Dead Flesh
Notes
Transcript
John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace said made many memorable statements during his ministry as a pastor. One such quote is “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am”. The Apostle Paul said “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am…”(I Corinthians 15:9-10). Both Paul and John Newton recognized that they were not the same men that they had once been. This change was by the grace of God and not by their own will to change.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath 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 sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 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. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
I. The Weakness of the Law
a. The weakness of the law is the Flesh
b. The law could maintain but could not redeem
c. The law could convict but not pardon
II. The Flesh condemned, not the law
a. The selfishness of the flesh
self serving (v. 5)
self exalting (v. 5)
Dead (v. 6)
opposition to God (v. 7)
rebellious (v. 7)
III. The Spirit is life
a. The Spirit gives:
Fulfills the law (v. 4)
Obedience to God’s law (v. 5)
Life (v. 6)
peace (v. 6)
Indwelling of the Spirit (v. 9)
righteousness of Christ (v. 10)
Resurrection (v. 11)
Resurrection into newness of life
Resurrection after death
