Selah: Connor Fordham
Life in the Spirit
By: Connor Fordham
21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies 22 23
Close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my
mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my 24
members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of 25
death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:21-25
- Notice first, the distinction Paul is making. What are the two laws Paul is referring to in verses 22-23?
- Can you recognize the law of sin that dwells in your members? Can you observe the desire to carry out the perfect law of God (moral good) waging war with the law of sin that resides in your inner being?
- Why are you captivated by the law of sin?
- After noticing these things, take a moment and do exactly what the
- scriptures say and thank God for His savior Jesus Christ.
- Lastly, with what do we serve the law of God? Law of Sin?
is this freedom evident in your life?
Thursday
Life in the Spirit
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ 2
Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ 3
Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
The first truth I desire for you to see before we look at this passage is the very first sentence. This is literally the good news of the
Gospel. In Christ Jesus you are under no condemnation.
What does it mean to be under no condemnation?
Notice in verse two what it says about the Spirit of Life. Verse three is somewhat difficult to understand. The meaning can be understood when you look at how God worked. First, God created the Law then He did what His creation (Law) was unable to do because His other creation (humanity or flesh) corrupted it. He sent His Son in the likeness (or place of) to condemn our sin, in order that the His requirement of His creation (Law) might be fulfilled. Simply, God’s love has saved us from God’s wrath. Now that is clarified, think about the weight of what Christ did on the cross, why do you feel you are still condemned?
- Verse four introduces us to the topic of walking not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. This above is the foundation for walking according to the Spirit.
This passage can be separated into two parts. The first part is a claim or fact. The second part is the outcome or result. Circle the claim of fact and underline the outcome or result.
Friday
Life in the Spirit
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the 6 Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6
- What do your mind set on?
- What does it mean to have your mind set on something? What is
- Turn to Matthew 16:21-23 and read what Jesus says about setting your mind on the things of the flesh.
- In verse 6 notice the difference between life in flesh or spirit. Is the death it talks about a physical or eternal death?
Saturday
Life in the Spirit
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does
Romans 8:7-8
Notice how Paul focuses on life in the flesh in this passage. He wants to make sure the effect it has on our lives.
not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those, who are in the flesh, cannot please God.
What does it mean to be hostile to God? Is it in our nature to this way?
What is the evidence of our hostility towards God?
Why do you think we are unable to submit to God or please Him we are living in the flesh?
Flesh->Inability->Active Rebellion->Deadness->Mind given over to the world