The Struggles of the Flesh
In the last class we covered the great potential of the
Christian living in the flesh, since the Old Man has been put to death with
Christ. Yet in today=s Bible class, we=ll see that this freedom is not
complete - not on this side of heaven.
James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways.
Romans 6:19 I put this in human terms
because you are weak in your natural selves.
How did Paul describe the Romans in this passage?
How is this different or is it the same as when God=s Word says that our sinful natures were Acrucified@ and Aburied@ with Christ?
This Aweakness@ is
still able to be exploited -
Ephesians
4:22 Your old self . . . is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Hebrews 3:12‑13 See to it, brothers, that none of you
has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But
encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you
may be hardened by sin=s deceitfulness.
What continues to happen to our sinful nature, even after it is put to death?
How does this happen?
What is deceitful about sin and desire when it comes to our flesh?
The Apostle Paul has a classic
description of the power and deceitfulness of sin within -
Romans 7:14‑24 We know that the law is spiritual; but
I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For
what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not
want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself
who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me,
that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I
cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I
do not want to doCthis I keep on doing. Now if I
do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living
in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is
right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God=s law; but I see another law at
work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and
making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a
wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is
contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
What are some adjectives that Paul uses to describe himself?
What is he specifically referring to?
As a side note, how does this reflect a strong faith in Jesus?
How powerful does he portray the sinful nature to be - even in himself - a converted Christian?
What kind of potential did he see within himself to get out of this slavery?
How did it effect his desire to live a Christian life?
In light of this what SHOULDN=T we expect when it comes to our Christian living?
What is one real distinction that he makes between sin and his will?
When you reflect on Paul=s life and God=s teaching through him, what couldn=t these sins have been?
1 John 5:15‑17 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin
that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer
to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.
I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and
there is sin that does not lead to death.
However, sin that is not taken SERIOUSLY can easily become
SERIOUS.
Sinful nature effects the way
we view life -
2 Corinthians 5:1‑4 Now we know that if the earthly
tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in
heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed
with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found
naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do
not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that
what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
How does this constant source of weakness make us feel about living now and in the future?
It is important for us to
continue to recognize this nature within us -
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of
you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has
given you.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you
who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also
may be tempted.
1 Corinthians 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm,
be careful that you don=t fall!
Why is it important to remember the sinful nature within?
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty
spirit before a fall.
James 1:13‑15 When tempted, no one should say, AGod is tempting me.@ For God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil
desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full‑grown, gives birth to death.
How can sin still take over a Christian?
Hebrews 10:26‑27 If we deliberately keep on sinning
after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is
left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will
consume the enemies of God.
Scripture is full of examples
of the sinful flesh still playing an active role in and among Christians -
In church relationships -
1 Corinthians 1:10‑12 I appeal to you, brothers, in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so
that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united
in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe=s household have informed me
that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, AI follow Paul@; another, AI follow Apollos@; another, AI follow Cephas@; still another, AI follow Christ.@
James 4:11‑17 Brothers, do not slander one another.
Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and
judges it.
1 Peter 4:7‑11 The end of all things is near.
Therefore be clear minded and self‑controlled so that you can pray. Above
all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use
whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God=s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If
anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all
things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the
power for ever and ever. Amen.
In what way can the sinful nature cause problems in church relationships?
In spiritual growth -
1 Corinthians 3:1‑3 Brothers, I could not address you
as spiritual but as worldlyCmere infants in Christ. I gave
you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are
still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and
quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
Hebrews 5:12‑14 In fact, though by this time you ought
to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God=s word all over again. You need
milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not
acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the
mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from
evil.
How can the sinful nature hinder spiritual growth?
The sinful nature is able to
lead you astray spiritually -
Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly
deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a
different gospelC
Galatians 2:11‑13 When Peter came to Antioch, I
opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain
men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived,
he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was
afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined
him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the
people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly
introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought themCbringing swift destruction on
themselves.
2 Timothy 4:3‑4 For the time will come when men will
not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will
gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears
want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to
myths.
What does Paul tell Timothy is so enticing in false doctrine?
In marriage -
1 Corinthians 7:5‑7 Do not deprive each other except
by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.
Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack
of self‑control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish
that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this
gift, another has that.
How do we need to be aware of the sinful nature in our relationship with our spouses?
In material goods -
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs.
James 4: Now listen,
you who say, AToday or tomorrow we will go to
this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.@ Why, you do not even know what
will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a
little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, AIf it is the Lord=s will, we will live and do
this or that.@ As it is, you boast and brag.
All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and
doesn=t do it, sins.
How do material goods mislead us from Christ?
What does this Bible study
teach us about the saying, Aonce saved, always saved@?
Should it surprise us when well known Christians fall into a
gross sin?
How can it be rectified with the promises that our sinful nature is dead and we can=t be tempted beyond what we can bear?