name aaron minch jesus said come to him when you are labour and heavy laden when you have burdens and depression and troubles and anxiety and when you have mental and emotional problems humbling yourselves in humility under the mighty hand of god casting all your cares on him because he cares for you to cry out to him in tears confessing and forsaking all your sins to him having a godly sorrow over all your sins that works repentance to salvation and he will cleanse you from all unrighteousness and unholy and he will hear your cry and deliver you out of all your troubles forever and give you rest for your weary souls forever he never said go to doctors and medicine and people and drugs and things of this world for help everyone goes to people and other things and not jesus for your problems he will set you forever free from all your burdens worries confusions irritations fears shame guilts doubts pride out of your minds and lives forever by the power of the holy spirit in you and he will give you everything you need want and have forever in him he will give you eternal life everlasting endless grace and mercy and perfect love and everlasting endless never ending joy that no man can take away from you and he will give you everlasting endless never ending perfect peace in your life and in your mind heart and soul and he will give you strength and righteousness and holiness inside you in him forever and he will give you eternal life and he will give you his holy spirit to live in you forever to keep you holy forever and to give you everlasting endless comfort and everlasting endless fullness of joy to comfort you in your afflictions and he will turn your sorrow into everlasting endless joy of salvation in your souls and jesus will become healer in your life if you pray in faith and take away all sickness and disease from the midst of you forever and he will never leave you nor forsake you and he will give you true desires and satisfaction for your souls.Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 King James Version 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” John 10:28 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. James 5:15-17 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions Psalm 51:10-19 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. Ezekiel 36:26 King James Version 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. James 4:6 King James Version Bible “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. John 15:11 King James Version 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Psalm 55:22 King James Version 22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. John 16:33 King James Version 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.Psalm 34 King James Version 34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.1 John 1:9-10 King James Version 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.Proverbs 28:13 King James Version 13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. John 16:20-24 King James Version 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.2 John 9 King James Version 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.John 8:36 King James Version 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 14:27 King James Version 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Acts 2:38-39 King James Version 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.Acts 3:19-26 King James Version 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. 2 Timothy 1:7-10 King James Version 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: god has given me a spirit not of fear to not fear death and people and nothing in this world but of power and love and sound mind a mind that is under control by the power of the holy spirit in me a mind in me that has self control and self discipline and i fear the lord jesus christ and im his saint forever and i want nothing and i have no fear in death thats the power of jesus christ in me. Romans 16:17-18 King James Version 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.Amen. Exodus 33:14-16 King James Version 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. Isaiah 26:3-4 King James Version 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: Nehemiah 8:10 King James Version 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength Philippians 4:4-8 King James Version 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 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.name aaron minch im separate from you and people because your all carnally minded and its death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace and its sinful to think the way the world thinks and im not in the flesh no more im in the spirit and the spirit of god dwells in me and im spiritually minded and i have life and peace inside me as long as i live and your carnal minds are enmity against god for it is not subject to the law of god neither indeed can be so you that are in the flesh cannot please god To Be Carnally Minded is Death - Romans 8: 5-8 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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be .spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. - Romans 8: 5-8 Romans 8:6-10 King James Version Holy Bible Jesus christ is the holy spirit the image of the invisible 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. