Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

Rom 8:3  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: 

Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:5  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. 

Man’s heart is going to be “after” whatever his “mind” desires, and once HE determines what is well pleasing, good, or anything that will benefit his flesh, or the flesh of others, he is ‘all in’ so to speak (This is the same thing Adam and Eve did with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). But when man with his “mind” determines something to be well pleasing, good, or of any benefit to his flesh, and the flesh of others; then he determines to “walk after” these lusts, it becomes his way, his life, it becomes the “law” of his flesh! He becomes “subject” unto the “law” of his flesh, and this is because his “mind” has determined this to be what is well pleasing in his sight, and satisfies his flesh and he places more emphasis upon the law of his mind and the law of his flesh and by doing this he is not subject onto the will the way and the life and the law of God and by doing this he lives in a carnal mind and is not subject onto a spiritual mind.

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Subjection is the highest form of obedience given to a ‘power,’ or a person, you become UNDER its dominion, you fall UNDER its will, and its “law,” you become a “debtor” unto it. This does not carry the same rule as in marriage, with marriage; both ought to be “subject” unto the will of God in the marriage, NOT UNDER the will, and “law” of the spouse, and what their “carnal mind” determines how to “walk” in marriage. The only way we can “please God,” is we CANNOT be “in our flesh!” We must ‘get out of our own way,’ when it comes to how we are going to live our sanctified life as “sons and daughters,” we are going to have either a selfish “walk” as saints, or a selfless “walk” as “sons and daughters” by His word.

Rom 8:9  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. 

Notice verse 9 says IN the flesh, and IN the Spirit? YOU become “one” with it, you become part of its body, and even though our flesh is already part of our earthly bodies; we have to remember that our inward man is now permanently enjoined to Christ, regardless how WE desire to “walk,” but we as “sons and daughters” are beseeched to “mind the things” of the Spirit (the living word of God), and by doing this; we will desire to allow our inward man to be subject unto the will of God, the Life of God, the Word of God, and His “Law.” We will be “debtors” to the “Spirit,” which is His living Word, and debtors, and part of its Body, and thereby walking IN its will, life, and by its “law.”

Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

Rom 8:11  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. 

Rom 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 

The natural man is taught by this world to be a “debtor” to the flesh of other men, and especially unto his own flesh as well. This is the “law” of man today, the world places themselves ABOVE God, and this is based upon either they don’t believe that there is a God; Or they feel that God’s plan centers around the person who believes in Him, and by that, God will WORK TO SERVE MAN, AND GOD’S PLANS WILL BE DESIGNED AFTER WHATEVER MAN SAYS IS GOOD.

Rom 8:13  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. 

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

The Father desires that we “live after” the Spirit, which is living “after” His word, He desires that we are “led by” His word, and this the only way we can “serve” Him, this is the only way that we can live unto Him, this is the only way we can be the “sons and daughters” that He desires to educate! Notice in verse 13 it says the “deeds of” the body we ought to be led; by the deeds or works of his living word that is how we ought to functionally “live after” his word, His will, and His law, we ought to be a “debtor” to do “the deeds” of the Spirit, (the Living Word of God) and walk IN Its Law.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

Notice verse 17 says “come out,” and “BE ye?” It is the heart and mind of the saint that determines how they will walk, and what their minds will be “after,” and the “sons and daughters” in the context of verses 17, and 18 refers only to the saints who has desired to “BE” not after his flesh, and this world, but after His Word, and His Law.

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

1Ti 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 
1Ti 5:15  For some are already turned aside after Satan. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

Finally, we must “examine” ourselves, to see what we are actually “after,” and by that; we will truly see our TRUE IDENTITY, we will see WHO actually ‘owns our heart,’ and who we are given unto, and under WHO’S “dominion” are we ‘subject’ unto, and actually, WHO it is that we truly “serve,” but when we ‘roll back the curtain’ to reveal WHO we are truly “after;” we OURSELVES are always first, and foremost at the top. And we ourselves are the “temple of the Living God,” and the Word of God is designed to dwell within us today; but this IS NOT how we allow the Will, and word of God to work today, it is actually OURSELVES who actually are as the ONES who “as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” We serve, and “and make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts” of our hearts, but our service ought to be unto God, and His Word that ought to dwell within us, and our hearts, and flesh should be under this dominion, and not under subjection to ourselves, and the men of this world.

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Rod Jones