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.

The preceding verse reads, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

The Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul once again repeats and categorically emphasizes the basic contradictions: to be carnally minded and to be spiritually minded. We need to be aware that our mind reflects our life. If we live according to the flesh, we set our minds on the things of the flesh. And if we live according to the Spirit, we set our minds on the things of the Spirit.

What does it mean to live according to the flesh? It means to ignore God in our personal life and to occupy our minds with mere material interests, with no respect for God’s commandments, without seeking God’s truth, giving no thought to God’s judgment or eternity.

“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.”

Verses 5-6 are a continuation of the preceding verses and explain again that those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh and those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Next it is said that to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. This concerns both time and eternity. The fruit of the former is death and the fruit of the latter is not only temporal but also eternal life.

We need to realize again that setting our minds on the things of the Spirit and living according to the Spirit is connected with the law of the Spirit. And the law of the Spirit is essentially connected with Jesus, it is in Him. Those who are in Christ are spiritually rather than carnally minded – that means, they do not set their minds on themselves but on Jesus.

“…that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us

who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Verse 4 of the Epistle to the Romans says that the condition for the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in us is that we should not live according to the flesh, i.e. according to the law of sin which is in us but according to the Spirit of God. This chapter eight often repeats the Greek word “sarkos”, which is translated as ‘flesh’. In this sense, it means the lower physical aspect of the human being. It is exposed to a very strong influence of the law of sin and negative lusts that enslave man. The Greek word “soma” is used for ‘body’, which also includes the mental aspect. On the other hand, the related verses speak about the Spirit, meaning the Holy Spirit. Verse 16 says that deep within us, in our soul, is our human spirit, and it is written: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Taking note of the previous three verses, verse 1 emphasizes that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Again, it is emphasized that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.

This verse of Scripture is a continuation of the preceding one which says that the law of the Spirit has made me (you) free from the law of sin and death. Verse 3 speaks about the law, which means the Law of Moses, i.e. the Law of God, which contains certain ordinances which are good and true, but the law does not give us the strength to wholly obey them. The law, as Scripture says, above all convicts us of sin. That is why God sent His Son to die for us. He took human flesh, in other words came in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin, to overcome sin, this spiritual poison, in His flesh.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows … and by His stripes we are healed. … All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. … He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (cf. Isa 53:4-12) This was foretold by the prophet Isaiah several centuries before the coming of Jesus – the Saviour.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

These Scripture verses from the Epistle to the Romans are a continuation of the preceding verses where the Apostle cries out: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” In chapter eight we read that those are free who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the law of sin and death. The process of our deliverance in every new situation is accomplished again and again only in Christ Jesus.

The law of sin is a machine against which we are powerless relying on our human efforts. The law of the Spirit of life works in those who “walk according to the Spirit of God rather than according to the flesh” (Rom 8:1).

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God (for doing so) through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

At the end of chapter seven, the Apostle cries out: “O wretched man that I am!” He says it in the light of God, aware of the law of sin which is at work in us as well as of human powerlessness when we want to do good by our own efforts. Saying this, the Apostle also asks: “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” And he gives the answer at once: “Thanks be to God (for doing so) through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” cried the Apostle Paul. There is nothing more musical in the ears of the Lord. This cry is the most spiritual cry a man can utter.

“For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

In verse 20, we read: “Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” It speaks about original sin, or the “old self”, which is in every one of us. The old self manipulates us and causes us to become slaves. It is a sad inheritance from our first parents. This spiritual poison, the devil’s seed, is programmed to keep us independent of God. From God’s Word we learn that its strength lies in the law of sin. Verse 23 says: “But I see another law in my members … bringing me into captivity to the law of sin…”

The verses also speak about the law of our mind, i.e. about conscience – God’s voice in us. This law is at war with the law of sin. When a certain phenomenon occurs repeatedly, we can speak about a law. Thus, sin becomes an enslaving force. This is the objective reality in all people whether they are aware of it or not, or do not want to be aware of it. The verses reveal an inward fight between the higher and the lower – the spiritual and the natural.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practise. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