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 2 Corinthians 3:17 King James Version 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. It can be argued, as I have suggested in a previous volume, that the message of this great and most eloquent chapter really begins at verse 5. The first four verses sum up the argument of chapter 7; and here we have a new section which runs from the 5th verse to the end of the 13th verse. Let us remind ourselves that the object of the entire chapter, and therefore the object of every subsidiary section, is really to prove the contention of verse 1 namely, that `There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus'. That is the fundamental proposition. The Apostle's purpose is to show the absolute certainty and finality of the full and complete salvation of all who are `in Christ Jesus' - in other words, of all :who are in the realm of the Spirit, and in whom the Holy Spirit of God dwells. Of course this has its negative side - that this salvation only applies to such people as have been set free from `the law of sin and death' by `the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus'. They are the only people for whom there is no condemnation and to whom, therefore, this certainty of final and compete salvation applies. The Apostle has been reminding us in verses 3 and 4 of the way in which believers have been put into that position and thereby set free from the Law and all its demands, and all that it does to those who are unregenerate and `in the flesh'. Having done that, Paul can proceed to prove that it is essential that we should be `in Christ', and in the realm of the Spirit, before this can possibly happen to us. He has made his great asseveration in verses 1 and 2; then in verses 3 and 4 he shows us how we get into that position. Now he wants to establish the fact that it is only to such people that this full and final salvation is guaranteed and is absolutely certain. We can put it in this way, that the object of verses 5 to 13 is to prove the contention of verse 4 in particular, and especially its second statement. He has told us that the object of salvation is `that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us'. But, he says, `the righteousness of the law' is only fulfilled in those `who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit'. Now he proceeds to show why he speaks in this way, why it is that only in those who walk `after the Spirit' and not `after the flesh' can `the righteousness of the law' be fulfilled. A general analysis of this sub-section, verses 5 to 13, I suggest, is the following: Verses 5 to 8 give us a picture of the contrast between the Christian and the non-Christian, with the special object of showing that `the righteousness of the law' cannot possibly be fulfilled in the non-Christian but only in the Christian. In verses 9 to 11 Paul applies this to the Roman Christians. He says: `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' - that is to say, he is not a Christian at all. As far as they are concerned he knows that they are `in the Spirit' and not `in the flesh'. So he shows them what their present position is in the light of that fact, and what their future glory is going to be as its outcome. Then in verses i z and 13 he gives them a practical exhortation because of all that is true of them. `Therefore, brethren, we' - of whom all this is true - `we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh; for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' Two things, therefore, stand out very clearly here. The first is that in verses 1 to 4, as I have been careful to stress all along, the Apostle is describing and writing about all Christians, not merely some Christians. He gives no indication whatsoever that there are two classes of Christians. A popular teaching says that there are (2) `carnal' Christians and `spiritual' Christians, and that here Paul is talking only about the `spiritual' Christians. This section will confirm and prove to the hilt our contention that in verses 1 to 4 the Apostle has been talking about all Christians, not certain special Christians only, not only Christians who have received some second experience. That `there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus' is true of every Christian. This is quite basic because it determines, as we have seen, our view of sanctification. Verses 5 to 13 will prove that to us quite clearly and put it beyond any doubt whatsoever. The second principle that verses 5 to 13 bring out clearly is that a complete change in us is absolutely essential to salvation. If a man does not undergo a radical change, if he does not enter into the realm of the Spirit, `the righteousness of the law' can never be fulfilled in him. Christianity, as the Apostle has told us so often, involves a complete, a radical change in the nature of the human being. These, then, are the two great principles on which we must keep our eyes. They stand out very clearly in the first sub-section of this section, verses 5 to 8. It is quite clear, I repeat, that here the Apostle is comparing and contrasting not two types of Christians but the non-Christian with the Christian. They that are `after the flesh' are the non-Christians; they that are `after the Spirit' are the Christians. It is a wrong interpretation to say that `they that are after the flesh' are the so-called `carnal' Christians; for we shall see that the Apostle says something about them which makes it impossible that they should be Christians at all. We must keep this particularly in view because the Apostle's whole object is to show how utterly impossible it is to say of any man as he is by nature that to him there is `no condemnation' or that `the righteousness of the law' will be fulfilled in him. On the other hand, the moment a man is delivered from the condemnation of the law, and is changed, and in this new realm, his hope is certain, and nothing can ever rob him of it. That, then, is the theme we are going to consider. But instead of taking the passage verse by verse, and drawing out the contrast between the two types of persons verse by verse, it seems to me to be more advantageous to consider first of all what the Apostle tells us about the non-Christian; and afterwards to look at the Christian positively as a whole. This method will help us to follow the Apostle's argument. We take first what Paul says here about the man who is not a Christian. His general description of him is that he is `after the flesh'. What does he mean by this? We have earlier explained that