One knows that he dwells in God and God in him, because God hath given him of his Spirit;[A] the other has no such witness.
[Footnote A: I John iv:13.]
One is under "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus," is made "free from the law of sin and death;" the other is not; "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."
Paul runs the parallel between the spiritual man and the carnal or natural man much further and beautifully: "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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."[A]
[Footnote A: Romans viii:1-17.]
2. The Terms Used to Express the Contrast: I have chosen to put the distinction between the natural man and the spiritual man—the man unbaptized of the Spirit and the one born of the Spirit—in terms that include direct reference to the Holy Ghost. It may be put into terms that refer directly to the Christ, such, for example, as "know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" This said to those who had received the Gospel.[A] "Your bodies are members of Christ."[B] "At that day ye shall know that I am in the Father, and ye in me, and I in you."[C] "I am the vine, ye are the branches."[D] "I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."[E]
[Footnote A: II Cor. xii:5.]
[Footnote B: I Cor. vi:15.]
[Footnote C: St. John xiv:10.]
[Footnote D: St. John xv:4.]