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No.6.
The Way of Responsibility.
pp. 211 - 216
In the last article reference was made to the adoption, or `placing as sons'. This we
suggested involved responsibility, and it is of this we wish to think more fully in the
current article.
We commenced this series of articles with the consideration of Rom. 12: 1, 2 which
includes the exhortation to be `transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that . . . . . will of God'. Hence, as we saw, the renewed mind is of the
utmost importance both in discovering and confirming the will of God as it is carried out.
Probably the mind plays a far greater part in discerning the will of God, and in the
Christian life in general, than we are wont to think.
Yet this is no easy way out of the problems which confront us concerning the
discernment and fulfillment of the will of God. Something of the problem is indicated in
Rom. 8: 5-8:
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after
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, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot
please God."
In this passage the noun and verb translated `mind' both have the significance of
`what one has in mind', `to regard, care for'. That is to say it is the content of the mind
which is in question. "They that are after the flesh . . . they that are after the spirit . . .".
The significance of the Greek kata translated `after' is that of `going along with'; they
that go along with the flesh are compared with those who go along with spirit, and here a
tragedy is revealed. It is quite possible for believers who have experienced regeneration
by the Holy Spirit to `go along with the flesh'. There are those of whom Paul speaks in
Phil. 3: 18, 19:
"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that
they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their
belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."
The content of their minds is `things on the earth'; they are those who, in the context
of the chapter, have `confidence in the flesh' (verse 3). They seek to live the Christian
life in the wisdom and strength of the flesh. "They are the enemies of the cross of
Christ"; "the carnal mind is enmity against God". The primary thought behind `enemy'
is something `hated, odious, adverse'. Small wonder that the Apostle speaks of such
`even weeping', for here are believers whose minds are filled with matters odious to God
and opposed to the cross of Christ. Their end is `utter loss': they have not been prepared
to `count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus', and if