the word `flesh' means fallen human nature, human nature as it is before the Spirit of God begins His work in a person. It is man left to himself, man born, developing and growing in life in this world outside the activity of God upon him. The non-Christian is `after the flesh'. The word `after' is interesting. Some would translate it as `according to the flesh', but the best translation is `under the flesh'. The word the Apostle uses carries the idea of being `under' something else, under authority in particular. So we are told that the non-Christian is one who is habitually dominated by the nature with which he was born. Chapter 5 has already told us in a most amazing manner - and Paul has worked it out in detail in chapters 6 and 7 - that we are born like this because of our connection with Adam and because of Adam's sin. Everyone born subsequent to Adam has been born `after the flesh'; we are born under the power, the domination of this fallen human nature which we inherit. The Apostle adds that it is something that is continuous - `they are after the flesh'. They are born in sin, they exist in sin, in sin they go on living. How does that show itself, and to what does it lead- The first thing is that such a man `minds' certain things. `They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh.' That is a most interesting expression. In the Epistle to the Philippians the Apostle uses exactly the same expression several times. He says `Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you' (3:15). Verse 16 has the same word: `Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.' Then Paul introduces it negatively in verse 19, where he is talking about people `whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things'. 'To mind' is a term with which we are familiar, an expression that is quite commonly used. If a man is a busybody and puts too many questions to you and shows too great an interest in your affairs, you say to him ,`Mind your own business'. The expression means, therefore, the deliberate action of your mind on certain objects. That is why you say to the busybody, `Do not train your mind on me and on my affairs, switch it to your own affairs, mind your own business'. But the term includes not only thought and understanding, it includes the affections, the emotions, the desires and the objects of pursuit. In other words, it is a comprehensive term. `To mind earthly things' not only means that non-Christians think about them occasionally, but that these are the things which they think of most of all; these are the things of which they think habitually, the trend or the bent of their thinking is toward them. `Earthly things' are the things that please them most of all, the things that give them greatest satisfaction; and therefore the things which they seek after most of all. The term is comprehensive, and we must not limit it merely to the intellectual aspect. It is much wider than the interests of the mind, and takes in the whole personality. The Apostle John, in his First Epistle (chapter 2, verses 15 to 17) has the same idea though he uses a different term. He says: `Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.' He might equally well have said, `Mind not the world, neither the things that are in the world'. The first thing about the non-Christian, therefore, is that because he is dominated by his fallen human nature, he is a man who is deliberately interested in, and concerned about `the things of the flesh'. Once more we have to be careful that our understanding of this expression is sufficiently comprehensive. What are `the things of the flesh'? The danger is to limit the term to sensual pleasures and to the sins that belong only to the body. The term `the flesh' tends to make us think immediately of physical sins, sins which belong primarily to the realm of our animal being. They are certainly included, but it is important for us to realize that the term is very much more comprehensive in its use, as we find when we turn to the Epistle to the Galatians chapter 5, verses 19 to 2 1. `Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness'. Yes, but also `Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like'. We see that the notion is indeed a very wide one. Or go back again to the First Epistle of John, chapter 2, verses 15 to 17: `Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world'. What are they? The Apostle lists them as `the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life'. `The flesh' is a big term, a widely inclusive one. What then does `the flesh' mean? In a word it means `worldly mindedness'. That is a term which John Bunyan uses, and it is the term that some people would use here. 'Worldly-mindedness'! It includes everything which is opposed to `the mind' and `the life' of the Holy Spirit. Another way of putting it is to say that `the things of the flesh' means every aspect of life without God, everything in life from which God is excluded. It refers, in other words, to the life of this world only; it denotes a complete severance from all that is spiritual. It concentrates on the visible, the seen, and has nothing at all to do with the unseen. Or again, we can say that it means the temporal only, this world of time only; it has nothing to do with the eternal. Its reference is to life in this world only, to life bounded by the body and the various qualities and attributes of the fleshly mind, but to the exclusion of the spiritual element. The tragedy of the matter is that many people think that this description - `they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh' - applies only to open, obvious, profligate sinners, on the streets and in the public houses of great cities; the fact being that it includes also very highly intellectual people, very moral people, and people whom the world would describe as very noble. To `mind the things of the flesh' includes political interests without God, social interests without God, cultural interests