West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-03-27
THE MIND OF THE FLESH.


The Greek text 20 which our iranslators
have given the above faulty rendering {,
follows To gar throuoma ties Sarkos
lhanatoS, aud in English is simply aud
literally For the mind oi the flesh is
death. It's meaning in the Apostles
argument is not that death is simply to bc.
come oanally minded OF dead to lieht
eouSncSS. but his whole cplsue 20 hc
Romans is most concise and logical
showing of the whole counsel Of God aud
His plan OF salvation OF the human race
and IL is OF the fallen and dcpravod acsh
lie is speaking prone to evil It's tendency
is selfish aud It's will is ohcycd IL leads to
further degradation aud death The Greek
| word Sart' here rendered 'carnal" occurs
40 times io the New Testament and is
only twice hliudlJ rendered oarnal as
here and la Heb 9.io. Il Is rendered acsh
ia other verses Of the same chapter r.
8. So SIT does not mean sinful az ail.
nor sinful flesh Il moaus flesh simply. and
only aud is used In reference TO Adam aud
kvc before they siuncd Cor o.io as well
as after and i'm twenty-five times IL Is
used in referring to our Lords flesh. which
was perfect without blcmiSh. John 1ta
aud 6:St'S6.
The Apostle has agreed that all man.
Kind have fallen from perfection through
the disobcdicncc OF Adam. and that an are
unsouud mentally morally and physically
and he did not need 60 distinguish between
the will Of the lcsh az d. would be IL per.
feet aud the will or preference OF the flesh
ia its present dcpraved appcutcs and dc.
! siros which II grati6ed would lead to
| iur;her degradation aud death lie has
shown Ia former part OF his argument that
the degradation was not the result OF inn.
perfect work ou GoIs part but that men
are themselves to blame and that The
Jews too arc involved under Gods perfect
law, aud would bo condemned a. surely as
the Gontiles lie argues Ia Chapter 4.
that though 10 Jew got life under Moses
law and were therefore in the same hope.
less condition as Gontilcs yet they get
some blessings through that Law Covenant:
a clearer idea Of God from the law and
some knowledge OF his gracious purposes
from The testimonies OF the prophets: yet
| all that Ice then learned. instead Of iusu
Tying him to Gods favor had only proved
him unworthy of lifc and the imposv bility
OF thc fallen flesh TO commend Itself to God.
THUS all arc proven guilty before God
that he might have mercy upon all Next
the Apostle shows how God provided in
Christ propitiotory covering for all who
exercise faith in the New Covenant de-
claring 10 such the remission OF sins past
and az the same time showing Gods right
eousncss in the whole procedure. His
justice in con1emning an the fallen races
as unworthy OF lie aud his Justice too in
the reversal OF that sentence and the
granting of life through tine redemption
Next he discusses the standing OF all who
accept OF Christ and shows that they are
Imputed rightous justified To lie not
20 continue in sin but TO set as free from
the condemnation upon the race and that
we may now begin 10 use ourselves in
God rs service on no other ground can wc
approach God acceptnbly nor strive law
fully, rightlully for further iayors Right
here God calls Come lat us reason To-
gcther Mind God does not say-Usc
your own reasoning pow RS in your own
way. Ah no. the mind OF the flesh is TOO
crring the flesh Is too degcncratng The call
Is, come and reason with God "Ihongh
your sins be AS scarlet they shall bc white
as wool Those desiring Go be in harmony
with God arc hus given the opportunity
10 show by their striving against sin and
Tor righteousness that iu heart thoy fully
approve Ills perfect law and delight in it
and that d they could do so they would
rejoice 10 be- iu cvcty word and act obcd
cnt thereto. for those who live in accord
with their flesh aud have no battles with
itind icatc their preference, while they who
live in accord with the spirit freely given
Of God showsthcir preference Therefore
the preference OF the Acsh means death
the just sentence OF the law. bat the pre-
ference Of the Spirit means life and peace
The same sentiment Of verse u Is rein.
stated in ys. o. "As many as are guided
by ihe Spirit OF God the same arc Gods
sons The Apostle had no thought Of
giving new definition TO death-that the
death results from sin is earnal mind.
lie had no theory Of bis own Gosliy mind
90 uphold and knew God definition of
death Dust thou art a.d unto dust thou
shalt reform. Thou the MN the
"iivng soul. Extinction OF being clearly
stated.
Dust thou ail TO dust rcmrncst" This
is written of the soul The Apostle
argument is to thc Church prospective its
members being granted arcckoncd stand.
ing in ofdcr that thcy mithf ~ on to au
tho favors OF this past age. They are
Justified 60 life though Dauh in Christ aud
made eligible 10 run for the prize Tho
high calling g. adoption into the divine
family. Sons of cod and Joint heirs with
their elder brother the h,.r Of su things.
Many are called. few chosen
TIC great mass Of mankind knows not
yet Of Gods gracious plans lor bis creatures.
Theories and methods without number have
been devised foa'isfy "cafnes, expectation"
implanted boz Eden. and almost ex1u.
guishsd 500 ncieannc,s and lust as man
turned away from Cod. Rom. t.f8zs. yct
again revived through contact a,.ih the Jew
--th- moonlight O'cf thc dafkcncd carth-
again distorted perverted. and psrsccu,ed
from 'hr earth through hr Apogasy of
''the dark ages ? lhcss 2.g. and to-day
as tbe "sun OF Righteousness shines
thro 90 lifts 20 ensbfoudine clouds in hc
dawn of hope f,uHon. Rom. S.to ~. thc
whole erosuing creation presents q Babel Of
plans. tcoties aud efforts that must soon
Precpmtc ihe eaaelysu of wrath io tie
uucrmost. The Just iecompensc." tbe
natufsl results ("Nmurc' s Gods hand
maid-executor of law) of tbc preference a
The mind ~ lhe flesh. ihe whdaind harvest
~ ihe seeds Of sel6shness The voice of
thc Herald Behold lhe Bridegroom" is
unhcard or mistaken amid ihc confusion of
Tongues. and ih' 1cepcnng darsoea 'hai
covers ibe canh aoi ths gross. ulrcas1utug,
foolish mental darkness Of une people. Isa