How could we differ on verse 13? Believers certainly don't live after the flesh...or do you think it means die physically?
And I'm sure
our understanding of, for example, verse 13
will differ.
We just look at these things differently.
My sense of...
13. 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.
... is, if you try to serve God in your own strength, sin will revive, and you will die spiritually, because you are still subject to spiritual death through the flesh.
Galatians 5:
16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
If you attempt to serve in your own strength, you will experience the condemnation (spiritual death) that Paul has been talking about in Romans 7 forward, though he began this issue in Romans 6.
You will be unable to walk in your Identity in Christ.
However, if you walk in an understanding of
who the Spirit of God asserts in His Word He has made you in Christ (he is talking Identity issues - he is talking to Body members), you will put to death the members of your body, and live unto God; no problem.
This is why Grace churches, for example, don't make a big deal about the music, and you never hear a Grace preacher say - at least not a sound one, that is - "can I get an amen?"
Because the "revival," the true, spiritual revival, not the foolishness of emotion so many take as "oh, I feel the Spirit's leading" - the true, spiritual revival, is built into the doctrine.
Its what Paul is talking about when he talks about "the effectual working of his power," in Ephesians 3:7.
Its like Duracell batteries that never wear out.
Put them in, flip the switch, and their inert power does its thing.
Likewise with the Mystery - it "is of power to stablish you" in an understanding of who God has made you in His Son, that you might then walk in by faith in same, "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving," Rom. 16:25; Col. 2:7.
It worketh in you that understand it in light of the Mystery, as well as believe, and then walk in same as your thanks giving - grace motivation!
I get all this out of that one passage in light of Romans thru Philemon.
If that is not Ephesians' Mystery there in Romans 8, unto Ephesians 3: 10's "intent," well, then, we will just have to agree, to disagree.
And I am fine that. For I have all that to be thankful for, as well as rejoice in!