without God. That is what the expression means. Paul has in mind man's highest pursuits, his philosophy, his art, his culture, his music, that never get beyond the flesh. God is outside it all, He is excluded from it; there is nothing spiritual about it. Men may write very cleverly, and in a very learned and interesting and entertaining manner about social conditions; they can tell us how to ameliorate bad conditions, how to improve them; they can write eloquently about forming some sort of Utopia, they can produce masterpieces of art and of literature and of music; but there is no soul there, there is no God there, no Spirit there. It is all `after the flesh'. How important it is to realize the truth of this matter! That is why that list in Galatians 5 is so important. Paul does not stop at drunkenness and adultery and murder and things of that type. He goes to the realm of the inner man; and there you find that his list is all-inclusive. So what the Apostle is really saying about the non-Christian is that it does not matter where he fits in this gamut of possible interests and behavior and conduct, he is still only minding `the things of the flesh.' It is because the world does not understand this that it is not interested in the Gospel. The world's good, moral people are admired so much today; and yet the Apostle's words describe exactly where they stand. They are as much `after the flesh' and they as much `mind the things of the flesh' as does the man who falls into drunkenness or gives rein to his passions and lusts. It is purely a difference of degree. There is no essential difference at all. The good, cultured well-spoken moral man is as devoid of the Spirit as the most obvious and profligate sinner; he is outside the life of God as much as the other. He hates to be told this, of course; that is why he is the typical Pharisee. And that is why the Pharisees crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. He convinced them of being `after the flesh' and `minding' only the things of the flesh. What a terrible state this is and how alarming it is to realize that people can be in it without ever imagining it! They draw many distinctions and divisions; but there are none in reality. The only difference between the obvious so-called `sinner' and the highly cultured good moral man is purely a social difference, a superficial one. Let me go a little further; it is perhaps a difference in the skin; the second man keeps his skin a little cleaner than does the first man. The first man has mud and filth and mire about him in abundance, the other takes baths very frequently, so his skin looks very white. But the difference is skin-deep only. In their inner beings, as men, and in their relationship to God, there is not the slightest difference between them; they both together mind the things of the flesh. All their thinking, all their interests, all their pursuits are entirely outside the realm of the spiritual and of God. That is what the Apostle tells us about them. The next thing the Apostle says about them is found in verse 6, where we find the words, `To be carnally minded is death'. The translation in the Authorized Version is most unfortunate; the expression should not have been changed. It should read, `The mind of the flesh is death' or, `To have the mind of the flesh is death'. He has already said that non-Christians mind the things of the flesh; now he is saying that the people who do mind the things of the flesh, and have the sort of mind that does that, are dead. Here Paul is describing the quality, or the state of mind of people who only mind the things of the flesh. It is, he says, nothing else but sheer death. Our Lord gives us the best understanding of this in what He said to Peter on that occasion at Caesarea Philippi when the Apostle made his great confession in reply to our Lord's question `Who do ye say that I am?' Matthew records the matter in his 16th chapter. Peter said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God'. But a few minutes later, when our Lord began to tell the disciples about His approaching death, Peter said, `Be it far from thee, Lord'. Our Lord rebuked him severely and said, `Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men'. The word translated `savourest', really means `to think' - `thou thinkest not the things that be of God'. Indeed, it is the very word which is used in this sixth verse of Romans 8. `The trouble with you, Peter,' said our Lord in effect, `is that your whole mentality is wrong, your whole way of thinking is wrong; you are not thinking the things of God, you are thinking the things of man: `Peter', He seems to say, `what is the matter with you? You have just made your great confession, and I told you that "flesh and blood had not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven". Now you are proving that I was right, because when I go on to make a great spiritual statement to you, you turn and say "That be far from thee, Lord". Peter, the trouble with you is that you are now thinking, not after God, but after men; your whole outlook, your whole mentality, your whole process of thinking is sadly astray.' That is the idea in the phrase `The mind of the flesh is death'. Let me illustrate this further, by what the Apostle tells us in the twelfth chapter of this Epistle in the second verse: `Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed.' How? `By the renewing of your mind.' It is absolutely essential that the mind be renewed. In the absence of a renewal of the mind man is entirely hopeless. You will find the same in Ephesians 4, verses 17 to z4, and also in the second chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians: `The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.' Why not? `Because they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them.' Why not? `Because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man' 1 Corinthians 2: 14, is The statement that `The mind of the flesh is death' means that the natural man is in a state of spiritual death. That is what the Apostle says everywhere about the unbeliever, about the man who is not a Christian. We find it mentioned at the beginning of the second chapter of Ephesians: `You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.' 