Lesson 18 

Intro Review:

 

 

 

Observations on the flesh:

1. Paul presents the sin nature in 2 ways that help us understand its impact on us.

#1 As a reigning monarch, or ruler to whom we can offer our bodies to fulfill the ruler's claims/desires.  Rom 6:12-13a

#2 Paul pictures the sin nature as a master, who orders one to act as it desires, as its slave.  Rom 6:14,17,20 

 

 

 

2. The term sin in these passages in not referring to an act but to a governing disposition which demands acts; commonly call it the sin nature.

 

 

 

3. When the flesh rules, the individual is oriented away from God and is focused totally on his own selfish desires;   and as a result can do nothing that pleases God.     Rom 8:5-8

 

 

 

4. The "flesh," the sin nature, can only be countered by regeneration and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life.

 

 

 

 

- Use of Flesh as the sin nature    Rom. 7:5; 8:3-5,8,9;  Gal 5:16,17,19; 6:8;  Eph 2:3;              2 Pet 2:10,18;    1 John 2:16;

 

 

 

5. The "flesh," the sin nature, is a problem that man has, just as being dead, that only God has an effective solution!

 

 

 

 

e.  Every Unbeliever is under the Wrath of God.  2:3b

 

This is something we all were before the cross;  emph. by 2 things;

#1 imperfect middle indicative of  eivmi,;  describes a continuous condition in the past, what we were continually as unbeliever;

 

 

 

 

 

#2 "by nature"   fu,sij  speaks of origin, by birth, therefore by nature;

Here the innate or inherent quality referred to is our "old nature" that is untouched by God's word.