Our fourth lesson in the "Understanding the Mind of God" series, entitled "Righteousness from the Heart"

1. The Mind of God (Part 4)
Righteousness from the Heart
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 3 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.”
● 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
● Righteousness requires death to self
● And that although we face a war with the flesh there are rewards for
living righteously
This lesson will continue our discussion from lesson three.
Esau and Jacob
● One was carnally minded one spiritually minded

2. ● Neither did everything just right, but one was focused on the eternal
● Rom. 9:13 “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Powerful words from a
“loving” God)
However, Jacob's descendants became overly-confident in their religion.
Rom 10:1-4 “1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be
saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the
end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
● God hates religion = man's attempt to get to God
● In religion we attempt to establish our standards of right and wrong
instead of relying upon God's word
● It is entirely possible to be sincere and wrong at the same time
● Paul is basically saying that messiah is the Goal of righteousness for
every person
If you want to know how to live for God, ask “what would Jesus do?”.
From the abundance of the heart
Rom 10:8-17 “8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall
not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good
things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our
report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
● The utterance of faith is in your mouth and in your heart
● Faith = persuasion
● If you acknowledge the authority of Jesus and believe (entrust your
wellbeing) in your heart (seat of emotions), you will be saved
(healed/delivered/protected/preserved)
● Call = invoke in worship – but you can't call on someone who you don't
believe
● You can't believe if you don't hear (give audience)
● You can't hear without a preacher
● Sent = set apart (separated)
Note what he says though!
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel.” Therefore you can hear, and you
can believe, but there better be some obedience to demonstrate your faith.

3. Religion is not Faith
Can faith without obedience be considered faith?
Rom 11:7-8 “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath
obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the
spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this
day.”
● Israel had faith
● But they couldn't see because they were blinded by religion
● God has to come my way or no way at all
God allowed this to happen so you and I could be saved (Rom 11:11) “I say then,
Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is
come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”
Before you become too confident in your religion remember Rom 11:21 “For if
God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”
Rom 11:25-27 “25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until
the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There
shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this
is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”
● Don't be ignorant by being wise in yourself
● God will one day turn back to His people but first He has given us the
opportunity to learn about Him
We can only get to know Him through His word!
Eph 4:17-32 “17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as
other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That
ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting
away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the
devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands
the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying,
that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby
ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven
you.”
● The gentiles walk according to the vanity of their own mind (morally
depraved thought/feeling/intellect)
● Understanding obscured
● Alienated from God through ignorance

4. That must not be the life of a Christian!
We must:
● Get rid of the old behavior
● Be reformed in thought/feeling/intellect
● Put on the new man like Christ
Closing
We endeavor to be like Him because, Rom 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance.”
There's no turning back!
“In order to have the mind of God, we must first learn to mind the things of
God.”
And we can only do this by study of His word, and learning to bring all things
(including ourselves) under the subjection of God.
Just like Jacob, we will not do everything just right, but we can have a heart
(or a mind) that desires to be like Him!