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The Law of Carnality

so I find the law when I will to do good, the bad is present in me - Romans 7:21


There are laws in the new covenant, they are not like the handwriting and written code of decrees and elemental principles like the old testament Mosaic law, but nonetheless, there are laws that apply to the Christian life. There is a law of faith that states we are justified by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3:27-28). We are under the law of Christ that states we are to bear and fulfill one another's burden (Galatians 6:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21). We are commanded to love thus we are the law of love, which is very important because our faith works through love, and without love, our faith is not true and will not lead us into maturity, sanctification (Romans 13:8,10; Galatians 5:6; Colossians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 13:2). Today, I don't mean to cover all these laws but just a few related to the feature verse, which I am calling the law of carnality. It is important for believers to understand.

for I delight in the law of God according to the inner man but I see some other law in my member waging war against the law of my mind also subjecting me in the law of sin existing in my member. Wretched man that I am, who will free me from this body of death! - Romans 7:22-24

We see laws in this verse. One is one can delight in the law of God in the inner man, but at the same time can not practice it outwardly.  Because the carnal can not delight in the spiritual laws, I associate "for I delight in the law of God according to the inner man" with the "law of the Spirit of life" expressed in (Romans 8:2-3). In other words, you must be renewed in the inner man God's Spirit, to delight in his laws. There is another law, the law of sin which we also see in Romans 8:2 which Paul calls the law of sin and death, and exists in our members. All men are under the "law of sin and death" existing in sinful nature, born into a sinful body having a carnal mind. Being birth of the Spirit is the only way we will receive the law of the Spirit of life and be set free from the law of sin and death. There are other laws like the law of the mind which is very important to understand also. 

For the desires of the flesh, against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are opposed to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law - Galatians 5:17-25

No good thing exists in the flesh, in its carnality, it is opposed to and has no power to subject to the laws of God. This is the law of carnality at its basis, it is against the law of the Spirit of life. One law brings death, the other life and peace. When we become believers we are born of the Spirit, thus we can delight inwardly in the law of God, but as Paul writes we see another law, it exists in a member of the body, and wages war against the law of our mind to bring us into captivity to the law of sin in the body. The mind of the new believer is still carnal. So to the new believer, now born of the Spirit (who can delight in the laws of God in the inner man because he is spiritual), but keeps doing the things he hates, there are laws that express why this is so.

for we know that the law is spiritual, now, I exist fleshly, a slave under sin. For I know that which I work out, practicing, for I do not practice what I will rather I do what I hate. Now, if I do what I do not want to do I agree with the law. Now, at the present, it is no longer I doing it rather sin living in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is good but the bad I do not want to do I do - Romans 7:14-20

The Mosaic Law was spiritual, holy, and good, but it was weak because of the flesh. "Because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God, not submitting to the law of God, for it has no power to" (Romans 8:7). The carnal, fleshly mind that we are born into can not submit to the laws of God, that was why the Mosaic Law was weak in producing obedience. How does God solve the issue? If the Law is spiritual and we are carnal? 

He puts His Spirit within us thus we can fulfill the spiritual laws of God. Being born of the Spirit is a very important aspect of the new covenant, "now, at present we are released from the Law, having died to that holding us captive so that we are devoted in newness of Spirit and not to the old written code" (Romans 7:6). 

We read this earlier if we are led by the Spirit we are not under the Mosaic Law. We will not rule or master the flesh and its desires under the Law but under grace. This was what Paul was addressing in the Church at Galatia, they were serving in the flesh, not the Spirit of life thus were not under its law, but had gone back to the old laws, severing themselves from Christ and falling from grace.

for you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading back to fear rather you received a Spirit of adoption in whom crying out Abba Father! The Spirit himself testifies of our spirit that we exist children of God and if children also heirs, heirs of God, now fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that also glorified with him - Romans 8:16-17

What does it mean that we "did not receive a spirit of slavery leading back to fear"? This is a reason Jesus became flesh, like the "children" to "free those who all their lives were held slaves to the fear of death" (Hebrews 2:14-15). The Mosaic Law was a ministry of fear, condemnation, and death. There is no condemnation in Christ for the Spirit of life frees us from the law of sin and death. But our salvation is not complete, we are not yet free of this body of death. 

