Mind in Bondage, Have One?

Book of Romans
April 23, 2017
Key Text: Romans 8:5-8

Every day we as individuals always have thoughts in our minds. Thought is defined as
an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring suddenly in the mind. Our mind is
one of the most amazing and mysterious thing that was created by God. Technology
nowadays tries to produce the so called “Artificial Intelligence” but even with this “Age of
Information” the Artificial Intelligence still cannot outmatch the “Human Mind”.
Are we aware that how we use our “Mind” is a vital key for our Metamorphosis? We as
Christians should always mind what is going in our minds. Our minds is the area
wherein the devil tries to penetrate first (remember Cain). We could not just be
complacent with our minds not because we have known the Lord Jesus Christ does not
mean that Satan will just let us without a fight!
We as Christians should already be having a “Sound Mind” but still there are times that
we weren’t able to have such. What is dangerous is we are in assumption that we have
a “Sound Mind”. If we don’t know what kind of Mind we have, I pray and hope as we
study the truth, we ourselves will have the understanding what mind do we have. (Title)

The Epistle of Romans:

The writer of the epistle was Paul. The church in Rome was not founded by Paul
himself. He desired to visit Rome so in preparation of his visit he wrote Romans. A letter
that is composed of the profound truths on Christian Doctrine. The manner of the writing
was very ordinal, starting from us being sinners and ending on practical teachings on
how we can continuously live a life the way Christ wills us to live it. Paul in a portion of
this letter gave us the description on what a “Mind in Bondage” is.
Key Text:

Romans 8:5-8
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.
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject
to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh
cannot please God.
1.) Corrupted Setting

Romans 8:5
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.

Paul clearly states that a mind in bondage do not care of the things of God.
Its thoughts are always interested/focused/set in/on/upon the worldly
things.

How can we determine if one has a corrupted mindset? The answer is simple
we will see it in how he lives as stated in:

Gal 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit
the kingdom of God.

Debauchery - extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially

sexual pleasures
Dissension - disagreement that leads to discord
Factions - societal divisions
Orgies - something that is done too much and in a wild way

Let us always set our minds on things above. We ourselves are the one who
is responsible for the thoughts that we entertain, one is to make sure that
he/she is setting only God Will Thoughts in his/her mind.

Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he . “Eat and drink!” he says to
you, but his heart is not with you.

Gal 6:8
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who
sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

A wrong mind setting is very dangerous because whatever the mind

sets itself on is what the man walks after!
2.) Condemning Thoughts

Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.

The state of a mind in bondage is like a person who is in Comatose. He/she is

unconscious and unresponsive.

In this description, Paul is referring to persons who are unable to grasp the
difference between Godly and Ungodly.

1 Cor 2:14
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for
they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.

Others were already been enlightened by the Word yet in order for them to do
as they please, they interchange the Godly from the Ungodly. These kind of
people are far worse than those who can’t really understand.

2 Pe 2:20-21
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in
them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the
beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered to them.

When a Christian is in a situation wherein his Faith will be tested, Paul is not
on assumption but on expectation that a Christian will respond the way Christ
responds “WWJD What would Jesus Do?”.

1 Cor 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is
from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to
us by God.

As people who have been enlightened by the Truth, let our minds not be
dead but be ALERT and SOUND for us to know what is the will of the
Lord.
3.) Contentious towards God

Romans 8:7 (NKJV)

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to
the law of God, nor indeed can be.

(NIV)
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to
God’s law, nor can it do so.

A mind in bondage is always against/contrary to Gods’ Will. It will always find

a way to contend, counter, interchange, and twist the Truth. For this kind of
mind, all that God tells are foolishness. He/she has a “The Do It My Way”
thinking. A mind who thinks that he/she is greater than God!

Sennacherib, Assyrian King, Because of his mockery against God, died

with the hands of his own.

2 Chronicles 32:14
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly
destroyed that could deliver his people from my hand, that your God should
be able to deliver you from my hand?

The best sample of people who did have this mind were the Pharisees &
Sadducees. These 2 groups especially the Pharisees were always have a
conflict on what Christ says.

Luke 6:46
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I
say?

Paul in his writing to Timothy, gave his child a warning that until the very end,
there will be the likes, who will continually opposed God in order to satisfy
their own earthly desires.

2 Timothy 4:2-3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but
according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap
up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from
the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
 "For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will
rise up against him when he resists and strives against God." - John Calvin
4.) Cannot Please God

Romans 8:8
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

People who have this mind are totally separated from God. They are the
masters of their own life and God despises the proud. And God is clear of the
reason why these people cannot please him.

A.) Blinded by Satan

2 Cor 4:3-4
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine on them.

B.) God is Offensive

Romans 1:21
Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor
were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts
were darkened.

These people hate God for the reasoning that “It is God who can’t understand
me”. People who wanted to live their lives on the thought of “I am the god my
life. No one other than me can decide for it”. They thought that with that way
they can “Live life to the fullest” but in the sad truth is that they “Live
life foolish”.

Conclusion:

We as Christians should have already a “Sound Mind”. A mind that

works under the and together with Holy Spirit. A mind that sets
itself on pleasing and obeying God.

Colossians 3:2
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Question: Are you “in control of” or “controlled by” your
mind.