice that after listing several specifics, Paul summed up the group by saying, “and the like”. Anything that would keep us from pleasing God and following the purity of His Word is included.
Notice that in Romans 8, Paul writes of these people that they are carnally minded in verse 6, and in verse 8 they are in the flesh. Therefore those in the flesh CANNOT PLEASE GOD! How can a man or a woman expect to go to heaven and NOT please God? You see the fleshly minded will not be accepted in the spiritual heaven. It is not that difficult to understand. The rich man had a materialistic attitude while alive, therefore “he lifted up his eyes in torment,” Luke 16:23.
The rich ruler desired salvation but not at the sacrifice of his great wealth. He understood Jesus clearly that he could not be worldly minded and spiritually minded. The Bible states, “he became very sorrowful, for he was extremely rich” Luke 18:23.
Religion is full of men like Felix. “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I find time I will summon you.”” Acts 24:25. Felix tried to ease his fearful conscious by ignoring the truth. Folks, just because we ignore the truth does not mean it will go away or even change.
Rom 8:9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”