This is our fifth and final installment in the series "Understanding the Mind of God." It is called "Applied Righteousness".

1. The Mind of God (Part 5)
Applied Righteousness
Rom. 8:3-9
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For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in
the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 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. 9 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.
Introduction
We have been studying the mind of God.
During this series we have covered:
1. Our need of righteousness
2. Righteousness the manifestation of faith
3. Righteousness through separation
4. Righteousness from the heart
5. Applied righteousness
During our previous 4 lessons we talked about:
● Our need for righteousness.
● That our natural inclinations were a catalyst for God's wrath
● “In order to have the mind of God, we must first learn to mind the
things of God.”
● God's law reveals our unrighteousness and faith helps us change
● God's word (logos) means something said (including thought)
● That the mind of God is concealed and it is our honor to seek Him and
we do that through His word
● Righteousness requires death to self
● And that although we face a war with the flesh there are rewards for
living righteously
● Religion is man's attempt to reach God
● When we acknowledge Jesus with our heart (the seat of emotion) we
will be healed/delivered/preserved
● But to do this we must give our attentions to Him

2. ● That faith without obedience is not faith
● Just like Israel of old if we don't trust in Him instead of our religion we
too can be cut off
Reasonable Service
How many times have you said, “If I just knew what God wanted from me,” or
“I wish I knew what God's will for my life was.”
Rom 12:1-2 “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
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And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
● Beseech = invite/invoke/implore/entreat
● Present = stand beside/exhibit/give
● Body = literally and figuratively your body as a slave
● Living sacrifice = victim
● Holy = sacred/pure morally blameless, acceptable = well pleasing
● Reasonable = rational or logical, service = ministration or worship
This can only be accomplished through:
● Conformed = not fashioned like or after the same pattern of this age
● But by being transformed = undergoing a metamorphosis and a renewing
= renovation or our mind (thought, will, intellect, and understanding)
This metamorphosis is so that you can test/approve/discern that which is good
or of benefit (that which is acceptable = agreeable/well pleasing and perfect =
complete will (choice/decree/pleasure/inclination/desire) of God.
Only when we willingly give up our lives as a sacrifice (ignoring our desires to
see His desire done in our lives) will we be at a place where we can transform
our thought processes, understanding, and emotion and thereby be renovated
by the Holy Ghost.
But how do we do that?
Rom 12:9-21 “9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the
necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse
not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same
mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not
wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in
the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written,
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if
he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1. Love w/o hypocrisy and utterly detest evil and glue to good
2. Cherish your brothers and sisters
3. Give to others
4. Don't be slothful in diligence

3. 5. Hot in the Holy Ghost (on fire)
6. Slave to God
7. Cheerful in your expectation
8. Bear pressure and persecution
9. Diligent in prayer and worship
10.Share with saints in need
11.Entertain strangers
12.Speak well/praise your enemies
13.Be cheerful with others and cry with others
14.Have sentiment with others and not lofty things
15.Yield to those of a lower degree
16.Don't become self-wise
17.Don't return evil for evil
18.Live at peace with all as much as possible
19.Allow God to vindicate you
Overcome evil with good!
Subjection
Like the sermon on the mount, these sayings go counter to our natural instinct
(but that is what being renewed in your mind is all about). Don't let emotion,
or your knee-jerk reactions rule your spirit. To do so is to give into carnality.
Instead learn subjection. Rom 13:1-2 “1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher
powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever
therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive
to themselves damnation.”
● This is why God gives us authority figures in our lives (Parents, Teachers,
Leaders, Law Enforcement, etc.)
● Those that rebel against God-given authority, rebel against God Himself
But Paul goes on and says, Rom 13:8 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Don't come under the obligation to
others, because when you do your loyalties will lie with that person.
We must learn to put on Christ. Rom 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” When we fail to reflect His
image we are subject to the flesh and fulfill the desires of the flesh.
But we are all at different levels in our walk with God. Therefore, we receive
those who aren't at our level without judgment or debate. Rom 14:1 “Him that is
weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”
● Just because a brother doesn't live up to your expectations doesn't mean
you judge that person
● Neither should you belittle the person by debating and trying to show
your holiness
According to Rom 14:5 every person must be convinced in his own
thoughts/feelings/will. Nothing is profane in itself, but it is profane to those
that deem it profane (Rom 14:14-15) “14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus,

4. that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean,
to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not
charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.” For this reason we
don't destroy one another!
Rom 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost.” It's not about how holy your are, but how holy He is!
Closing
JOY = Jesus – Others – Yourself
Rom 15:1-3 “1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not
to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that
reproached thee fell on me.”
Righteousness is not a goal, instead it is a process of learning self-control and
self-sacrifice.
Rom 15:5-6 “5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In other words, “May the God of cheerful endurance and exhortation grant you
the exercise of your sentiment or opinion towards others that it would be like
Christ; so that with a unanimous accord and passion and with the same
language you may render glorious our God and the father of us all.”
● We must be on the same page
● Singing from the same hymnal (so to speak)
That page is this:
“In order to have the mind of God, we must first learn to mind the things of
God.”
Only when we understand this, are we ready to teach/admonish others.
For this reason, Rom 16:17-18 “17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For
they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
● Those that cause disunion, dissension, sedition and those that cause
snares, offense, and occasion to fall should be identified and avoided
● Because they serve the flesh and their own will not God's – through
elegant speaking deceive the body
God is not looking for a body that has been corrupted by this present age, but
He wants a chaste bride, adorned in white, prepared for her wedding!