Living After the Spirit, Not the Flesh

"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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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... For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:5-9, 13,14). Whether or not we are following diligently after God's Spirit is something that shows forth in our lives every day, by what manner of spirit we exemplify, and by what we prefer to do and speak. And this will be what determines whether we have peace in our lives, or turmoil. Not only so, but these things will also decide whether we inherit eternal life, or eternal separation and damnation (Rom. 14:10,12; II Cor. 5:10; Mat. 12:36,37). Also we simply cannot please God, or be led by his Spirit, or even belong to him if we have not received his Spirit. That is what we have read here from Romans 8. It really is that simplistic, and that serious. Amen.