Men's Bible Study 2.1.23

Romans 7:21-8:5

Romans 7:21–25 NKJV

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

He paints the picture of a war of the mind going back and fourth

When you hear of Paul’s struggle with this how do you feel?

How is this a model for a healthy, realistic self image?

What does the war of your mind look like?

Negative self talk?

Thinking too highly of yourself?

Thinking too lowly?

What does your battle look like?

If you were comparing your spiritual life to a football game who’s in the lead?

Are you on offense or defense?

When have you experienced the sense of Jesus rescuing you from situations that were way too big to handle?

Romans 8:1 NKJV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

How can you spot the difference between condemnation and contrition (feeling remorse)

Condemnation keeps you out of the game, remorse keeps you from wanting to fail again

How does no condemnation and related to justification?

Romans 8:2–5 NKJV

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 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. 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 Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

We have to put our Big Boy pants on and walk according to the spirit

How do we set our minds on things of the spirit?

Nothing good comes from a carnal mind

It may seem like your right in the moment but

Proverbs 12:15 NKJV

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

It’s even easy to seem right to everyone else around you

At the end of a spiritual mind there’s peace

Are you finding peace?

Yes, continue on

NO, set your mind on the spirit