The Word of God indicates that evil dwells in me. This evil overcomes the good that I will to do and manipulates me into doing the evil that I will not to do. Evil is the fruit of original sin, spiritual poison, which caused disharmony and death. It works in us, and if we yield to evil it will prepare the worst for us – eternal death. It is a kind of injustice, violence, manipulation and slavery, although we refuse to admit it. We can see that the fruits of this evil are all crimes, murders, perversions, wars and genocides of nations. Evil and sin in us is really a mystery which we cannot fully understand by reason and only the light of God can reveal to us this mystery of iniquity. Our task, however, is not to meddle with sin but rather to avoid it! The most important thing is to know what to do with it – this is true wisdom. We need to bring our sins into God’s light to the foot of the cross. And concerning the root of evil, or the old self, it was crucified with Christ. This truth must be actualized by faith ever anew. Verse 24 says: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Deliverance is in Christ Jesus! It only remains for us to give thanks to God.

Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

In chapter three of the Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle says that all are guilty before God. The Apostle asks: “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because they have been entrusted with the very words of God.” In verse 9, he asks: “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practised deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.’” And these verses are followed by verses 14-19, which we are going to remember during the following two weeks. “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

«Now he who keeps His commandments

This Word of life also emphasizes the keeping of God’s commandments. He who keeps them abides in God, and God in him. Jesus emphasized this truth when He said: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” On the evening before His death, Jesus said: “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (Jn 14:20-21)

It is said that whatever we ask we receive. And the reason: because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

In the previous verses, starting from verse 18, the Apostle John points out the importance of a sincere heart before God. He writes: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.”

This word of life emphasizes that we receive whatever we ask. The condition for our prayers to be heard is to keep His commandments and to do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

The Apostle Paul speaks about freedom. However, liberal theologians and various spiritual know-alls or religious frauds abuse freedom for iniquity. The Apostle warns us not to use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, for our egoism, but to serve one another through love.

Then the Apostle says that the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Let us bear it in mind and put it into practice. To love my neighbour means to sacrifice myself for him, to desire his salvation, to try to communicate to him the divine truth of salvation, and to lead him to conversion and to the receiving of the Holy Spirit, so that he may live and walk in the Holy Spirit just as I try to do so – this is true love.

The previous Word of life, which we repeated for two weeks and let it work on us, was quite clear to us: The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. We can see it in our everyday life, and therefore we understand this word of God. The last sentence, however, is a little unclear: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Everyone can understand it differently. To be led by the Spirit means to walk in the obedience of faith like the Blessed Virgin or like Abraham our father who is set as an example to us. Those who are led by the Spirit of God will not act against the law; on the contrary, they will keep the law.

In the Epistle to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul explains one more question concerning the law which is a bit unfamiliar to us. It is the question of circumcision and observance of the laws of Moses on various forms of purification with emphasis on ritualism, which eventually de facto quenched the Spirit. That was why the Apostle Paul had a perfectly free attitude towards this sphere of the law.

In chapter seven of the Epistle to the Romans, which we reflected on in the previous weeks, it is emphasized several times that we want to do good but we automatically do evil. It is said here that it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. The Epistle to the Galatians develops this truth in depth. It clearly points out that sin works especially through the lusts of the flesh to enslave man. It is impurity, alcoholism, drug addiction, gluttony…

The lusts of the flesh are aroused, literally whipped up, by the system of the world through mass media, decadent music, impure images, advertisements and the culture of consumerism. Resistance to it is an act of extraordinary heroism and requires extraordinary strength. That is why we pray, receive the sacraments, humble ourselves, repent and admit our sins daily. We thus obtain not only the strength but also the grace to overcome our weakness as well as the system of the world and the spirit of evil which influence us.

«If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.»

During our previous prayer stops we let God’s word from the Epistle to the Romans, chapter 7, work on us which speaks about the law of God and also about another law, the law of sin. The law of God is holy; we do respect it and yet we break it. What is the solution? There is only one solution – repentance. What does repentance consist in? In admitting my sin. The First Epistle to the Corinthians says that if we judge ourselves, we will not be judged. However, with this judgment, this true self-criticism, we cannot stop halfway. Judas judged himself but ended up committing suicide in despair. True judgment of myself must be connected with the faith that Jesus Christ paid for my sins. So I give my sins to Him and have them covered under His blood. Then it is true: “If we walk in the light, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

The Apostle Paul points out that if I will not to do evil which I do, I agree with the law that it is good. Then he speaks about the root of evil in me which affects my feelings, mind and will, and he says that this root of evil is original sin in me. The Apostle next develops this truth about sin in us: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practise. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.”