Two Worldviews

1. Flesh/Word
2. Spirit

Basic Verses

Romans 8:1-10 WEL There is now not any condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, [those] who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit. [97.7% contain the whole verse]

2 For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh because of sin, condemned sin in the flesh,

4 So that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit.

5 Those following the flesh are interested in the things of the flesh, but those following the spirit [are interested in] the things of the spirit.

6 To have a carnal mindset [is] death, but to have a spiritual mindset [is] life and peace,

7 Because the carnal mind [is] hostile to God, because it does not submit to God's law, nor indeed can it.

8 So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if it is so that God's Spirit lives in you, and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

10 And if Christ [lives] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the spirit [has] life because of righteousness.

Flesh versus Spirit

B1 Some general thoughts

C1 Flesh usually refers to physical flesh as muscles, bones, skin, etc. 1 Corinthians 15:39 NKJV All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

C2 Sometimes it refers to heritage.

D1 All humans: Romans 3:20 NKJV Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

D2 Israelites: Romans 9:3 NKJV For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.

C3 Occasionally it refers to worldview.

D1 Romans 7:5 NKJV For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

D2 Galatians 5 is the main chapter for this. Galatians 5:16-26 WEL I say, "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you cannot do the things that you want to.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sin, moral corruption, unrestrained lust,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

24 Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.

D3 This passage teaches

• The flesh worldview is opposite the spirit worldview.
• They desire to overcome, overpower the other.
• The flesh is under the law. The spirit is not (it is under grace).
• The actions of the flesh worldview in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds are
  • Adultery
  • Sexual sin
  • Moral corruption
  • Unrestrained lust,
  • Idolatry
  • Witchcraft
  • Hatred
  • Strife
  • Provoking jealousy
  • Hot anger
  • Pushing to be first
  • Selfish scheming
  • Dissensions
  • Heresy,
  • Envyings
  • Murders
  • Drunkenness
  • Wild partying
• Those living the flesh worldview do not go to heaven.
• The fruit of the Spirit worldview are
  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Longsuffering
  • Gentleness
  • Goodness
  • Faith,
  • Meekness
  • Self-control
• There are no laws against this fruit.
• Those who live the spirit worldview have killed the flesh worldview.
• Those who live the spirit worldview do not desire
  • Empty praise
  • Irritating one another
  • Envying one another.

B2 Some concluding thoughts

C1 The natural state of every human is depraved. It is both in an active and passive sense.

D1 In the active sense, it is everyone is addicted to sin, just as surely as those addicted to anything. John 8:34 CSB Jesus responded, "Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.

D2 In the passive sense, it is everyone does not and can not seek God. Romans 3:11 CSB There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

C2 God seeks us. If God did not seek us, we would be lost to God’s judgment and eternal, conscious punishment.

D1 Luke 19:10 CSB "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

D2 Matthew 25:46 NKJV "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

C3 To those who believe the Gospel and place their faith into Jesus as the only Savior will have everlasting life. John 3:36 NKJV "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

C4 We are now dead in Christ. The old nature and self are dead. There is now a new creation and new heart. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

C5 The new creation and new heart seeks to glorify God and do His will through God’s grace. Matthew 5:16 NKJV "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

C6 By God’s grace we can live for Him every day.

D1 Hebrews 13:9 NLT So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.

D2 1 Peter 5:12 NLT I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.