Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is always a joy to gather together, not just in the unity of our shared faith, but in the shared love we have for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our hearts are bound together by the threads of grace and mercy, and it is this bond that brings us to the feet of Christ every time we gather in His name.

Today, we are turning our hearts and minds to a passage of Scripture that is as challenging as it is comforting, as inspiring as it is instructive. Romans 8:5-13, a passage penned by the Apostle Paul, a man who knew the trials and triumphs of the Christian life like few others. Allow me to read it for us:

"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. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."

Faithfulness in Following Christ

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, provides a profound insight into the Christian life. He emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with the Spirit, rather than the flesh. This is a call to a life of faithfulness, a life that is centered on following Christ in every aspect. This faithfulness is not a passive attribute, but an active pursuit that shapes our thoughts, actions, and desires.

This call to faithfulness is not just about our actions, but also about our mindset. Paul contrasts the mind governed by the flesh with the mind governed by the Spirit. The former leads to death, while the latter leads to life and peace. This is a call to align our thoughts with the Spirit, to let our minds be shaped by the truths of God's word, and to let our desires be guided by the Spirit's leading.

This faithfulness in following Christ also extends to our relationship with God. Paul states that the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God and cannot submit to God's law. On the other hand, those who live in accordance with the Spirit are able to please God.

This call to faithfulness is not without its challenges. Paul acknowledges that our bodies are subject to death because of sin. However, he also provides a source of hope and encouragement. He states that if the Spirit of God lives in us, then even though our bodies are subject to death, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

Paul also emphasizes the transformative power of the Spirit. He states that if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies. This is a call to transformation, to allow the Spirit to work in us and through us, changing us from the inside out and making us more like Christ.

Paul concludes this section by reminding us of our obligation. However, this obligation is not to the flesh, but to the Spirit. We are called to put to death the misdeeds of the body and to live by the Spirit. This is a call to action, to actively resist the desires of the flesh and to pursue a life that is led by the Spirit.