THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT
"FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH set their minds on the things of the flesh, BUT THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT, the things of the Spirit."
Romans 8:5 (NKJV)
Comment: Those who live submissively to God had the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus working or functioning in their lives (Romans 8:2). Total submission to God gives a place to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
The ideal spiritual living is to live according to the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). A believer who lives according to the Spirit pays more attention to the things of the Spirit and fulfils not the will of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
How does a believer live according to the Spirit?
Basically, humans are triune Being. He is a spirit, has a soul, and lives in a body.
When someone is born-again (John 3:3-5), the person's human spirit is reborn or becomes a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
A believer who offered his or her body as a sacrifice to God, who is tranformed in his or her mind (Romans 12:1,2), and walks according to the dictates of their recreated human spirit is said to be living or walking according to the Spirit.
How? The Holy Spirit resides in the recreated human spirit; leads, directs, and influences the human spirit (John 14:16,17,26; 16:13-15; Romans 8:14).
So the persons or believers who's mind and the flesh are submissive to the leadings from their recreated human spirit is said to be living or walking according to the Spirit. Such a believer is the one who pleases God.
Whilst a believer who is walking according to the flesh is the one who is being directed or led by the dictates of the flesh. The life of such a believer had little or no difference with that of the Unbelievers. You would hardly differentiate them from the Unbelievers except for their confession; when they tell you that they are born-again (Titus 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:5,7).
Now that we know the difference between the two; those who live according to the flesh and those who live according to the Spirit.
I. The peculiarities of those who live according to the flesh:
a. They set their minds on the things of the flesh (Romans 8:5). They are more inclined to the natural side of life.
b. They find It difficult to practice or live in line with God's Word (Romans 8:7). Their flesh is not mortified (Colossians 3:5) thus they do things like the Unbelievers and there is little or no difference between them and the people of the world (1 Peter 2:12).
If the descriptions in the A and B fit into your life; It means you are a believer who lives according to the flesh—a carnal believer (1 Corinthians 3:3).
Note: carnal mindedness is enmity with God and It leads to death (Romans 8:6,7).
II. Peculiarities of those who live according to the Spirit:
a. They set their minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5).
b. They worship God in spirit and had a good relationship and communion with God (John 4:23,24; Romans 8:15). In other words, their recreated human spirit fellowships with God and receives directions or leadings from God—they are led by the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:4). Thus, they live by the dictates of the Holy Spirit on the inside of them (Romans 8:9).
c. Their bodies are given life through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).
If your life fits into the descriptions from A to C; you are living according to the Spirit.
Note: such believers are inclined to the spiritual side of life—spiritually inclined. In other words, they are more sensitive and receptive to the messages or things being given or spoken to them through their recreated human spirit.
The category II is the category which God wants every believer to be. But any number of believers are found in the category I. The reason for this is not farfetched: many believers indulge their flesh and fail to work on the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:1,2).
It has been a while since you gave your life to Christ Jesus:
a. What are you doing about those character defects in your life?
b. Do you have a plan at all on how to move your spiritual life forward?
If your answers to the above two questions is No, take a step today and make amendments of your way.
Peace.