Living According to the Spirit of Life vs. Acting According to the Lord's Mind and Will

 

Living According to the Spirit of Life vs. Acting According to the Lord's Mind and Will

Rom 8:1-2 "There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and of death"

2 Cor 5:21 "Him who did not know sin He made sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"

 

Analysis Item	Living According to  the Spirit of Life	Acting According to the Lord's Mind and Will
Definition & Meaning	Living and acting by the indwelling Spirit, allowing the Spirit of life to live and work within us; natural outflow of life, operation of the law of the Spirit of life	Understanding and following the Lord's mind and will, being completely aligned with God's will; renewal of mind and alignment of will, manifestation of righteousness
Essential Characteristics	Life-level experience, natural outflow of inner dynamic	Mind and will level practice, conscious alignment of external behavior
Biblical Basis	Rom 8:4 "That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" Gal 5:16 "Walk by the Spirit and you will by no means fulfill the lust of the flesh"	Eph 4:24 "And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality" Col 3:10 "And have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him who created him"
Cause of Origin	Christ's redemptive work, indwelling of the Spirit, operation of the law of the Spirit of life within	God's requirement of righteousness, creation of the new man, putting on the new man created according to God's righteousness
Spiritual Source	Law of the Spirit of life, natural law of inner life	God's righteousness and image, God's mind and will
Method of Practice	Follow the guidance and feeling of the inner Spirit of life Not acting according to the flesh but according to the Spirit Not intending to fulfill the law Simply living by the Spirit Allowing the Spirit of life to operate naturally	Through the infusion of the Spirit, understand the Lord's mind and will Receive the supply of the Spirit, inner man becomes transparent as crystal Attend church meetings Receive the supply of the life-giving Spirit Be saturated and infused by the Spirit
Process Characteristics	Unconscious, natural and spontaneous Without effort, automatic Natural outflow of life	Clear understanding, conscious Requires the Spirit's supply and revelation Alignment of mind
Main Distinctions	Focus: Natural outflow of life Level: Life level Method: Operation of inner law<br>Result: Righteous requirements of law naturally fulfilled	Focus: Alignment of mind<br>Level: Mind and will level Method: Spirit's revelation and supply Result: Become righteous person, right with God, man, and self
Biblical Examples	Paul's struggle in Romans 7 to victory in Romans 8: From "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death?" (Rom 7:24) to "There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1)	Believers' experience of putting on the new man: "This new man was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality" (Eph 4:24) "This new man is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Col 3:10)
Life Examples	All Ten Commandments fulfilled: Do not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, covet These commandments unconsciously and naturally fulfilled	Know how to treat people, how to handle money Right in all matters great and small Right with God, with man, and with self Become a person who expresses God
Church Life Examples	Rarely miss meetings, only because of desire to attend and receive supply Naturally attend meetings, not out of duty	Receive the Spirit's infusion in prayer meetings, saturated by the Spirit After meetings, everything seems golden, inner tree of life growing, river of life flowing Inner man transparent, pure as crystal
Personal Life Application	Walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh Follow the feeling of inner life Let the Spirit of life guide naturally	Under the Spirit's infusion, understand the Lord's mind Through transparent mind, know the Lord's will Immediately know the Lord's mind, clearly apprehend His will and work
Moral Behavior Expression	Righteous requirements of law naturally fulfilled No need to intend to fulfill the Ten Commandments Every commandment naturally and completely fulfilled	Become righteous person, express God's image Righteousness is God's image, God expressed Act according to the Lord's mind and will
Relationship with God	Freed from the law of sin and death No condemnation in Christ Jesus Life and peace	Become the righteousness of God in Him Able to know God's heart Completely aligned with God
Supporting Scripture	Rom 8:6 "The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" Gal 5:25 "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" Rom 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God"	Rom 12:2 "Be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well-pleasing and perfect" Eph 4:23 "And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind" Phil 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus"
Ultimate Goal	Become righteous person, express God's image	Become righteous person, express God's image
Complementary Relationship	Provides inner life dynamic, foundation of spiritual life	Provides clear directional guidance, expression of spiritual life

 

Summary:

These two aspects are actually complementary dimensions of the Christian spiritual life:

• "Living According to the Spirit of Life" emphasizes the natural outflow of life and inner dynamic, a matter of life
• "Acting According to the Lord's Mind and Will" emphasizes the renewal of mind and alignment of will, a matter of mind

The former is natural and spontaneous, the latter is clear and conscious; the former is the operation of inner law, the latter is the guidance of external behavior. Both are results of the Spirit's work, both point to the same goal: becoming righteous persons who express God's image. In actual spiritual life, these two dimensions are an inseparable whole.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 5: Righteousness of the Bride.