THE CROSS AND THE FLESH

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the Law of God neither, indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his, ROM 8:7-9.

There is no third class taught in our text. Our text speaks of the carnal mind and of the Spirit of Christ. It does not speak of a carnal Christian. It does not speak of any person who can be carnal and still be a Christian.

The carnal mind is enmity against God. It is not subject to the law of God neither can it be. If we are still in a carnal mind, then we are at enmity with the law of God. The distinction between that and the Spirit of Christ is that we may still have these carnal things in our hearts. They keep boiling up, but the spirit of the heart and the spirit of the mind strive against them. They pray against them and have a desire to do those things which are after the Spirit.

The thing that we have to watch for is, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." We cannot be full of malice, envy, and strife. If we are, we cannot please God.

GAL 5:24. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." We have to understand what Christ says to the rich young ruler and what he said to us all. "Except ye take up your cross daily and follow me, ye cannot enter the kingdom of God."

What does it mean to take up your cross? Your cross is an instrument of death. We have to mark death on all of these things of the flesh.

Amen.