'Dead' l He repeats it again in verse 5 : `Even when we were dead in sins, he hath quickened us together with Christ.' The Apostle is saying the same thing here. The man who is `under the flesh', and governed and controlled by his fallen human nature, not only minds the things of the flesh -those worldly things out of which God is shut - but he does so because he is spiritually dead. He is alive physically, he exists, but spiritually he is a dead man. The Apostle's statement means that the man is dead to God, he lives as if there were no God. Some of your greatest moral men, some of your most cultured men in the world are in that position. They are very able, very cultured, very much interested in life, they never get drunk, they are not guilty of adultery .... `Ah', you say, `you cannot say that such a man "minds the things of the flesh".' I do just that! God is not in all his thoughts, he is completely dead to God, he is living as if there were no God. That is what is meant by spiritual death. Spiritual death is to be outside the life of God. Our Lord has settled the matter for us. In John's Gospel, chapter 17, verse 3, we read: `And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' The man who has not got eternal life does not know God, he is outside the life of God; and that means that he is dead. The spiritual realm does not exist for him, he scoffs at it; spiritual realities mean nothing whatsoever to him; he is dead to them all. Ask him to read the New Testament, and he says that it is `nonsense'; draw his attention to spiritual things and he does not know what you are talking about. There is a well-known story which seems to me to supply a perfect illustration of this point. It concerns two great men, William Wilberforce the leader in the movement for the abolition of slavery, and William Pitt the Younger, one time Prime Minister of Britain. They were both brilliant men, they were both politicians, and they were very great friends. But William Wilberforce was converted and became a Christian, while William Pitt, like so many others, was but a formal Christian. William Wilberforce was very much concerned about his friend. He loved him as a man and was greatly concerned about his soul. He was most anxious therefore that Pitt should go with him to listen to a certain preacher, a London clergyman of the Church of England named Richard Cecil. Cecil was a great evangelical preacher, and Wilberforce delighted in his ministry, so he was ever trying to persuade Pitt to go with him to listen to Cecil. At long last Pitt agreed to do so. Wilberforce was delighted and they went together to a service. Richard Cecil was at his best, preaching in his most spiritual and elevated and exalted manner. Wilberforce was enjoying himself, and feeling lifted up into the very heavens. He could not imagine anything better, anything more enjoyable, anything more wonderful; and he was wondering what was happening to his friend William Pitt, the Prime Minister. Well, he was not left long in a state of uncertainty as to what had been happening, because, before they were even out of the building Pitt turned to Wilberforce and said, `You know, Wilberforce, I have not the slightest idea what that man has been talking about'. And he hadn't, of course. As a man can be tone deaf to music, all who are not Christians are tone deaf to the spiritual. That which was ravishing the mind and the heart of Wilberforce conveyed nothing to Pitt. He was bored, he could not follow it, he could not understand it, he did not know what it was about. A man of great brilliance, a man of great culture, a man of great intellectual ability, but all that does not help l `The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned' (I Corinthians 2: I4). Richard Cecil might as well have been preaching to a dead man. The dead cannot appreciate these things, neither could William Pitt. He himself confessed it. It is not what Wilberforce says about him; it is what he said about himself. There are such people. They come to a place of worship, they listen to things that ravish the hearts of believers, but they see nothing in it at all. There are many such people in the churches now, as there always have been. They want whist drives and dances, entertainments and socials, and to meet one another socially. That is because they are not alive to spiritual things. They are dead, dead to God, dead to the Lord Jesus Christ, dead to the realm of the spiritual and all spiritual realities, dead to their own soul and spirit and their everlasting and eternal interests. They never think about such matters at all. That is their trouble. That is what the Apostle says here about them. This mind of the flesh shuts them out from the life of God and from all the interests that emanate from the life of God. The trouble with the unbeliever, the non-Christian, is that he is in a living death, he is merely existing. He is shut out from the life of God; and if he dies in that condition he will continue to all eternity shut out from the life of God. Nothing more terrible can be contemplated. That is the meaning of spiritual death. The Apostle then goes on to say another thing about the non-Christian in verse 7: `Because the carnal mind is enmity against God.' Here, again, it is unfortunate that we have this translation in the Authorized Version, for in the original it still is, `the mind of the flesh'. `Because the mind of the flesh is at enmity against God.' This explains why `the mind of the flesh' is death. If a man is at enmity against God he is obviously outside the life of God; and that means that he is dead. Here we have one of our striking proofs that the Apostle is not comparing and