Romans 8:5-8, Privilege of Life with God
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. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
The Apostle Paul gives the contrast of a life guided by the Holy Spirit and a life given over to the flesh. To be carnally minded is death. To be spiritually minded is life and peace.
In John 4, Jesus initiated the conversation by humbling Himself to ask a drink from the woman at the well in Samaria (for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans). In fact, historically, they were bitter enemies. The Jew would not stoop low to ask a drink from the Samaritan even though he may be thirsty. Jesus reached out to the unlovable and outcast Samaritan proactively. He did not despise her but saw this “outcast” as a precious soul needing the gospel. Jesus’ act of condescension startled the woman. It brought forth a response from her. Jesus utilized the illustration of “living water” that will quench her thirst forever alluding to everlasting life from God to arouse her interest to seek to know more of the truth.
She responded in the affirmative – “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” She had a need for true love. Her soul yearning is not satisfied. That emptiness in her was the absence of God’s love. She has had five husbands. Jesus knew her problem and addressed it – “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” Jesus was leading the sinner to reconcile with God by pointing out her sin which she could not deny. Jesus did not mince His words but pointed the woman’s besetting sin! He knew her well. He knew that it would prick the conscience of the woman when her sin was pointed out, but it was needful to help her reconcile with God.
The realization that she cannot go on living in sin dawned upon the woman. God knows, and God sees our sins. We cannot hide from Him. And our Lord was the instrument of the Father to help this woman with her sin problem. She realized that there was nowhere to hide, and she admitted to our Lord what He said was true – “Sir, I perceive thou art a prophet.” The woman accepted Jesus’ admonition. What rejoicing to see the sinner repenting and reconciled with God.
The woman had a legitimate concern. Where should she worship? The Jews worshipped in Jerusalem. Tradition has it that for the Samaritans, “our fathers worship in this mountain” There is no way she could be accepted to worship in Jerusalem. Where then could she worship? Jesus had a prepared an answer to her question – where should she worship? Our Lord gave her a “biblical” solution to her question – “God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” God is Spirit and not confined to the Temple in Jerusalem or the mountain in Samaria. You must worship God with wholehearted devotion “in spirit” and “in truth”.
Having addressed her concern by providing a biblical solution, our Lord finally led the woman to receive Him as Lord and Saviour. The converted woman testified to others in Samaria of her new found faith – “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” – She testified with great excitement. The disciples were surprised that Jesus talked with this sinner. But this was Jesus’ mission – to save the lost.
Jesus showed the woman the way of life and peace by putting away the sin of adultery. She no longer minded the things of the flesh but sought life with God in the Spirit finding eternal life and peace with God. Praise the Lord for her salvation. May the Lord help us to cherish the privilege of life with God! Amen.