Romans 8:6

Romans 8:6 says, For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  There is no way to follow the desires of the flesh, which lead to rebellion against God, without that rebellion or sin being dealt with before we can be fully restored to a right relationship with God.  If we choose these desires over the sacrifice of Christ, spiritual death awaits us.  If we choose to follow Christ, to be spiritually minded, then we find life and peace through Christ.  Verse seven adds, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Choosing our will, the will of the carnal mind, puts us at enmity with God.  Even as followers of Christ, if we allow sin, the desires of the flesh, to invade our thoughts, we are at that point once again at war with God.  We are not once again lost, as we are sealed to God by His power, but we are indeed rebelling against God's will for our lives. Paul says that the carnal mind cannot be subjected to the law of God. As long as we believe that we can follow our earthly desires, we cannot follow Christ as we should.  This definitely applies to those who refuse to even acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord, but it also applies to those who accept Him as Savior and Lord but forget to allow Him to be Lord.  We cannot condemn those who are lost while at the same time refusing to live under complete control of the Holy Spirit.  As followers of Christ, we should find peace in our lives, and this is not based on the circumstances of life.  When we are truly following the direction of the Holy Spirit, our soul is at peace with God.  Verse eight continues, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  This applies not only to those who have never accepted Christ, but to those who have as well.  When we become followers of Christ, we still have our free will, which at times will lead us to thoughts or actions that are based on the desires of the flesh.  While we are following the desires of the flesh, we cannot please God.  It doesn't matter how much good we may do in the world, as long as we allow sin to rule even one aspect of our lives, we cannot please God. We can never have the attitude that since we are saved by the sacrifice of Christ, if we do sin the penalty is already paid, so it is not important.  When we allow sin back into our lives, we cannot please God.  Verse nine concludes, 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.  Paul says that through Christ we no longer live by the dictates of the flesh but by the dictates of the Holy Spirit.  He says this is true because the Holy Spirit indwells those who belong to God, and if the Holy Spirit does not live in us, we do not belong to God.  Having the Holy Spirit indwell us is not a second blessing for a few, but an accomplished fact for all true believers.  When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord of our life, the Holy Spirit immediately resides in us to guide and strengthen us.  The sin of the flesh is defeated, as long as we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.