If You Live According to the Flesh, You Will Die–Romans 8:13-14
“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” –Romans 8:13-14.
When ‘death’ is mentioned throughout Scripture, it is at times referring to a physical death. But it could also be referring to a spiritual death – or, becoming “lost” by ways of the world. The flesh (worldly desires, i.e. money, fame, power, career, relationships, false idols, etc) or our desired sin, takes first priority in our life and God ends up taking second (or, tragically, isn’t a priority at all). Paul describes living “according to the flesh” as living a life outside of Christ and His Commands; outside of His protection and provision here on earth, and thus, outside of His saving grace (eternal salvation). Paul further clarifies this deep (yet profoundly and gravely important) theological statement as: those who choose to live without Christ cannot, for obvious reasons, please God and thus will not only suffer a spiritual death (forgoing the abundant life Christ died to give us) but also risk obtaining eternal life in Heaven.
More than anything else, God wants a relationship with every one of us. He wants a deep, intimate relationship that is so carefully and lovingly nurtured that, over time, we become more and more like Christ – growing in Holiness and securing not only our own salvation, but helping others secure theirs as well.
This is an eye-opening, yet beautiful, verse. When we are walking with Christ, through the mercy and power of the Spirit, our entire world changes. We will experience Heaven on earth as well as secure our eternal destination with God for all time. And nothing (absolutely nothing!) is more important or more time sensitive than that.
“Draw near to God, and [then] He will draw near to you” –James 4:8.
[Read and meditate on this verse today. Think about what it means to walk in the ways of Christ, to live by His Commands, and to the glorious future you have in Heaven. How does this speak to you? Let us know in the comment section below.]
As a new Christian, almost 2 years, I make a mistake before understanding parts of the Bible. This is one of those. The other verse that hit me like a brick wall (in the same situation) is not being equally yoked. I understand these verses now and they’re as simple as counting from 1-10 in the understanding I currently have. I pray that it was God’s plan to teach me in this way and not my own stubbornness.
Hi ,
(Romans 8:13) says : ‘For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.’
The verse is nicely
propounded in this article.
This is one way of explanation.
Living after the flesh, is known as ‘self-idolatry.’This is seen in (Colossians 3: 5) :’Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence & covetousness, which is idolatry. ‘
ln self-idolatry, we place our above mentioned desires,own achieve ments, or opinions above God’s will ;satisfying the flesh.(Colossians 2: 23).
When the works of the flesh are: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunken ness & revellings
(Galatians 5 :19-20 )
Self-idolatry is also seen through other ways. The following verses state it_:
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1) “Loving the world.
(1 John 2:16) states :For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,& the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.’
2) Loving our own life, being lovers of self. (John 12 : 25)And, going according to our own way, (2 Timothy 3 : 2)
(Luke 9:23) states :“Jesus said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up
your own way, take up your cross daily & follow me.’”
(2 Timothy 3:2) states :“ People will love only them selves & their money. They will be boastful & proud, scoffing at God, disobedient
to their parents & ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.”
3) Resting upon our own wisdom & not God’s.Being wise in our own eyes . (Proverbs 3 : 7)
(Romans 1 : 22) states :’Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. ‘
(Galatians 6:3) states :“ lf a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
4) Keeping pride & self-exaltation ; seeking personal glory instead of God’s glory. Trusting ourselves instead of God. And, Thinking our
selves to be something, when we are nothing. (Gal. 6 : 3)
(Proverbs 3:5-6) States :“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
(Matthew 23:12) states :’ Whoso ever shall exalt himself shall be abased.’
For example, the Scribes & Pharisees were condemned
of this idolatry. ( Matt. 23 : 2-12.)
(Pro. 16:18) states :“Pride goes before destruction, & haughtiness before a fall.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31)states :“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
5) Trusting others.
(Psalm 118:8) states :“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.”
(Isaiah 2:22) states :“Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”
6) Seeking approval from
others instead of God.
(Matthew 6:1) states :“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you
will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”
(John 12:43) states :“For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”
7) Working for people & through strife or vainglory. (Philippians 2:3).
Maintaining a double standard; considering some things acceptable for you but not for others. (Pro. 20:10)
(Colossians 3:23) states :“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
8) Seeking to please men
(1 Thessalonians 2:4) says :“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”
(Galatians 1:10 ) States :“ If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
9) Loving money.
(Matthew 6:24) says :“ You cannot serve God & be enslaved to money.
(James 4:13) states :’Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, continue there a
year buy & sell & get gain.’