contrasting two types of Christians, but is comparing and contrasting the non-Christian and the Christian. You cannot say of any. man who is a Christian that he is at enmity against God; it is impossible. A man cannot be at enmity against God and be a Christian at the same time. Why is he a Christian at all? Because he wants to be right with God. Why does he believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Because he believes that the Lord Jesus Christ puts him right with God. Why did he ever want that blessing? Because he sees the consequences of being an enemy of God. So here the Apostle depicts a man who is at enmity against God. This is not a so-called `carnal' Christian; there is no such thing. This is the non-Christian, this is a man who is not a Christian in any true sense, and this is the man Paul has been describing all along. He is contrasting the non-Christian with the Christian, any Christian. The Apostle says the same thing in many other places. In Colossians 1 : 2 1, for instance, we have: `You that were sometime' ? once upon a time - `alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works.' They were once in that condition, but now it is no longer the case. Why so? Because they have become Christians. In other words, the contrast is between the non-Christian and the Christian. But let me emphasize once more that this state of enmity is that of every person who is not a Christian. `Ah but,' you say, `I know certain people who say, "I would not like to say that I am a Christian, but I believe in God"; what about them?' The simple truth about them is this, that they are at enmity against God. `But,' you say, `they are interested in God, they believe in God, they read books about God, and they talk and argue about God. 'No, they do not!`But how can you say that so dogmatically?' I do so for this reason: they think they are interested in God, but their interest is not in God, it is in some figment of their own imagination, it is some product of their own philosophy and their own thoughts. `But why do you say even that?' asks someone. I answer, the way to prove that such persons are not true Christians is quite simple. Say to them, `Do you believe in God?' They reply, `Of course we believe in God; we have always believed in God'. Next confront them with the God of the Bible, who is not only love but also justice and righteousness; confront them with the God who not only shows mercy and compassion but also wrath; and you will find that they snarl their teeth at you. They will say that they do not believe in such a God! Of course they do not; they have never truly believed in God. What they believe in is a god whom they have constructed for themselves. They have made a god of their own, and for this they have no authority whatsoever, except that it fits in with their thoughts. They say, `The God I believe in is a God who is entirely a God of love'. Wrath? Of course not! Impossible ! But what is their authority for speaking in this fashion? They have none at all. It is simply that they, and people like them, agree in saying these things. The only true knowledge that we have of God is to be found in the Bible. God has revealed Himself. No man can know God of himself - `no man can see God, or has seen God, at any time'. If a man could understand God with his own mind he would be equal to God, if not greater. By definition God is absolute and infinite and eternal in all His attributes and qualities. We cannot arrive at Him of ourselves; He must reveal Himself. He has done so, in the Scriptures and in the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Lord Jesus Christ has taught us about the wrath of God, about the judgment of God, and about hell. Yes, but the moment these people who say they believe in God hear such things, they become furious and remonstrate against it; they hate it. Indeed, they hate God; as Paul tells us, this `mind of the flesh is enmity against God'. It wants a god after its own image, and it hates the God of the Bible, the God and Father of our Lord. Jesus Christ, the God preached by this Apostle Paul and all the other apostles. This is the all-too-common state of things today; alas, you find it in so-called Christian pulpits and churches. In the name of God and of Christ men are showing their enmity and their hatred of God, the living God, `the only true God'. Let us not therefore be misled or deluded by people who say that they believe in God; the question is, Do they believe in the God who has revealed Himself, who is the only God? All natural men, all who are not Christians, are `at enmity against God'. The fifth thing Paul tells us about non-Christians is that `they are not subject to the law of God'. What he means is that they do not submit themselves to it. How can they? If they hate Him why should they subject themselves to Him? Instead of submitting themselves as a soldier does to his commanding officer, to the General set over him, they rebel, they are antagonistic. They do not care what God has said; they do what they want to do. They are not taking orders, they are following out their own minds, and their own likes and dislikes, and their own understanding. Man by nature is an enemy of God, he is a rebel against God, he flouts the commandments of God. `All we like sheep have gone astray, we have all gone after our own devices.' That is true of all men who are not Christians. They are trampling and spitting upon the Ten Commandments, and the moral law, and all the sanctities. .Of course they are! They are haters of God, and they hate His law; they abominate it; `they are not subject to the law of God'. Next the Apostle adds, `Neither indeed can be.' `This mind', he says, `is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' Here we have a basic statement about the unbeliever. The unbeliever, says Paul, is not only like that, but he cannot do anything about it. `His mind is not subject to the law of God, neither -indeed can be.' We find exactly the same