Proof Text #5 - Rom. 8: 6-8
"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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (vs 8-10)
I wrote on this previously in my posting
"Regeneration In Romans" (
here). I will begin by citing what I wrote in that posting.
There is no doubt that regeneration is alluded to in this passage. It is connected with becoming "in the Spirit," and that is defined as having "the Spirit of God dwell in you." To be "in the Spirit" is to "have" or possess "the Spirit of Christ." How does one who is in the flesh become no longer such? To become "in the Spirit"? If it is not by faith, then we must conclude that unbelievers may have the Spirit and be in the Spirit. But, Paul always taught that both Christ and the Spirit were received by faith. It is when Christ enters into the believer that the believer's own "spirit" is quickened ("is life"). Wrote Paul to the Galatian believers:
"This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (3: 2)
If we receive the Spirit by faith (that comes by hearing the word - Rom. 10: 14-17), and it is the receiving of the Spirit that constitutes one as being "in Christ" and "in the Spirit," then regeneration is by faith.
Some of the born again before faith advocates will attempt to teach their view from the above words based upon what they perceive to be a logical deduction. If while being "in the flesh" (unregenerate) the sinner exercises faith, it is argued, his faith could not be pleasing to God. Or, to state the argument another way, it is argued that one must be "in the Spirit" before he can believe. But, this is not logically deducible from the text. It certainly contradicts what he said in Galatians 3: 2 as we have seen.
What Paul is clearly saying is that it by "having the Spirit" by faith that one becomes "in the Spirit," and "in Christ," and so walks not after the flesh, and is in fact no longer "in the flesh." Those in the flesh "cannot please God." Yes, but the same thing is said about faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11: 6). It seems clear that these two things are linked together and are inseparable. Faith possesses Christ, possesses the Spirit, and thereby is no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit. As long as a man is an unbeliever, as long as he has not received Christ, he is in the flesh. The moment he embraces Christ he receives life and begins his moral and spiritual transformation.
Being spiritually dead or alive is essentially connected with being either "carnally minded," or "spiritually minded." The mind or understanding is involved in being spiritually alive or dead. The carnally minded are spiritually dead. The spiritually minded are spiritually alive. Those who are in the flesh, or spiritually dead, are carnally minded, and do not love and embrace the truth of God's word. Those who are in the Spirit, or spiritually alive, are spiritually minded, and love and embrace the truth. It is the believer who has a spiritual mind and the unbeliever who has a carnal mind. The carnal mind is at war with God, being anti God. The spiritual mind is the friend of God and his word. The carnal mind is the mind that does not believe God. The spiritual mind believes. The carnal mind of the one in the flesh is opposed to "the law (or word) of God." But, the spiritual mind is in agreement with the word of God.
So, how does the carnal mind become a spiritual mind? It is by believing the word of God. It is by being "in Christ," or by having union with Christ through faith.
In conclusion we simply say that there is nothing in this text to suggest that going from being "in the flesh" to being "in the Spirit" happens apart from faith.
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