Romans 8:5-6

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man [or the mind set on the flesh] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Paul begins in v5 to contrast people who are in the Spirit, in whom the Spirit dwells, and people who are in the flesh and in whom the Spirit does not dwell. These are the only 2 varieties of people: controlled by sin or controlled by the Spirit. This is an important fact to realize. Many Christians might think that there is a third class of people who are neither controlled by sin nor by the Spirit. But this is not Biblical teaching. We hear it from Paul; we hear it from Christ: “The person who is sins is a slave to sin.” We are all controlled by the sin nature until freed by Christ. So there is no third class. There are only two: Spirit-controlled and sin-controlled. And Paul points to the differences of character, desire, attitude, and conduct between those indwelt by the Holy Spirit and those not. Paul’s primary reason for this contrast is to remind believers that the Holy Spirit gives us life and the power of the Spirit is tremendous. In v5-11 we see the absence of the spirit and its result, the presence of the Spirit and its result, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul first talks about the sinful nature, or the flesh, as human nature corrupted, directed, and controlled by sin. He’s speaking of unbelievers as people whose mind is on the things of the flesh and who walk after the flesh; he’s talking about a basic moral condition, an inward frame of mind. It’s characterized by captivation with the things of this world and one’s own agenda. Desires are in control, and the sin nature controls those desires. Some of those things are civilly good, but they’re not sought after in the frame of glorifying God, and so they are sinful. Interestingly, Paul’s description of the unbeliever here does not contain a list of sins; rather, Paul focuses on the disposition of the mind of unbelievers, and the control of the sin nature and its desires that they are under.

Paul contrasts the unbeliever with the believer, saying that the mind of the believer is focused not on the desires of the sin nature, but on the desires of the Spirit, which is now in control of the believer. Either way, it’s the nature and the desires that control the person. And this was exactly what Jonathan Edwards said. So here is Scriptural proof of Edwards’ conclusion.

Notice that a Christian has his mind set on the things of the Spirit. His heart is controlled by the Spirit. His reason, his desires, and his will reflect the Spirit’s work. His purposes are spiritual. He’s at peace with God because of justification. He’s reconciled to God, has life, a true knowledge in fellowship with God, and tranquility, peace even in difficult circumstances because of that justification that God has granted to him.

Unbelievers do not look at the things of this life from the standpoint of God’s glory, or their neighbors good. They are self-centered; they pursue their own agendas and have set their mind on the things of the flesh, things that will pass away. And the result for them is death. Believers, on the other hand, look at things from God’s perspective; they strive for the glory of God and their neighbor’s good, even if that comes at their own expense. Believers store up treasures in heaven, where they will never pass away. And the result is life; notice that it’s not just life, but life and peace - peaceful life.