idea in 1Corinthians 2: 14: `The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them.' He cannot know them. Why? `Because they are spiritually discerned.' A man who is tone deaf to music cannot create a ,delight in music in himself. He may desire it, but he cannot Attain to it; it is impossible. What the Apostle is saying is that this natural man, this non-Christian, not only hates God, and is not subject to the law of God; but he cannot desire to love God, he cannot desire to obey Him. He cannot choose to do so, he is totally incapable of any spiritual effort. I am not saying this; it is the Apostle Paul who says it. The popular teaching which says that we have to preach the Gospel to the natural man as he is, and that he, as he is, decides to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; and that then, because he has believed, he is given new life, is regenerated, this, I say, is a complete denial of what the Apostle teaches here. The natural man, this man after the flesh, this unbeliever, cannot believe in God; he cannot believe in and on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is `at enmity' against Him; he hates Him, he is altogether opposed to Him. He is shut out from His life, he lacks a spiritual faculty, he is incapable of spiritual good `neither indeed can be'. He is completely helpless; he cannot choose to love God. You cannot love God and hate Him at the same time. Why should a man who is at enmity to, and a hater of God, decide suddenly to love Him? There is no reason; his whole nature is against Him, his whole bias, his whole bent, everything in him is opposed to God; he is in complete and entire helplessness; he is dead. And there is nothing more final than that The man who is spiritually dead hates God, rebels against Him, and can do no other, for `the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned'. And if you have not got the spiritual faculty you cannot discern them. If that is lacking in a man, and he is completely dead, how can he discern them - He cannot; and, of course, the world is proving that very thing today. Total inability ! What is the result of all this? It is stated in the eighth verse, `So then' here is the conclusion, the thing the Apostle was really setting out to prove `so then, they that are in the flesh' they are the same people, they are `after the flesh', they are governed by `the mind of the flesh' `so then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God'. His displeasure is upon them; they can do nothing at all about pleasing Him. They cannot bring forth any fruit unto God. As Paul has already said in chapter 7, verse 5, the righteous demands of the law cannot be fulfilled in them. `In the flesh', `after the flesh', governed by `the mind of flesh', they are entirely and altogether outside God and His life; and there is nothing in them or about them that recommends them to God. Such are the unbelievers. How then does anyone become a believer? The answer has already been given in verse 2, and we shall proceed to work it out. `The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath set me free.' I have not done it; it has been done to me. It is God's action. `By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' `We are His workmanship' (Ephesians 2: 8-10). We can do nothing, it is all of God. And let us thank God that it is so, for it is because it is all of God that it is certain, it is safe, it is sure. We are not just believers, we have been `made anew', born again; we are in the realm of the spiritual, we have been put there, we are `in Christ', the Spirit of God has incorporated us into Him. It is His action. Thus far we have been looking at the negatives; and how important it is that we should do so! We shall never realize what we are as Christians until we first realize what we were as non-Christians, and what was absolutely essential before we could ever become Christians. If God had not quickened us we should still be dead. A dead man cannot give himself life. God quickened us, and because God has put life into us we are alive in Christ Jesus, and in the realm of the Spirit. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,there is therefore now no condemnation for me because im in Christ Jesus and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death and god knows my heart and thoughts not you and no man in this world and you and my mom and everyone are the enemies of the cross of christ whose god is your own belly who mind earthly things my conversation is in heaven as long as i live for i look for my savior my Lord jesus Christ im troubled on every side yet not distressed and i look to the things that are unseen as long as i live because the unseen things are eternal but the things that are seen are temporal and i want to be alone with god in quietness and peacefulness away from the world and distractions and confusions from people and the world so i can worship god in spirit and in truth abiding in jesus and his words praying in faith as long as i live and jesus is all i need want and have forever not you and no man in this world and his presence goes with me and he gives me rest and i trust alone in jesus christ and i trust no one in this world and im not lucky im blessed everything i have is because of gods grace and favor 1 Corinthians 1:9 King James Version 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 2:18 King James Version 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. im separate from sinners and the world and separate from smokers cussers blasphemers and i avoid strife and i shun vain babblings and empty worldly talk and i stay away from people who sow discord like god said to in the bible and i avoid people who cause divisions and arguing and bickering because i have a personal loving relationship with my heavenly father and im in fellowship with jesus christ and communion with the holy spirit and i reject people who cause divisions within the body of christ and have nothing