Lesson - Romans 7:14-25 (NIV based)

THEME - The Power Of The Sin Nature; Conflict Between The 2 Natures

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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONFLICT:

v.14 under the power of the sin nature (the flesh)

v.15 do no understand what I do - baffled, bewildered:  does what he hates to do rather than what he wants to do - loathe, it is too powerful

v.16 his inward conflict confirms the goodness & holiness of the Law - convicts of sin

v.17 sin's power & effect compels him to do what he hates

v.18 - nothing good lives within the flesh - spiritually
     - desires to do good - but cannot carry it out on his own
     - incapable of doing good - good intentions but not enough power

v.19 instead does evil - fails to practice the good deeds

v.20 sin is produced by and from the sin nature which lives in our souls - the results of its power of control

v.21 evil desires are always present - subject to its insistent demands

v.22 conflict from the new nature - desiring to keep God's laws

v.23 war being raged between the 2 natures - one focuses on the body (sin nature) & the other focuses on the mind (Holy Spirit-influenced nature); see Gal. 5:17

v.24 battle zone in your mind & body - figuratively wretched, miserable condition;
      he finds his desire to serve God totally with his innermost redeemed self frustrated by the irrationality of his actual performance; he cries out for release from the sinful nature

v.25 ultimate release from this perpetual frustration will come through the future redemption of the body by the power of God through Christ
      in our minds - a choice of the will - slave to God     or
  in the sinful nature - in our natural self (the flesh) - slave to sin

IN SUMMARY: even Paul as a Christian in this world cannot escape the frustrations of living a new life in Christ in a body which, until the resurrection, still bears the consequences of the Adam's sin

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BIG IDEA: (v.25) If you and I are actively yielding to the Spirit, then we should be experiencing this battle daily.  If you and I are not experiencing a daily battle in our minds with our sinful desires, then we are most likely being controlled by our sin nature - we are living in the flesh.  Most likely our minds are desensitized to our sin and sinful desires.

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Translation used: NIV
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Updated: 1-14-15