By Pastor Antonee Aguilar
Romans 8:1, 2, 5, 6—“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.... 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.”
I remember sitting in my study room late one night fifteen years ago while we were still in Saipan, Northern Marianas Island, a U.S. Commonwealth in the Western Pacific, where we served as missionaries for seven and a half years; I was wrestling with the same old patterns that seemed to bind me to an endless cycle of defeat. I was desperate for answers, so I began searching in the Bible; as I opened to Romans 8, something shifted in my understanding.
It was like discovering a key I'd always had but never knew how to use. In Paul's words, there lay a beautiful truth that would change everything about how I look at life: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Right then, I realized I had been living under a shadow of guilt, trying to break free through my willpower, when a different path to freedom existed all along.
As I dug deeper into Romans 8:5,6, I pictured myself as if I were on the battlefield where this war was being fought - in my mind. It wasn't just about changing behaviors; it was about transforming my entire way of thinking. The text spoke of two distinct mindsets: one focused on the flesh, leading to death, and another on the Spirit, leading to life and peace.
After analyzing the chapter and reviewing the commentaries, what struck me most was the theme of surrender and partnership between divine power and human effort. All the while, God was always present, ready to establish a relationship with me. He was not asking me to fight this battle alone, nor will He fight it for me while I remain passive. Instead, He offered a partnership—His Spirit provides the power while, on my part, I need to remain actively choosing to redirect my thoughts.
By understanding its logic and applying it, I noticed gradual changes. What started as challenging mental exercises became easier with practice. The old habits that once seemed impossible to overcome began to lose their grip. I discovered the truth of what I had read from the Ministry of Healing, page 491: “We need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts. The only security for any soul is right thinking. As a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. The power of self-restraint strengthens by exercise. That which at first seems difficult, by constant repetition, grows easy, until right thoughts and actions become habitual. If we will, we may turn away from all that is cheap and inferior, and rise to a higher standard; we may be respected by men and beloved of God.”
Days turned into weeks, then years, as I began implementing this new understanding; the effects lightened my burden and gave me peace. Yes, instead of fighting it directly when temptation came, I learned to shift my focus to things that were pure, lovely, and of good report, as Philippians 4:8 suggests.
Standing on the other side of this journey today, I can testify to the truth in 2 Corinthians 2:14 - God does indeed cause us to triumph in Christ. The freedom I've found isn't about perfect performance or for me to become sinless but a new way of living, thinking, and being. The old patterns haven't disappeared magically, but through the "law of the Spirit of life," I've found a way to rise above them (sanctification process).
This transformation journey isn't unique to some of us, and the same path is open to anyone willing to engage in this divine-human partnership. It begins with a simple choice to unite with Christ and intentionally choose and make daily decisions to "mind the things of the Spirit." Yes, it requires effort. Yes, it takes time. But the promise remains true - through this wonderful reworking of our thoughts, we can break free from sinful habits' debilitating power and rise to a higher standard of living.
As I close my Bible every evening before going to sleep, I'm reminded that this journey isn't just about personal victory - it's about becoming living proof that God's way of transformation works that bears the fruits of the Spirit. In every victory, large or small, we become bearers of hope to others still struggling to break free. Let us continue to share His-story, not just our history, of how He molded us when we formed a strong partnership with God.