THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 6 of 30 ‘For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die" (v 13). Other versions read, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die" (NKJV), ‘for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die" (NASB), "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die" (NIV). – Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
And what will be the result of living "according to the flesh?" Right here – at this precise point – the faith of all professed believers is put to the test. God will not debate with us on this subject, nor, indeed, will He allow for disagreement among ourselves about it. The sentence is unequivocal. Not even the linguists, with all of their etymological expertise, have been able to deny the affirmation or neutralize its power. "YOU WILL DIE!" As affirmed in the previous devotion, this means that death is imminent, or that one is on the verge of dying at any moment.
Throughout history, and in this present day, there are countless voices who, in either conduct or doctrine, deny this statement. Some say it is impossible for a person in Christ to ever walk after the flesh even though this word is addressed to "the beloved of God, called to be saints" (Rom 1:7). Others say if a believer reverts to the flesh, God will awaken him and bring him back, even though our text admits to no such nonsense. Those who espouse the "once saved always saved" absurdity acknowledge believers can again walk after the flesh, but emphatically deny that it will have any effect upon their eternal destiny.
The Holy Spirit says if those in Christ, who are not presently condemned (8:1), walk after the flesh they will "die." He does not say they will be revived, but that they will "die." He does not say they will recover, but that they will "die." This cannot refer to those who are NOT in Christ, for they are already "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). Those who do not believe on the Son are "condemned already" (John 3:18), and ‘the wrath of God abideth on" them (John 3:36).
Still others who deny all of the above doctrines live as though they did believe them. They starve their souls, give in to the flesh, and allow their human nature to dictate the whole of their lives. Just as surely as Satan said to Eve, "Thou shalt NOT surely die," so the Tempter has deceived these poor souls into believing they will not die. However, he lied to Eve, and he has also lied to them.
We have a God-ordained example in Scripture that confirms the truth of our text. It is found in Israel when they were delivered from Egypt. After four hundred and thirty years, this nation was delivered from Egypt with a "high hand." God brought the people out – every single one – and not enough a "hoof" was left behind (Ex 10:26). When pursued by Pharaoh and his armies, the people walked through the Red Sea on dry land. The Spirit declares, "By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned" (Heb 11:28). The deliverance of the people was real. Nothing about it was spurious, feigned, or fabricated. They all ate miraculous food, and drank miraculous water (1 Cor 10:3-4). Yet, with many of these people "God was not well pleased." They "lusted after evil things," committed idolatry and fornication, tempted God, and murmured (1 Cor 10:6-10). They did not enter into the promised land, even though they were delivered from Egypt in order to enter into Canaan (Ex 6:4). Hebrews 3:18 declares they did not enter because of "unbelief." But they are said to have believed when they passed through the Red Sea! What happened? They lived after the flesh, and thus they "overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Cor 10:5). The truth of our text has been lived out in intentional history. There is no valid reason for any believer failing to see it.
The moment our ears are tuned to the flesh, death begins its work in us. Our hearts begin to be insensitive to God. Our eyes no longer see His glory. Our hearts are no longer nourished by His word. Like "the sorrow of this world," which is a facet of walking in the flesh, a life lived in deference to the lower nature "worketh (or produces NKJV) death" (2 Cor 7:10).
Make no mistake about this. If we do not reject the demands of the flesh, it will dominate us! No person, regardless of the level of discipline attained, can prevent this from happening. The wrath of God is emphatically pronounced against all who do not live for Him. "You will die!" In this saying, the Spirit has confirmed what was stated in verse six: "to be carnally minded IS DEATH." It does not lead to death, it IS death!
Those who walk after the flesh have no place before God, and therefore no place among His people. While institutionalism allows for their exaltation, God does not. It is in the church's best interest to refuse to promote those consigned to death to places of leadership and those living after the flesh ARE consigned to death. They must either be removed from that category, or there is no hope of them being forever with the Lord.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to never lose my awareness of the danger of living after the flesh.