NOTES
Rom 6-8 talkng about a root human problem that psychology alone cannot solve. The solution is the Law of the Spirit of LifwRom. 7: One explanation: It is the state of the unredeemed.
Another (Keswick Theology): It is the state of the Carnal Christian.
++++The Mind Loves the Law
- I know that the Law is spiritual (Rom.7:14)
- I agree that the Law is good (Rom.7:16)
- I delight in the Law (Rom.7:22)
- No mind that loves the anti-law; it may hate that the Law is preventing it from doing certain things; but, it doesn't prefer something against the Law. For instance, no sane mind would like the following commands:
1. Thou shalt tell lie
2. Thou shalt murder
3. Thou shalt commit adultery
4. Thou shalt covet
Because it knows that such laws are self-destructive.
Immanuel Kant: Starry heavens above, and the moral law within.
Rom. 2:14,15
But, a debased mind tries to create a system that would in someway justify sin.
Rom.1: Bad Myths (Plato - Censor). Cultural customs, human invention, can be anti-Christian
- Justify adultery, justify murder...
, infant marriages...(Doctrines of men)
Rom.1: God gave them up.
Homosexuality... justified.. Laws that make it legal.
-But when mind is challenged rationally, it is stunned by its foolishness like a man who is living in a dark room on whom suddenly shines a bright light.
E.G. Nathan to David (Sin with Bathsheba),
The man who went to a brothel and found his own wife.
Children: They know what is just and unjust:
School- If you don't discipline the bad guy but mistreat the good ones, it will create tension and anarchy. If you discipline the guy who did wrong, the others will recognize fairness and justice, there will be order.
++++++
So, the Mind Loves the Law
++++++But the Flesh Serves Sin
"With the Flesh I" WHO? I... my will, intellect, (self-responsibility and freedom involved)
Rom.8:5, 8
How does that happen?
Rom.7:15 - I do not understand!!!!!
But, at least I know two things:
1. It is not me (because my inner man - mind- loves the Law) (Rom.7:20).
2. It is sin that dwells in me
But, it is not like being possessed by some demon or something (in such no will involved)
- What I hate that I do (Rom.7:15)
- The evil that I will not to do, that I practice (Rom.7:19)
PROBLEM: I do not find how to perform the good (Rom.7:18)
PROBLEM: Mind set on the flesh cannot fulfill the law of God.
Rom7:25 says that the mind serves the Law, but the flesh serves sin.
But, the mind that is set on the flesh becomes a captive to sin as well (loses life and power)
Rom.7:23 - Another law brings mind into captivity to the law of sin.
FREEDOM: Rom.8:2
IT IS LIKE:
Eg. A Bird that is flying:
Law of Aerodynamics
Law of Gravity
Flies- When it got life (sensation, power)
Falls- When it is dead
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Rom.8:2 : the Law of the Spirit of Life has freed us.. (Not my life, but the Spirit of Life..
1. Eternal Life is not like a candy that a mother gives to her son. (It is not gift in that sense.).
2. Eternal Life is Faith-Received (Not once saved forever saved, but according to the Spirit of Life). Eternal Life is not Apart from Christ. If you don't have Christ, you don't have life.. That's all...
(That is another big debate. One person asked, If we are born-again, how is possible to be unborn? Misunderstanding about the Life of God.) Jesus said that the Fountain of Living Water is the Spirit...
(He who does not have the Spirit doesn't belong to Christ Read. Rom.8:10- Body dead, Spirit is Life)
It means that you lose faith, you stop living according to the Spirit, the moment the flesh is alive, you are dead (Rom.8:13)
Rom. 8:3-4
--------------------------
WHAT MUST I DO?
1. BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE SAVED (HELMET OF SALVATION) Rom.6:11 - Reckon Yourselves Dead to Sin.......... But ALIVE!!!!!! (Analogically, You are married to Christ, not to Sin!)
1Cor.6:19,20- Spirit in Temple Body (If Christ in You, body is dead.. You belong to Him).
2. MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH (Rom.8:13; Col.3:5)
What does it mean????
I can fight an external enemy.. I can kill a snake.. But, how the deeds of the flesh????
Some say "STARVE IT" don't feed it (Rom.13:14)
ANSWER: FAITH: (THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH)
1. FLEEING FAITH
----Actually means... FLEE!!!!! (2Tim.2:22). You can only starve it by running away from it. As strength of temptation is in your being closer to the temptation.
It loses power in distance and death. Married man communicating with other woman more than wife creates problems. Man whose flesh found pleasure in liquor is more in danger in times of tfouble near it.
Jesus taught, "Lead us not into temptation". Does your flesh like to indulge in a little "harmless pleasure"? That "harmless pleasure" is the logic of sin? It is very appealing and the mind becomes sooner blinded by it.
There is a plant in Himalays.. Smell even a few kms away cause death. very fatal.
You say, "How can I flee"
Story of Gehazi... His mind went after.....
Story of Joseph
RUN.. FLEE...
DANGER: Instinct is to run!!!! jump off!!!! If not.. SENSES NOT WORKING (HEB 5)
Danger of Frog in the water that is boiling...
Conscience seared..... You can only flee when your conscience is pure. But, conscience is not enough. FEAR IS NEEDED (what kind of fear.. Fear of falling into sin.. Filial fear... Sin hurts God and your relationship with God).
2. TRUSTING FAITH
----FLY INTO HIS ARMS OF LOVE
What composed the most intense moments of His life and where did He win the greatest battles... On His Knees. IT MEANS PAIN (Heb.5:7; 12:4)
SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
----DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF HIS GRACE (Heb.4:16)
----THROUGH THE SPIRIT: LIFE & POWER TO FLY (Rom.8:13,14). OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T DO IT THROUGH THE SPIRIT UNTIL YOU'RE FIRST LIVING IN THE SPIRIT, PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT, WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.
Praying in tongues.. In the Spirit. The Bible says, speaking in tongue edifies.
3. OBEYING FAITH.
BEAR FRUIT TO GOD (Rom.7:4).. Yield your members to Christ as instruments of righteousness.
Obedience of the Spirit. PRESS FORWARD. FOCUS ON THE FINISHING LINE, NOT ON THE CALLS OF THE WORLD AROUND. DON't LIVE FOR SELF, DON't LIVE FOR THE WORLD, LIVE FOR GOD.
DO YOU WANT TO LIVE OR TO DIE?
IS SIN KILLING YOU DAY BY DAY AND YOU SENSE DEFEAT?
GAL.2:20...
CRUCIFIED BUT ALIVE
LIVING BUT NOT I BUT CHRIST LIVING IN ME
LIVING BY FAITH...
Great!!! Most Plausible exposition on one of the most predominantly debated motifs in the theological platform. May God Bless!!!
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