Life According to the Flesh or the Spirit - Darren Rowse
Every day, we make choices about how we’ll live — what we’ll pursue, what we’ll focus on, what we’ll allow to shape us. In Romans 8:5–11, Paul presents two distinct ways of living: one according to the flesh and one according to the Spirit.
This message from Darren Rowse, part of our Romans 8 series at One Church, explores what these two ways mean and how the Spirit of God brings true life and peace.
Watch or listen to the full sermon below, and then read on for reflections, discussion questions, and a practical way to live out the message this week.
Two Ways of Living
Paul contrasts two mindsets: the mind governed by the flesh and the mind governed by the Spirit. These aren’t just about thoughts — they describe the orientation of our lives.
The flesh isn’t merely our physical bodies; it’s a way of life turned away from God. As John Piper defines it, “Flesh is anything that is minus God — anything done not in reliance on God or in pursuit of His glory.”
In other words, the flesh represents a self-centred way of living — a “self-salvation project” (as Tim Keller puts it), where we look to our own achievements, possessions, or pleasures to give us meaning and worth.
“We love self-determination, self-actualisation, self-belief, self-fulfilment... and in the end, it’s self-worship.”
In contrast, life according to the Spirit is a life oriented around God’s presence and power. The Spirit — described here as the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead — lives in those who belong to Jesus.
Paul insists that this is not theory. For followers of Jesus, this is our new reality:
“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:9)
This truth changes everything. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in us — bringing life, peace, and renewal.
Connecting to Our Lives
It’s easy to feel torn between the two ways of living — the way of self and the way of the Spirit. Paul himself wrestled with this in Romans 7. But here, he reminds us that those who belong to Christ already live in the realm of the Spirit.
That means we don’t have to earn life with God. It’s already given. Yet we’re still invited to cooperate with the Spirit’s work — to set our minds on what the Spirit desires.
“The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you — and He wants to resurrect things in you that are dying.”
So how do we do that?
Darren drew on a teaching from Tim Keller (quoting John Stott) that gives us two lifelong spiritual practices:
Mortification — putting to death the parts of our life that pull us away from God.
Aspiration — setting our minds on the things of the Spirit, the things that bring life.
In simple terms, we’re called to let go of what hinders and fix our focus on what gives life.
That means asking questions like:
What am I orienting my life around?
Who or what is governing my life?
Am I relying on myself or depending on God’s Spirit?
The good news is we don’t do this alone. The Spirit helps us — reminding us of Jesus, testifying about Him, glorifying Him, and making Him real to us in deeper ways.
When we slow down enough to notice the Spirit’s work, we often find moments of revelation and renewal — those “chip-chip” moments Darren described when the Holy Spirit chisels truth into our hearts.
Romans 8:5–11 invites us to re-orient our lives around the Spirit of God — the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead.
Life in the flesh leads to exhaustion and emptiness. Life in the Spirit brings peace, purpose, and resurrection power — both now and forever.
One Way to Live It Out this Week
This week, start each morning by reminding yourself:
“The Holy Spirit is in me — the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead.”
Say it aloud. Let it sink in. Then invite the Spirit to guide your thoughts, desires, and decisions throughout the day.
A Prayer For Your Week
Holy Spirit, thank You for living in me.
Breathe new life into the parts of me that have grown weary or self-focused.
Help me set my mind on what You desire and teach me to love Jesus more deeply.
Amen.
Reflection Questions
For Personal Reflection
What does it mean to you that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you?
Are there areas of your life where you’re relying on your own “self-salvation projects” instead of God’s Spirit?
What helps you shift your focus from self-reliance to Spirit-dependence during your week?
For Small Group Discussion
When you hear “life according to the flesh” and “life according to the Spirit,” what comes to mind?
How does Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:5–11 connect with your own spiritual journey?
Darren mentioned that the “mind” refers to the core orientation of our being, not just our thoughts. How does that reshape how you understand faith?
In what ways do you see the “self-salvation project” at work in our culture — or even in the church?
What does it practically look like to “set your mind on what the Spirit desires”?
How can mortification (putting to death what hinders) and aspiration (setting your mind on the Spirit) work together in daily life?
Have you ever experienced a moment when the Holy Spirit made a truth about Jesus come alive for you? What was that like?
End your discussion by praying for one another — that the Spirit would bring new life and peace in each person’s week ahead.