Friday, January 31, 2020

Romans 8:5-9


Romans 8:5-9
You are in the Spirit

Rom 8:5  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.
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9  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.



  1. The Focus of The Temporal Minded is the Ability of the Flesh – vs. 5a
    1. Being carnally minded is not simply being focused on immoral behavior, although that is certainly the result of it. It is being focused on the might of man as the answer to the struggle with sin.
  2. The Focus of the Spiritually Minded is the Work of the Holy Spirit – vs. 5b
    1. What does the Holy Spirit do for those that believe in Christ?
                                                              i.      He raises us up from spiritual death
1.      Romans 8:11 
2.      1 Corinthians 15:45 
                                                            ii.      He murders our old sin nature
1.      Romans 8:13 
2.      2 Corinthians 5:17 
                                                          iii.      He leads us on
1.      Romans 8:14  
                                                          iv.      He adopts us into the family of God
1.      Romans 8:15 
                                                            v.      He helps us with our weakness through His intercession
1.      Romans 8:26 
                                                          vi.      He carries us safely to our glorification in heaven
1.      Romans 8:30 
  1. The Fleshly Minded Will Die – vs. 6a
    1. We think that doing what we want is freedom, but in fact to serve self is to serve the worst of all the tyrannical masters.
                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:1-3 
  1. Holy Spirit – vs. 6b
    1. Christ give us life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This was the focus and purpose of His coming.
                                                              i.      John 4:14 
                                                            ii.      John 5:24 
                                                          iii.      John 6:35 
                                                          iv.      John 10:10 
                                                            v.      John 11:25-26 
  1. Those That are Focused on the Ability of the Flesh Cannot Please God – vs. 7a
    1. The carnally minded individual is in rebellion to the laws of God and is completely unable to rightly follow them. – vs. 7b
                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 4:4 
    1. The conclusion is there is no ability within man to please or satisfy a holy and righteous God. – vs 8
                                                              i.      Psalm 53:1-3 
  1. In Christ, You are Not in the Flesh – vs. 9a
    1. The Holy Spirit through the hand of Paul, completely redefines our nature in the work of Christ on the cross.
                                                              i.      John 3:5-7 
  1. In Christ, You are in the Spirit – vs. 9b
    1. Ephesians 1:13 
  2. If the Holy Spirit is in You, Then You are in Christ – vs. 9c
    1. John 10:25-30 
  3. If You Do Not Have the Holy Spirit Than You are Not in Christ – vs. 9d
    1. 1 John 4:4-6 
    2. 1 Corinthians 15:45 


Michael Reeves: "Our Culture of Fear and the Fear of God" - Lecture 1

This is tremendous... Reeves really puts a finger on this topic...



Sunday, January 26, 2020

Romans 8:1-4


Romans 8:1-4
There is Therefore Now No Condemnation

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  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:
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
  1. Those that are in Christ are No Longer Condemned and are Liberated by the Work of the Holy Spirit.  – vs. 1
    1. When we thank God for a completed work (on the cross) in us we are now in a position of no more condemnation, which then produces the freedom to walk in the Holy Spirit.
                                                              i.      How do I know that Romans 8 is true of me and that I am free from condemnation in Christ? How do I know I can count on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life?
1.      Have you been justified by faith alone in Christ?
a.       Romans 5:1-2 
2.      Have you been crucified with Christ?
a.       Romans 6:6 
3.      Have you been raised with Christ?
a.       Romans 6:9 
4.      Have you been set free from sin?
a.       Romans 6:22 
5.      Have you been married to Christ?
a.       Romans 7:3-4 
6.      Are you aware of your brokenness?
a.       Romans 7:24 
                                                            ii.      Thank Jesus for paying for your sin debt and realize that you now stand in favor with God. This is not a work that we look forward to it is a benefit we can enjoy now.
1.      Colossians 1:10-14 
                                                          iii.      Enjoy the freedom, in Christ, of no more condemnation.
1.      Titus 3:5-7 
                                                          iv.      Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit
1.      Galatians 5:14-16 
  1. Those that are In Christ are Under a New Law of the Holy Spirit and have been Set Free from the Law of Sin and Death. – vs. 2
    1. We are now liberated from the plantation of sin and death in order that we might live in the liberty of a new law.
                                                              i.      Romans 6:20-22 
  1. Those that are in Christ have Their Old Nature of Sinful Flesh Condemned. – vs. 3
    1. God’s law is righteous and holy. I am not and I am incapable through any means to earn merit before God.
                                                              i.      Galatians 3:10-13 
    1. God sent His own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, to condemned sin in the flesh.
                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 5:21 
                                                            ii.      Hebrews 4:15 
  1. Those that are in Christ Will have the Law Fulfilled in Them by the Work of the Holy Spirit. – vs. 4
    1. The ability to truly follow God’s Law and be moral comes from the power of the Holy Spirit and nothing of our own strength. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is only for those that are in Christ. There is no help for those who have rejected His sacrifice.
                                                              i.      Galatians 5:22-25 
                                                            ii.      Ephesians 5:26-27 


Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Salvation - of God; through Christ

Probably one of the most important works on the book of Romans. Opening up one of the greatest chapters of the book.



Romans 8:1-4 "Life in the Spirit" - 6/7/2018

Great as always...



The Body of Christ and Communion by Francis Chan

This is the reason why reformation teaching is so important. It is not surprising that Chan has come to this but it is still appalling. It is sad to see him trying to reverse 500 hundred years of blood, sweat, toil and tears. How deeply our fathers suffered to bring us out of this ignorance and fear. The pure Word of God must be central to worship, not a superstitious ritual. I am sorry if this is offensive to some but we are to "...speak the truth in love. "



Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.





