Being 'after the flesh' means living under the control of old Adam, while being 'after the Spirit' means minding the things of the Holy Spirit.
In Romans 8, Paul describes two kinds of people: those who mind the things of the flesh and those who mind the things of the Spirit. The carnal mind is death and enmity against God, while the spiritually minded have life and peace. Les Feldick teaches that the flesh refers to old Adam and that being after the Spirit belongs to those who are genuinely saved.
Romans 8:5 — This verse directly contrasts those after the flesh with those after the Spirit and what each group minds.
Romans 8:6 — It states the outcome of each mindset: death for the carnally minded, life and peace for the spiritually minded.
Romans 8:7 — It reveals that the carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot be subject to His law.
Romans 8:13-14 — It shows that living after the flesh leads to death, while through the Spirit mortifying the deeds of the body leads to life.
Romans 8:5-8 draws a clear contrast between two groups: those who are after the flesh and those who are after the Spirit. Those who are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh, while those who are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. The carnal mind is enmity against God, is not subject to the law of God, and cannot be. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:13-14 adds that if a person lives after the flesh, he shall die; but if through the Spirit he mortifies the deeds of the body, he shall live. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.
Les Feldick teaches that in Romans 8, the word 'flesh' refers to old Adam and the old Adamic nature [Clip 1][Clip 5]. Those who are after the flesh are the lost individual: in spiritual darkness, blinded by the God of this world, and concerned only with fleshly appetites and materialism [Clip 2]. Those after the Spirit are the saved individual: the Holy Spirit has come into the picture and made them pay attention to God, and they begin to mind the things of the Spirit rather than the things of the world and old Adam [Clip 2][Clip 3][Clip 4]. When genuine salvation takes place, there is a change in desires and a hunger for the Word [Clip 3]. Les also distinguishes a carnal believer, who is saved but not Spirit-filled or Spirit-directed, with priorities still more in the flesh than in the Spirit [Clip 3]. Walking after the Spirit means walking according to our position in Christ so that we do not give in to the demands of old Adam [Clip 6]. Living after the flesh results in spiritual death, but through the Spirit putting to death the deeds of the body results in life [Clip 7].
According to Les Feldick, the flesh in Romans 8 is old Adam and the old sin nature [Clip 1][Clip 5]. Those after the flesh are lost people in spiritual darkness, blinded by the God of this world, with no concept of the Spirit and no concern beyond fleshly appetites and materialism [Clip 2]. Scripture says the carnal mind is death, is enmity against God, and cannot be subject to the law of God [Clip 4].
Those after the Spirit are the saved, genuine believers. The Holy Spirit is capitalized because He has come into the picture and made them pay attention to God [Clip 4]. They begin to mind the things of the Spirit rather than the things of the world and old Adam, and they have life and peace [Clip 2][Clip 3]. Through the Spirit they mortify the deeds of the body and live [Clip 7].
Yes. Les Feldick points out that Paul speaks of a carnal Christian: a believer who is in the body of Christ and saved, but who is not Spirit-filled or Spirit-directed. Such a person's priorities are mixed up, and he is still more in the flesh than in the Spirit [Clip 3]. Spiritually, however, to be carnally minded is death, and the carnal mind is enmity against God [Clip 4].
Christ in You — What Galatians 5 and Romans 8:10 Really Mean
and the books in various ways and various ministries. Sunday school teaching, prisons, and what have you. And we're just thankful to the Lord for that. All right, now we're going to get right into the book because after all, that's what this program is all about, is Bible study. I've always said I'm not a preacher. I'm a non-evangelist.
Flesh Means Old Adam
Les explains that 'flesh' in Romans 8 equals old Adam, and that those after the flesh mind the things of old Adam, contrasting the lost and the saved.
Lost Mind the Flesh; Saved Mind the Spirit
Les describes those after the flesh as lost, in darkness, blinded by the God of this world, and concerned only with fleshly appetites; those after the Spirit begin to mind the things of the Spirit.
Spiritual Appetite and the Carnal Believer
Les shows that genuine salvation changes a person's desires so they hunger for the Word and mind the things of the Spirit, and he defines a carnal believer as saved but not Spirit-directed.
Holy Spirit Makes Us Pay Attention
Les notes that the Holy Spirit is capitalized because He has come into the picture to make those after the Spirit pay attention to God, and the carnal mind is enmity against God.
Two Types of People
Les states that the word flesh refers to old Adam and that Romans 8:5 presents two types of people: those after the flesh and those after the Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit from Our Position
Les connects walking in the Spirit to our position in Christ: when we walk according to that position, we do not give in to the demands of old Adam.
Mortify the Deeds of the Body
Les explains that living after the flesh leads to spiritual death, while through the Spirit putting to death the deeds of the old body leads to life.
Romans 8:5: 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.
This is the foundational verse distinguishing the two groups and what each one focuses on.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
This verse gives the consequences of each mindset: death versus life and peace.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
This verse shows why the carnal mind is so serious: it is hostile to God and cannot obey His law.
Romans 8:8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
This verse confirms that those who are in the flesh have no ability to please God.
Romans 8:13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
This verse connects living after the flesh with spiritual death and Spirit-empowered mortification with life.
Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
This verse shows that those who are after the Spirit are identified as the sons of God.
Les Feldick teaches that the word 'flesh' in Romans 8 refers to old Adam, the old Adamic nature, or the old sin nature. Those who are after the flesh are living under the control of that sin-bent personality [Clip 1][Clip 5].
Yes. Les Feldick points out that Paul speaks of a carnal believer, one who is saved and in the body of Christ but not Spirit-filled or Spirit-directed, so his priorities are mixed up and he is still more in the flesh than in the Spirit [Clip 3].
Scripture says that to be carnally minded is death, and the carnal mind is enmity against God. If a person lives after the flesh, he shall die spiritually; but through the Spirit mortifying the deeds of the body, he shall live [Clip 7].
Watch the Teaching: Christ in You — What Galatians 5 and Romans 8:10 Really Mean