The Thoughts of the Holy Spirit
[Romans 8:5-8]
Let us look at Romans 8:5-8: "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."
Here, the words "flesh" (appearing 5 times) and "Spirit" (appearing 3 times) are frequently mentioned. Let's reflect on verses 5 and 6. In Romans 8:5-6, it says, “Those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires... The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Here, “Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, "those who live according to the Spirit" means "those who follow the Holy Spirit," and "the thoughts of the Spirit" refers to "the thoughts of the Holy Spirit."
Let us consider three things: (1) What kind of people are those who follow the Holy Spirit? (2) What is the work of the Holy Spirit? (3) What are the thoughts of the Holy Spirit?
1. What kind of people are those who follow the Holy Spirit?
We can think of three things regarding those who follow the Holy Spirit:
(1) Those who follow the Holy Spirit were once people of the flesh.
People of the flesh refer to those who, before becoming followers of the Holy Spirit, lived under the influence of sin and death. As Romans 5:12 says, sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned. Therefore, people who were under the power of sin and death, governed by the flesh, are those referred to here.
(2) Those who follow the Holy Spirit are people who have been crucified with Christ.
Look at Romans 6:6: "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." The "old self" refers to the person who was under the rule of sin and death, living according to the flesh (Romans 8:2). In other words, before we believed in Jesus, we were in the flesh, subject to the law of sin and death. But through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, our sinful body was put to death, and we are no longer slaves to sin. Rather, we are declared righteous and set free from sin (Romans 6:7), becoming servants of righteousness and being led into holiness (Romans 6:19).
Look at 2 Corinthians 5:14: "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." The "one" here refers to Jesus Christ. Since Jesus Christ died for us, our old self, the person governed by the flesh, has already died with Him on the cross. The death of Jesus Christ is a once-for-all death.
Look at Romans 6:10-11: "The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." And Hebrews 10:10: "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." There is no longer a need to offer repeated sin offerings or peace offerings.
(3) Those who follow the Holy Spirit are the ones who have been raised with Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at Romans 6:10-11: "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
We are alive to God.
Let’s look at Ephesians 2:1: "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
In short, those who follow the Holy Spirit are the ones who have been resurrected with Jesus Christ, born again, or regenerated.
Those who follow the Holy Spirit are those who walk according to the Holy Spirit.
Let’s look at Romans 8:4: "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."
We are the ones who walk according to the Holy Spirit.
Let’s look at Galatians 5:25: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." [(Modern Translation) “If we live by the Holy Spirit, we should practice His teachings.”]
If we live by the Holy Spirit, we must obey His words. We must put His teachings into practice.
What about us? Have we truly been crucified with Christ, dying to sin? Have we truly been resurrected with Christ? Have we truly been born again? Have we been regenerated? Have we become a new creation (a new person)? Are we truly following the Holy Spirit? Are we walking according to the Holy Spirit? Or are we still following the flesh?
Secondly, what is the work of the Holy Spirit? In other words, what does the Holy Spirit do?
The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at John 15:26: "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."
The Father God and the Son Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit came as a result. At the same time, the Holy Spirit came willingly and joyfully on His own.
Let’s look at John 16:8: "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
The Holy Spirit comes and testifies about Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit regenerates us, leads us to repentance, makes us believe in Jesus Christ, empowers us to fight the good fight, brings about our salvation, sanctifies us, and enables us to become more like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit gives us gifts, leads and builds us up, and as He sent Barnabas and Paul from the church in Antioch to spread the gospel, He also raises and sends us to widely spread the gospel.
Let’s look at John 14:12: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father."
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would do the works that He did, and even greater works.
Let’s look at Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
When Jesus was on earth, He preached the gospel only in a limited area, but the Holy Spirit, through people like Paul, extended the gospel to even broader regions.
Even today, the Holy Spirit is using many missionaries to spread the gospel throughout the world. Even during this time of the coronavirus pandemic, the Holy Spirit is allowing the gospel to be spread through the internet. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit, receive His power, and become witnesses of Jesus. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we must boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ with the faith of martyrs, even in the midst of difficulties, adversity, obstacles, and persecution. In this way, the Holy Spirit is doing great things (John 14:12).
Look at Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Finally, thirdly, what are the thoughts of the Holy Spirit?
The thoughts of the Holy Spirit are "life and peace."
Look at Romans 5:6: "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
What is "life" here? The Holy Spirit is the God of life. The Holy Spirit is the God who creates life. The Holy Spirit is the God who gives us life (Romans 8:2).
"Life" has three aspects:
(1) Life is sweet communion with God. Before Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he had sweet communion with God. This was life. However, when he disobeyed God's command and sinned, that communion was broken, and that was death.
(2) Life is having God's sufficient love in our hearts.
(3) Life is having God's fullness of joy. It is the joy of expecting and rejoicing in God's glory (Romans 5:2). This is life. We live in the world of glory, and it is life (eternal life) to rejoice in looking forward to it.
Then, what is "peace" (Romans 8:2)?
It is peace with God (or reconciliation with God).
Look at Romans 5:1: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." [(Modern Translation) "Therefore, having been recognized as justified by faith, we have been reconciled with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."]
If we are reconciled with God, we will have peace in our hearts. If we don't have peace (inner peace) in our hearts, it means that we are not enjoying peace with God. The reason we complain and grumble in dissatisfaction is because we are not reconciled with God.
The peace that Jesus gives us is a peace that the world cannot take away.
Look at John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Jesus came to give us peace in this world, where peace is lacking, and He enjoyed that peace. We too must enjoy the peace that Jesus gives, not because our circumstances are good, we are healthy, or everything is going well, but even in the midst of difficulties.
Although in this world there may be troubles, hardships, sinful deeds, and death, because of the peace that Jesus gives, we can enjoy peace in our hearts (New Hymnal, hymn 486: "There are many troubled things in this world").
We can sing "Wherever I am, my heart is always at peace, the peace that Jesus gave me fills my heart. My heart is always at peace, my heart is always at peace, though there are many waves of evil sin, my heart is always at peace" (New Hymnal, hymn 408: "Wherever I am") because of the peace that Jesus gives us. This is the peace that Christ gives us. We must first be at peace with God, enjoying peace in our hearts, and then we must also live in peace with our neighbors. I pray that we all become apostles of peace and fulfill the ministry of peace well.