Saturday, January 18, 2020

Romans 7:21-25


Romans 7:21-25
I Thank God Through Jesus Christ

Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  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.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25  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.
  
  1. Paul is Made Aware of the Fact that When He Wants to Do Good He There is an Evil Crouching in the Corner of His Heart Waiting to Destroy His New Found Desire to Live a Life of Morality. – vs. 21*
    1. The presence of evil in the heart of man is a terrifying concept that paralyzes the believer in fear.
                                                              i.      Genesis 4:5-8 
  1. In Paul’s Mind he is Aware of His Need for Reformation or Transformation – vs. 22*
    1. Our logic or mind tells us that there is a difference between our lifestyle and God’s moral code. This makes us long to change and use our will power to reform ourselves.
                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 15:33 
  1. In Utter Horror Paul Realizes that There is a Monster in His Heart. – vs. 23 *
    1. The monster is a ravenous beast of fleshly desires that longs to come and devour up any will power that Paul can muster to fight it
                                                              i.      James 1:13-15 
  1. Paul Crumbles Under the Weight of His Own Guilt. – vs. 24*
    1. Broken because of his lack of hope, Paul call out for deliverance as if caught in an eternal nightmare. It is in this moment of despair that Paul realizes this is all just a bad dream. If the believer was left to follow the law without help, there would be no hope and we would be caught in a nightmare of dualism.
                                                              i.      James 1:5-8 
  1. The Reality of Hope Begins to Dawn on Paul: “I Thank God Through Jesus Christ My Lord.” – vs. 25a*
    1. There is no hope in my double minded nature. I must, through surrender, receive the grace and mercy of God that is provided to me in the gift of the Holy Spirit.
                                                              i.      James 4:5-6 
                                                            ii.      2 Corinthians 3
  1. There Is No Hope in Dualism We Must Believe in the Victory Given to Us by Christ.  – vs. 25b*
    1. Without the Holy Spirit’s help, it appears that the believer is caught in this struggle between his will and his lust. This can be pictured by the legalist and the antinomian or the devil on one shoulder and angel on the other. This struggle is not ours to fight on our own. There is hope!
                                                              i.      Zechariah 4:6

Friday, January 17, 2020

The Wretched Man Identity (1)

The other perspective in opposition to what Steven Lawson is saying. I think there is some merit to both views. The reality is that we truly are more than conquers through Christ even when we don't feel like it.



Romans 7:21-25 "The Ongoing Struggle" - 5/24/2018

Very good...



Saturday, January 11, 2020

Romans 7:14-20


Romans 7:14-20
The Law Reveals that ‘I’ am the Problem

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

  1. God’s Law is Spiritual, and I am Carnal and a Slave to Sin. – vs. 14*
    1. The law is not the problem in fact it is good, spiritual and holy
                                                              i.      Psalm 1:2 
                                                            ii.      Psalm 40:8 
                                                          iii.      Psalm 112:1 
                                                          iv.      Psalm 119:72 
                                                            v.      Romans 7:22 
                                                          vi.      1 John 5:3 
    1. The problem is ‘I’ myself; who is imbodied in a fleshly nature.
                                                              i.      Romans 3:10-12 
    1. The body in which I now reside is corrupted by sin and still longs to serve its old master.
                                                              i.      Romans 6:12-13 
  1. I Cannot Understand Why the Sin That I Hate is Often What I Do – vs. 15*
    1. In verse 15-20 Paul uses a form of argument, popular in his day, called Modus Ponens which vividly shows our desperate plight without Christ.
                                                              i.      Verse 15 demonstrates that Paul is describing his own personal struggle with sin as a believer, because we know that an unbeliever does not long to be holy.
1.      The law reveals our inadequacy
a.       Matthew 5:3 
b.      1 John 3:4 
  1. When I Do that Which I know is Wrong, it Demonstrates to Me the Justice of God’s Law. – vs. 16*
    1. The law reveals our brokenness
                                                              i.      Matthew 5:4 
                                                            ii.      Romans 3:19 
  1. When I Fail it Shows Me that the Sin I Hate is Not Me, But the Sin That Lives in Me. – vs. 17*
    1. The law reveals our need to yield our sin nature (body) to Christ
                                                              i.      Matthew 5:5 
                                                            ii.      Ephesians 4:22-24 
  1. I Cannot Do What is Good Because My Will Is Ruled by My Sin Which is Evil. – vs. 18*
    1. The law reveals my need of a righteousness I do not possess
                                                              i.      Matthew 5:6 
                                                            ii.      Romans 3:23-24 
  1. So, I am Forced to Do What is Wrong Even Though I Know What is Right. – vs. 19*
    1. The law reveals to me a mercy I do not deserve
                                                              i.      Matthew 5:7 
                                                            ii.      1 John 4:10 
  1. Therefore, if I Sin it is Not Me that Does it but the Sin that Lives in Me. – vs. 20*
    1. The law reveals my need of a purification that I cannot accomplish
                                                              i.      Matthew 5:8 
                                                            ii.      Luke 9:23 
  1. The Only Hope for a Believer Who Struggles with Sin is to Yield to the Work of the Holy Spirit Who Longs to Take Over Our Lives.
    1. Paul uses an argument of silence to emphasize a point. It is all too often that a believer thinks they are alone in the struggle with sin and are overwhelmed by its power. The reality is, we have a helper or comforter who is easily able to overcome the most powerful of sins.
                                                              i.      Galatians 2:20-21 
                                                            ii.      Romans 8:1-4