Romans 8:5, commentary and pictures

The verse divides humanity into two classes according to the power that governs them and the objects on which the mind is set, for those after the flesh mind worldly, carnal and fleshly things while those after the Spirit mind spiritual things, and mind and conduct invariably follow the controlling influence. To be after the flesh is to be controlled by bodily desire and the sinful passions of human nature, setting the mind on sinful things, and this corrupts the moral affections and the conscience and fosters skepticism toward Christian realities until doubt itself is treated as a virtue. A carnally minded life is incompatible with a life shaped by the Spirit, for those who remain carnally minded are ruled by sensual, debased thoughts, have not been sanctified through the truth and have not overcome self and worldly desires, so they will not be among the redeemed and their presence leaves churches weak and sickly.

Daily control by God's Spirit cannot be neglected, for neglect of watchfulness and prayer opens the way for Satan to gain control and leads to worldly desires, indifference and spiritual carelessness. Self-confidence and cultivated or inherited wrong tendencies likewise lead away from what is right, so the mind must instead be kept under the control of the Spirit in order to discern and do the Lord's will. To mind the things of the Spirit is to be one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father, having the mind of Christ, being conformed to Christ's Spirit, and working the works of Christ.

This change requires being fully emptied of self with every false god cast out, so that the resulting vacuum is supplied by the inflowing of the Spirit of Christ, creating a new spiritual life with a new motive power and renewed motives. The Holy Spirit as Comforter then works upon the heart, influencing and directing it so that the person enjoys spiritual things, receives with meekness the engrafted Word and spiritual truth as truth is constantly unfolded and revealed, and is enabled to discern and do the Lord's will. Those who thus mind the Spirit have a faith that works by love and purifies the soul from every moral and spiritual defilement, have no confidence in self but trust in and rely on Christ who is made all and in all, and by beholding the world's Redeemer are changed into His image, ever improving, ever drawing near to God and ever uplifting the soul to Jesus while giving the Lord all the glory. They bear the fruits of righteousness to the glory of God, namely love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness or kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.

In daily life this means taking the Bible as counselor and practicing its principles, testifying hourly by circumspect conduct, placing spiritual things before earthly things, avoiding vanity, lightness, trifling, disorderly walk and unholy conversation, honoring the truth and bringing no reproach on the cause of God, doing no dishonest act and righting without rest any departure from strict integrity in business, with a clear rejection of impurity and an exaltation of Jesus. Families need God's converting power and should take the instruction of the chapter seriously, since children are precious to God, who permitted His only begotten Son to be crucified to save them.