But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…

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.

Romans 8:9 — King James Version

But you are not in the flesh, but in The Spirit, if truly The Spirit of God dwells within you, but if a man does not have The Spirit of The Messiah in him, this one does not belong to Him.

Romans 8:9 — Aramaic Bible in Plain English

You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Romans 8:9 — Berean Study Bible

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Romans 8:1-9 Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer’s person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead, 1Ti 5:6. A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not, ver. 9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example.

Context

Thoughts on today’s verse:

As members of the fallen race of humanity we were born with a fallen nature – a carnal mind that can never, ever please God, for the thoughts and the intention of mans’ fallen nature are only evil continuously. There is nothing in fallen man that can ever please God and even good deeds that impress other people are not pleasing to the Lord-  for the unbeliever has a fallen, carnal nature. The natural, unsaved man, is dead in his sins and at enmity with God.

As born-again believers we are given a new nature, (which is the very life of Christ) when we trust in Him for Salvation. And although we are still able to carry out “good” works through our sinful flesh, which may impress others.. they do not and cannot please God. Our mission and ministry as God’s children is to be spiritually minded Christians and not carnally minded believers. For to be spiritually minded is life and peace.. but the carnal mind continues to be at enmity against our heavenly Father.

The fallen nature of fallen man is a rebel against God and cannot ever please Him, for the fallen, carnal nature is not subject to the law of God.. but is a slave to Satan – a slave to sin and death. However Paul makes a big distinction between those that saved by grace and the unsaved natural man – those that are born again and those that are dead in their sins. For those that are spiritually minded carry out their good works from their new born again nature from Christ, which is imputed to us at salvation, rather than reverting back to their old, carnal nature , which that was inherited from Adam – a fallen, sinful nature is the birth-right of all humanity

HOWEVER, Paul reminds us.. but you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

The major difference between the unsaved sinner and the saved saint is that the Christian has been given the indwelling Holy Spirit and a new, Christlike nature – the new born-again life of Christ. The new nature is to grow in grace while the old sin nature is to remain nailed to the cross – in the place of death. The unsaved man does not have the Spirit of Christ and can only function from the carnal nature, which cannot please God – but the saved saint has a new nature.. the nature of Christ, which can only do things that are pleasing to the Lord. The old sin nature seeks remain in control in the life of a believer but must remain nailed to the cross for it can do nothing to please God.

Those that are saved have a new life – the life and nature of Christ which can only do good in the sight of God, (although until our physical death we can choose to slip back into an ungodly, carnal mind-set.) Those that are saved also have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, Who is there to teach and train our new, born-again nature to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.

The old carnal nature of the believer however, needs to be kept in the place of death. But if or when we sin.. we give the old, sinful nature supremacy over our new born-again nature, which can stifle the inner workings of the Holy Spirit in our life – quenching or grieving Him and stunting our spiritual growth.

As believers we have been lifted out of the fleshly realm and placed into the heavenly sphere. As believers we are not in the flesh but in the spirit. As believers we have the permanently, indwelling Spirit of God, Who has been given to us to lead and to guide our new nature in Christ, so that we can be conformed into Christ’s image and likeness. As believers we belong to HIM and should not allow the flesh to usurp our privileged position in Christ. Rather we should walk in spirit and truth so that we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ I have been born from above, given a new nature and received the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of Your eternal promise to all those who trust in Christ for salvation. I pray that I may walk in newness of spirit so that I may do only those things that are pleasing to You – this I ask in Jesus name, AMEN