The third lesson in our series "Understanding the Mind of God". This lesson is entitled "Righteousness the Manifestation of Faith"

1. The Mind of God (Part 3)
Righteousness through Separation
Rom. 8:3-9
3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in
the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 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. 6 For to
be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Introduction
We have been studying the mind of God.
During this series we have covered or will cover:
1. Our need of righteousness
2. Righteousness the manifestation of faith
3. Righteousness through separation
4. Righteousness from the heart
5. Applied righteousness
During our previous 2 lessons we talked about:
● Our need for righteousness.
● That our natural inclinations were a catalyst for God's wrath
● “In order to have the mind of God, we must first learn to mind the
things of God.”
● We need righteousness
● God's law reveals our unrighteousness and faith helps us change
● God's word (logos) means something said (including thought)
● That the mind of God is concealed and it is our honor to seek Him and
we do that through His word
This lesson will likely be the toughest (and longest of the five lessons), as it
deals with separation.
● Not moving into the mountains to be a hermit
● Separating good from evil, valuable from harmful, carnal from spiritual

2. Death
Rom. 6:1-6 “1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so
many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we
are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been
planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
We can only serve one master at a time. Jesus said we would “love one and
hate the other.” But we must be sure which one it is we are serving.
Therefore we die out to self
● Repentance
● Fasting
● Self-control
Rom. 6:12-16 “12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in
the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:
but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are
not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the
law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness?”
The choice is ours and it is a simple one.
● Reign = rule as king
● Obey = hear or subordinate yourselves
● Yield = stand beside, commend, show
Who is your king?
Phil. 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things.”
Where your attentions, your focus, desires; where your MIND is there is where
your heart will be.
Remember:
● mind (n) – intellectual or rational faculty, the power to conceive,
reason, and judge, then entire spiritual nature – the soul
● mind (v) – fix thoughts on, regard with attention, heed, obey, occupy
oneself
When you focus on the flesh and unrighteousness – sin has control over your,
but when you focus on God and His word you will be made righteous.
True Christianity is not about the “sloppy agape” any thing goes as long as it

3. doesn't hurt anyone attitude of this present age. Because according to v16 who
every you yield to (your flesh or God) is the one you stand beside as a slave
through obedience.
Servants of God
Rom. 6:18 tells us “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness.”
Only when we break of the shackles of this flesh, are we truly free. But when
we do we become servants of righteousness.
We are slaves, one way or another!
Rom. 6:20 “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.”
You have to ask yourself which master is better.
Rom. 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.”
Many people see holiness as a goal, but it isn't, it is a process.
The Gift of Righteousness
God has a gift (gratuity) that is eternal life through our messiah and master.
Rom 7:5-7 “5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did
work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law,
that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in
the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not
known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not
covet.”
1. Motions (hardship, pain, emotion) bore fruit in our lives
2. But now we are loosed from regulations because we have died to that
which once held us – that we are now slaves to the renewal of the spirit
not to the antiquated writings
3. But the law is not sin – it helps identify sin v9 “For I was alive without the law
once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”
Rom 7:22-25 “22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 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. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself
serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
1. The inward man wants to do good and serve God but...
2. The flesh wars with him to make us serve sin
3. We must force our mind to serve the law of God – Paul says that with our
knowledge and intellect we are slaves to the law of God but with our
flesh we serve sin

4. But when we find ourselves in this place, Rom 8:1 “There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.”
● Don't beat yourself up
● Don't judge yourself (or others) harshly
● Get up and walk after the spirit
The War
Rom 8:5-9 “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. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
1. Those of the flesh (exercise, entertain, are disposed towards) the things
of the flesh
2. To be fleshly disposed is deadly
3. To be focused on God is life and peace
Why? Because the flesh centered thought life is hateful and odious towards
God, and is not obedient to the law of God.
If you want to please God – stop minding the flesh! You are truly spiritual when
the Spirit of God (resides, remains, inhabits) you. And those who do not hold
the spirit of the anointed one are not of Him.
You'll know He inhabits you when, Rom 8:10 “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead
because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Closing
Rom 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because
he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
In order to please God you must mind the things of God. In order to mind the
things of God you must learn to seek out God's wisdom (found in His word).
Ask yourself:
● Why do I do what I do?
● Why do I say what I say?
● Why do I think what I think?
● Why do I watch what I watch?
What will it take to separate you from the spirit of God?
Rom 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
How about:
● Peer/job pressure
● Troubles of life

5. ● Persecution for not doing what others do
● Desires for things/stuff
● Nudity/pornography
● Dangers you may encounter
● War/violence/punishment
It's time to get persuaded (convinced)!
Rom 8:38-39 “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.”
Get persuaded, convinced, assured, and have confidence in the fact that living
a holy life unto God; that separates the corrupt things of this world and your
flesh, from the good things of the Spirit of God is the right way to live if you
want to know the mind of God.
“In order to have the mind of God, we must first learn to mind the things of
God.”