more to do with such people i am the body of christ and i obey god forever rather then men and gods words say i am not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers because righteousness and unrighteousness have nothing and common and i have received the righteousness of god through my faith and trust in jesus christ A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST A person who is in Christ has a new life. Jesus told Nicodemus, "I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7) Paul wrote, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Children of God are changed in heart and life; they are dead to trespasses and sins. In Christ you are a Christian and a new creation. The Christian gave up being a child of the Devil in order to be a child of God. The new creature in Christ was, in the past, a servant of sin, following the works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-21) The new creature in Christ has now been made free from sins and is bearing the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Old things are passed away. The person who is in Christ has a new life. Literally, the Christian has given up the life of sin to have a "new life." This new life is life in Christ. "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:4) Living the life of Christ causes us to look to that day when the Lord will appear again. He is coming again! "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:3.) "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like man­ner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11) Who can be in Christ and thus be saved? Salvation is available to every sinner; “If any man be in Christ.” God's Son came as a sacrifice for our sins. He is our sin offering. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:17-18) Jesus, by His death and resurrected life, brought reconciliation. "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10) The Gospel is the great news that Jesus suffered sin's penalty in our place. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Mankind needs salvation and through Jesus this salvation is available. Where is this saved state found? Salvation is in Christ; “If any man be in Christ.” The blessings relating to salvation are in Christ. In Christ we are forgiven. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7) In Christ we have a new life. The believer who repents and is baptized is raised to a new life in Christ. (Romans 6:4) In Christ we are redeemed. Redemption means, "Liberation or freedom brought about by the payment of a ransom." Paul wrote, "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:14) In Christ we have a heavenly inheritance. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5) In Christ we have hope. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” (Romans 8:24) Those who are in Christ are God's children and they have hope of eternal life. What is a person like who is in Christ? In Christ old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Living faith transforms lives. Faith must produce a transformation of life or it is not a saving faith. Faith only or a dead faith is worthless and vain. Saving faith can only be shown in a changed life. Sadly many in the church of Christ seem to think that they have saving faith and that they are on their way to heaven when there has been no evident change of heart and no reformation of life. Hebrews 10:39 says that we must be of them that "believe to the saving of the soul." There is a belief that results in the salvation of the soul. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23) What does the character of your life demonstrate about your faith? Will you be baptized into Christ to put on Christ so that your sins can be forgiven by His blood? "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) Believers contact Christ's saving blood by being baptized into His death. John said, "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12) We join with Paul in saying, "To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21) Are you a faithful member of the church of Christ? 1 Corinthians 1:9 King James Version 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 2:18 King James Version 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. im separate from sinners and the world and separate from smokers cussers blasphemers and i avoid strife and i shun vain babblings and empty worldly talk and i stay away from people who sow discord like god said to in the bible and i avoid people who cause divisions and arguing and bickering because i have a personal loving relationship with my heavenly father and im in fellowship with jesus christ and communion with the holy spirit and i reject people who cause divisions within the body of christ and have nothing more to do with such people i am the body of christ and i obey god forever rather then men and gods words say i am not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers because righteousness and unrighteousness have nothing and common and i have received the righteousness of god through my faith and trust in jesus christ Psalm 55:19 King James Version 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. Psalm 37:21 King James Version 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. Proverbs 22:24-25 King James Version 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.Proverbs 20:3 King James Version 3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.Proverbs 16:28 King James Version 28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.Proverbs 6:16-19 King James Version 16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.Proverbs 20:19 King James Version 19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. Mark 3:28-30 King James Version 28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. 2 Corinthians 10 King James Version 10 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 8 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