(1 Timothy 6:10) States :“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. & some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith & pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
10) Women adorning themselves of plaiting the hair, wearing of gold, (1 Peter 3 : 3) & in modest apparel.
( 1 Timothy 2 : 9)
11) Feeding the flock of God
for filthy lucre. (1 Pet. 5 : 2)
12) Following pernicious
ways of false teachers &
false prophets. (2 Peter 2 : 2).
Elders can do the same
(Acts 20 : 30)
Hi ,
(Romans 8:13 )states ,’ lf 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.’
The other consistent verses state _:
(Galatians 6:8),’ The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.’
(John 3:6 ) :’That which is born of the flesh is flesh, & that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’
(Rom.7:23 ):’ I see in my members another law waging war against the
law of my mind & making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members’.
This is one way of explanation, with the verses about, what is sowing to own flesh, which are deeds of the body, & the way to overcome it _:
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A) We are sinners from birth :
(Lamentations 5:7) says’ Our fathers sinned & are no more;It is we who have borne their iniquities.’
( Romans 7 :25) says, ‘ So with the mind I serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.’
The above verse denotes that Soul & flesh are different.(see the diagram).Soul consists of mind, &
the heart & flesh consists of brain & nerves. Yet they are interdependent to each other.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3e1dqWedyeZXiMeVA
The brain consists of :Understand ing, wisdom, knowledge,experience etc.
(Romans 8 :10) says,’ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.’
The meaning of the above verse is : ln the born again man the body remains dead, because of sin. It
has no salvation. lt goes to soil after physical death.
B) Which are the works i.e deeds of the body?
Answer _:
(Gal.5 :19-21) states, ‘The works of the flesh are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits
of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies ‘.
C) The meaning of sowing to own flesh is _:
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1) Setting the mind on the things of the flesh. (Romans 8:5)
2) Living in the passions of the flesh, carrying out the desires of the body & the mind. (Ephe. 2:3)
3) Living in sensuality,drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties & lawless idolatry.(1 Peter 4:3)
4) Craving all day long. (Pro. 21:26)
5) Having no self-control
(Proverbs 25:28 )
6)(1Corinth.3:3) states :’For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy & strife among you, are you not of the flesh & behaving only in a human way?’
The example – :
(Luke 16:25) states :’ Abraham said to the rich man ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things & Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here & you are in anguish.’
7) Entering into temptation,
(Matthew 26:41) The person is lured & enticed by his own desire.
(James 1:14 )
8) Thinking about the treasure. (Matthew 6:21 ) The person has the
love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evils. (1 Timothy 6:10 )
9) Praying like hypocrites. ( Matthew. 6: 5)
10) Doing adultery. (Matt. 5:28 )
D) How to overcome the desires of the flesh_:
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! ) ‘Set the mind on things that are above, (Colossians 3:2 ) )
!! ) ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world.’ (1 John 2:15 )
!!! )’ Use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh’.( Galatians 5 : 13 )
!v) Abstain from the passions of the flesh. (1 Peter 2:11)
v)’ Put to death what is in you: sexual immorality, impurity,passion, evil desire, & covetousness, which is idolatry.’ (Colossians 3:5) ‘These things must not even be named among you.'(Ephesians 5:3 )
.
v! ) Do not fight & quarrel.
(James 4:2 )
v!! ) Put off old self.(Ephe.4:22 )
v!!! ) Suffer in the flesh. (1Peter 4:1) says:’ Whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.’
!x) Be sober-minded; be watchful. (1 Peter 5:8)
x)’ Lay apart all filthiness & super fluity of naughtiness, & receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save the soul.’
( James 1: 21)
x! ) Do not allow sin to reign in the mortal body, (Romans 6:12 ) Flee from youthful passions.:(2 Timothy 2:22) ‘Not fashioning according
to the former lusts, in ignorance: (1Peter1:14 )
lt is because,’ Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.’
(1Corinthians 6:18)
x!! ) ‘Become partakers of the divine nature.’ (2 Peter 1:4 )
x!!! ) lf we walk with The Spirit, we will not carry out the desire of the flesh.'(Galatians 5:16 )
(Romans 13:14) says:’ put on the Lord Jesus Christ, & make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.’
x!v) Live for the will of God.
(1 Peter 4:2 )
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Just as happiness is a choice, so is prioritizing one’s life. Turn off the noise! Stay close to your Heavenly Father in prayer and thanksgiving.
AMEN!