The Spirit is one of adoption that testifies God is our father and we are his children (Romans 8:16). There are three that testify, John writes. The Spirit of life testifies that I am a child of God and there is no condemnation, no judgment, and eternal death for sin. As we have also the testimony of blood, Christ being an atonement for our sin. "Now, if Christ is in you, though the body is dead through sin, the Spirit is life through righteousness" (Romans 8:10). This is the dilemma, though Christ is in us we still exist in a body where these laws exist, that sin is in our flesh and evil is near. Though the law of the Spirit frees us from it, the law of carnality exists.

now, not only [creation, the earth....] but we also groan having the first-fruit of the Spirit, groaning inwardly as we eagerly await adoption, the redemption of our bodies - Romans 8:23 

If Christ is in us so is the Spirit and though the body is dead through sin and is dying we have received the Spirit of life that frees us from this law of sin and death. Paul adds through righteousness the Spirit is life, which is important to put emphasis on. Though His children are given the gift of righteousness along with abundant grace and life, there is a growth process in which they will overcome, growing up into maturity, into the "measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ," and be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:11). 

An important part of the Christian life is maturity into godliness. For if we are chosen then we are predestined for adoption as children and if predestined, we are called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1: 4-5). What is glorification? if not that we are being transformed from glory to glory into the image of Christ. This glorification is through transformation, the renewal of our minds so that it is no longer carnal but spiritual.

for if you live according to the flesh you will certainly die, now, if the Spirit puts to death the deeds of the body, you live. For those led by the Spirit of God exists the sons of God... - Romans 8:13-14

How does the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh? if not through renewal of the mind? Though there is a law of carnality, the Spirit and truth bring about transformation by the renewing of the mind. This will bring about a spiritual mind that can regulate, control outward behavior. "Be renewed in the spirit of your minds" Paul says. The carnal mind must be renewed to be aligned with the inner being that is of the Spirit, without this happening we will not approve of the things of God. Therefore we can not submit to the laws of God, and will not find his will perfect, pleasing and acceptable. 

Though the Spirit resides in a new believer the mind is still carnal given over easily to the lusts of the flesh. The law of carnality basically says that when we want to do good, when we delight inwardly in the laws of God, instead we do bad because our minds are not renewed. What takes place first is the birth of the Spirit, the law of the Spirit of life testifies we are children of God. If we have this testimony, we are called to holiness and to fight the good fight of faith. We are called to overcome the war that wages against the law of our mind so that we are not brought into captivity to sin in the body. Thus we are led by the Spirit, into our reasonable service and acceptable sacrifice to God, unto holiness, in which we present the body a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). There is no better service nor sacrifice to give glory to a holy, loving God that is jealous of his own people.

the mind of the flesh, death, the mind of the Spirit, life and peace, on account of the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, not able to be influenced, not submissive to the law of God for it has no power to - Roman 8:6-7

The word mind here is φρόνημα (phronēma) which speaks of the inner perspective as it determines outward behavior. In other words, the mind is important in regulating outward behavior. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). It will be God granting us the power of the Spirit in our inner being, Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith, rooted and grounded in love so that we will have the proper foundation and will not fall away when the storms of life come. 

now, be renewed of the spirit of your mind. - Ephesians 4:23

God gave man up to an unapproved mind, ἀδόκιμος (adokimos) and transformation will bring about a renewal in which the mind approves, δοκιμάζω (dokimazō), of the will of God (Romans 1:28-29; Romans 12:2). The mind is important in regulating and governing outward behavior. First, one must be under the law of the Spirit of life, otherwise, the mind will just be conformed to the world or false religion. Understanding the law of carnality and how our minds must be renewed in order to approve and practice the truth, in order to do God's will, is freeing. The Spirit bears witness we are children, and fellow heirs "provided we suffer with him so that also glorified" (Romans 8:16-18). The scriptures say one way God renews the mind is through suffering. Because the proving δοκίμιον (dokimion) works out endurance and its intended work is maturity, wholeness, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). Peter writes the proving, δοκιμάζω (dokimazō), is by fire so that we are found to be to the praise and glory and honor in the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). Nothing glorifies God more than becoming like him, this is what we were predestined for, to be conformed to the image of His Son. The proving of our faith renews our mind to be the mind of Christ, spiritual. Thus as the old man is put away in its carnality, we are freed from its law, and the weakness of the sinful nature, and find the ability to practice outwardly what we delight in inwardly. Glory and honor and praise for this will be in the revelation of Jesus Christ as we grow into maturity through the knowledge of him, his words abiding in us. 

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