Romans 7:24-25 - New King James Version
24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul here seems to distinguish the mind from the flesh. Yet, assuredly the flesh cannot be absent from the mind as without intent from the mind sin is scarce. What does Paul mean to present by distinguishing the mind from the flesh?
The New Testament makes an important distinction between the pre-conversion life and the post conversion life and describes these two lives as
That is the difference between a life controlled by the flesh and carnal desires, vs, a life controlled by spirit (in some places, the Holy Spirit). Not all the references to a spirit lead life are direct references to the Holy Spirit but rather to the new spirit (= mind) of the converted Christian that has its source in the Holy Spirit.
Answer
Paul differentiates the “mind” from the “flesh” on a Scriptural basis. His view is not based on a secular or philosophical point of view.
Explanation
Why does Paul refer to a Christian who is led by the Holy Spirit as “a wretched man”?
There is a reason.
According to Paul, there are 2 stages in the life of true Christians:
The “babes in Christ” who take “only milk” (the newly converted Christians); and
The “full grown” Christians who take “solid food” (experienced in the Word of Righteousness).
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:12-14).
Babes in Christ
At the initial stage of the Christian life, the believers are still carrying with them some legacy of the secular world in which they were living:
“And, brothers, I was not able to speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly ones, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, and not food, for you were not then able, for neither are you yet able now. For you are yet fleshly. For where among you is jealousy, and strife, and divisions, are you not fleshly and walk according to man?” (1 Cor 3:1-3).
Mature in Christ
In fact, true Christianity involves tremendous growth:
“Brothers, do not be children in your minds, but in malice be like infants, and in your minds be mature” (1 Cor 14:20).
“Because of this, having left the discourse of the beginning of Christ, let us be borne on to full growth, not laying down again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Heb 6:1).
“we all may come to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13).
Problem of Babes in Christ
We, as new Christians, are beset with fleshly pulls and doctrinal doubts:
“Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray” (Eph 4:14).
This indeed is really a “wretched man” state!
Yet, the difference here between the Christian and a secular man is that the former knows the truth and the latter doesn’t.
The newly converted Christian who is inexperienced knows that:
“but I see another law in my members having warred against the law of my mind, and taking me captive by the law of sin being in my members” (Rom 7:23).
What the Law of Mind is
This is nothing but a reference to Hebrews 10:16 and Jeremiah 31:33:
“This is the covenant which I will covenant to them after those days, says the Lord: Giving My LAWS on their hearts, and I will write them on their MINDS” (Heb 10:16).
It is the “spiritual”, “holy”, “righteous” and “good” laws (Rom 7:12, 14) that were part of the first covenant that God said He will write in the minds of the New Covenant Christians.
It is these new Christians who “delight in the Law of God according to the inward man” (Rom 7:22) but are struggling with fleshly pulls.
Yet God of mercy gives them ample time to grow and mature:
“Though he stumbles, he will not fall down flat, for the LORD will hold up his hand” (Psalms 37:24).
“Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord—and stand he will, because the Lord makes him stand” (Rom 14:4).
Conclusion
Paul is talking about the tug of war that goes on in the life of a newly converted Christian who is “sincere in his mind” yet finds it very difficult to “overcome the world”.
We need the broader context of Romans 6 - 8 to make sense of this.
Romans 6 clarifies the reality of the cross and resurrection by clearly stating that once we enter into trust into Jesus, this reality is our reality, too.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. (Romans 6:8,9)
Romans 7 takes us into what this means in a practical, logical way (using our mind's ability to see logic).
But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. (Romans 7:8,9)
Sin is the problem.
If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to wish is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (Romans 7:16-18)
Sin works in our flesh, including our brain. But, Paul doesn't encourage mindlessness and instead moves forward to see where our victory is.
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, in order so the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3,4)
The next verse brings Romans 6-8 together on this theme of the flesh and the Spirit of God.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)
To research the Greek on Romans 8:5, click here
The end result is where we set our minds. The Earth and all of this, including our bodies, will someday be gone. But, YHWH's word is forever. Faith comes by hearing his word and because of God's kindness in Jesus we are set free in Christ and walking in this same faith is how we grow as followers of Jesus.
The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 6:7,8)
Paul addresses this question in Romans 8. While the flesh cannot be absent from the mind, the mind retains the ability to choose between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-11 (NIV)
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
In Romans 7:18, Paul describes that the fresh has a sinful nature. Consequently, as he mentions in 1 Corinthians 9:27, he learned to discipline his body to attain the prize.
No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
It is accurate that the mind leads the flesh. Therefore, in Galatians 5:16-18, Paul further elaborates on this matter.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The ancients had no understanding of brain function. In fact, when the Egyptians would mummify a person they scraped out and discarded the brain, then they put the lungs, liver, intestines and stomach in jars, to ensure that their breath was preserved for everlasting life:
Canopic jars Canopic jars were made to contain the organs that were removed from the body in the process of mummification: the lungs, liver, intestines, and stomach. Each organ was protected by one of the Four Sons of Horus: Hapy (lungs), Imsety (liver), Duamutef (stomach), and Qebehsenuef (intestines).
This anatomy is evident in the Christian scriptures, however, they were more concerned with the heart and the reins (kidneys):
[Psa 7:9 KJV] [9] Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
[Psa 16:7 KJV] [7] I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
[Psa 26:2 KJV] 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
[Psa 73:21 KJV] [21] Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
[Psa 139:13 KJV] [13] For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
[Pro 23:16 KJV] [16] Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
[Jer 11:20 KJV] [20] But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
[Jer 12:2 KJV] 2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou [art] near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
[Jer 17:10 KJV] [10] I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
[Rev 2:23 KJV] [23] And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Jewish anatomy goes back to at least Genesis 2:7. Here Moses tells us that man is composed of two substance:
[Gen 2:7 NASB95] [7] Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
So where does the mind exist? It is a function of the animating breath of life. Paul call this "the principle of the Breath of Life":
[Rom 8:2 NASB95] 2 For the law of the Spirit [Gk: pneuma = "breath"] of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
See also all of these references:
[Job 33:4 NASB95] [4] "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
[Pro 15:4 NASB95] [4] A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
[Isa 38:16 NASB95] [16] "O Lord, by [these] things [men] live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live!
[Rom 8:11 NASB95] [11] But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
[2Co 3:6 NASB95] [6] who also made us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
So for Paul, like others before him, the control center of the body is the vital organs, where the thoughts and intent of a man reside.
[Pro 20:27 YLT] [27] The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
Paul's burden in Romans is to convince the Romans that not only does the Torah not bring about justification and everlasting life, neither does the Torah bring about righteous behavior. For him, that isn't its purpose. For him, the purpose of the law is to turn sins into crimes, resulting in a death sentence. Sin is personified as an opportunistic enslaver of men into condemnation:
[Rom 7:21-25 YLT] [21] I find, then, the law, that when I desire to do what is right, with me the evil is present, [22] for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man, [23] and I behold another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of the sin that [is] in my members. [24] A wretched man I [am]! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? [25] I thank God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord; so then, I myself indeed with the mind do serve the law of God, and with the flesh, the law of sin.
For Paul, freedom from sin comes by freedom from the Torah through death to the law, and resurrection, free from the body.
