ROMANS 8:7

“because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,”

Wars have been present almost since the creation of mankind. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, man began to lash out at each other. The first record of this is when Cain killed his brother Abel. It has continued through the generations. The chief war is the one with God, when man refuses to bow the knee to the Creator of the universe and fights against the One which he will never defeat.

Paul says very powerfully in today’s verse that when we set our minds on the flesh we are “hostile toward God.” The word used here for “hostile” is echthra. This word is only used six times in the New Testament and refers to hostility towards God and towards others. It can be translated as enmity or hatred. It’s not just a simple little hate. It’s a “personal hostility or deep-seated opposition.” (Topical Lexicon).

APPLICATION

If this is present in your life, whether it is directed toward God or others, you need to take a look at yourself. Is your mind set on the flesh or the Spirit? In James 4:4 we read, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” This is so illustrated in the story about a British porn star who claims to be a Christian but refuses to stop her career in the porn industry. You can reconcile those two. You can’t claim to love God and continue to do the very things His Word says to stop.

Echthra is listed in Galatians 5:20 as one of the works of the flesh. Here it is referring to the personal conflicts we have with one another. Now, listen to me. Sometimes you can’t avoid conflicts with others. I understand that. This word is talking about those persistent conflicts. We are called to be peacemakers whenever possible. Don’t blame your conflicts with others on your temperament. That won’t hold water.

The good news is Christ abolished this enmity. Look at Ephesians 2:15-16. “by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.” If Christ has abolished it, has put it to death, why do we hang on to it. Give up the hate! Give up the hostility! Allow the Spirit of Christ to transform your mind and focus only on Him.

O Lord, it is only through You that I can truly lay down the enmity of my flesh toward others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis).