Off the Shelf Sunday School--Romans

The Conflict of the Two Natures (7:14-25)

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 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 do—this 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? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.  

1.        After a person is born-again, he has two conflicting natures within. Instead of just “me” there is “we.” Instead of simply following natural desires, the Holy Spirit gives desires that cause conflict. Paul personalizes these struggles and admits that he does not always follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Some false Christian teachers advise that we should “love God but do what you like.” What is wrong with this thinking?

2.        Paul says that he wants to do God’s will but finds that he sometimes does not have the power to do it. How does this relate to spiritual growth? Can these struggles and failures be a good thing?

3.        There are some Christian teachers who preach a gospel that promises that you will be happy, wealthy and wise if you have enough faith.  How does Paul’s experiences conflict with this message?

4.        Paul concludes that human effort and self-discipline alone will not conquer his sinful desires. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit to change his thinking and character that he has the ability to be like Jesus.

5.        Having the mind of Christ is the first step in conquering sinful behavior. This is why it is important to read the Bible, pray and become part of a community of born-again Christians in a local church.