What is your mind set on? The flesh or the spirit? Paul discuss this and more in our next passage.
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Hamashiach Yeshua. For the law of the Spirit of life in Hamashiach Yeshua has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Torah could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, G-d did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward G-d; for it does not subject itself to the Torah of G-d, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please G-d. Romans 8:1-8.
This chapter starts off with a therefore, so you know this section is really a continuation of the previous chapter. Paul has just said he is serving the law of G-d with his mind (spirit), but the law of sin with his flesh. Therefore, there is no criticism or disapproval for those in Yeshua. Why? For Yeshua set you free from the law of sin and death. He paid your penalty. This is what Paul was telling us in Colossians 2:14 – having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. The certificate of debt was nailed to the cross and therefore we were made free from the penalty. Freed from the law of sin and death is not saying freed from Torah.
The Torah could not set you free, because this was never the purpose of Torah. The Torah’s purpose is to help you in your relationship with G-d. To help you be holy or set apart or uncommon. When you don’t follow the commandments you become just like everyone else…common.Now, that your debt is paid for you, you can fulfill the requirement of the Torah by walking according to the Spirit. What Paul is referencing here is Ezekiel 11:19-20 and 36:26-27.
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36-26-27
The mind set on the spiritual things, the Torah, will give you life. In Deuteronomy 30:15 we are told the Torah is life and you can choose it or not. You can choose to follow your flesh and therefore receive the curses of G-d. Or, you can choose life and subject yourself to the Torah of G-d. The mind set on the flesh is hostile towards G-d and cannot please G-d. G-d tells us in Deut. 30:19 to choose life. So choose life today and experience the difference!
Until next time…kadosh, kadosh, kadosh is HaShem!
Yochanan's Thoughts 