Welcome to the Adult Two Couples Class Immanuel Baptist Church

Question of the Day Name one gift you received as a child that you will never forget.

Announcements December Fellowship December Fellowship Woffords – Date? Woffords – Date? January thru March fellowship January thru March fellowship You too can be a host You too can be a host Benevolence donations Benevolence donations

Prayer Requests

Question of the Day Name one gift you received as a child that you will never forget.

Context The Book of Romans Written by Paul to the church at Rome Written by Paul to the church at Rome Composed of Jewish & Greek Christians Composed of Jewish & Greek Christians It is the longest letter of the Apostle It is the longest letter of the Apostle Probably written around 56 A.D. Probably written around 56 A.D. Jews in the church were causing problems Jews in the church were causing problems Debate over grace vs. the role of the Law Debate over grace vs. the role of the Law

Overview Focusing On the Spirit Focusing On the Spirit Living By the Spirit Living By the Spirit Obeying the Spirit Obeying the Spirit

Key Truth True fulfillment and peace comes from living a life controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by the flesh.

Romans 8 : 1 -8 Focusing On the Spirit

Paul’s dilemma over the problem of sin Paul’s dilemma over the problem of sin Let’s review Let’s review For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate…So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want….Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate…So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want….Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? We stand in violation of the Law by our sin nature We stand in violation of the Law by our sin nature The flesh has no ability to live according to the Law The flesh has no ability to live according to the Law

Focusing On the Spirit The problem of sin is solved by Christ The problem of sin is solved by Christ Jesus takes away condemnation of the flesh/sin Jesus takes away condemnation of the flesh/sin He fulfills the requirement of payment for sin He fulfills the requirement of payment for sin How God dealt with sin through Jesus How God dealt with sin through Jesus Jesus came in the “likeness” of sinful flesh Jesus came in the “likeness” of sinful flesh Jesus “condemned” sin in the flesh Jesus “condemned” sin in the flesh Jesus became an offering for sin Jesus became an offering for sin The Law is unable to accomplish its purpose The Law is unable to accomplish its purpose The Law’s requirement is perfect obedience The Law’s requirement is perfect obedience Jesus fulfills Law requirement for those who make a decision to walk by the Spirit & not by flesh Jesus fulfills Law requirement for those who make a decision to walk by the Spirit & not by flesh

Focusing On the Spirit There is a difference in how we think when we live according to the Spirit There is a difference in how we think when we live according to the Spirit There is a different focus There is a different focus Following the flesh Following the flesh Leads to death Leads to death Hostility toward God Hostility toward God No desire to follow God commandments No desire to follow God commandments Unable to follow God’s commandments Unable to follow God’s commandments Unable to please God Unable to please God Following the Spirit Following the Spirit Leads to life Leads to life Leads to peace with God Leads to peace with God Following the Spirit leads to a different outlook on life Following the Spirit leads to a different outlook on life We are at peace with God when sin is dealt with We are at peace with God when sin is dealt with

Romans 8 : Peter 3 : 18 Acts 1 : 8 Living By the Spirit

Spiritual life makes the difference in our soul Spiritual life makes the difference in our soul Our spiritual life begins when we accept Jesus as our savior and Lord Our spiritual life begins when we accept Jesus as our savior and Lord 1 Pet 3:18 1 Pet 3:18 Evidences of salvation are manifested by our new spirit Evidences of salvation are manifested by our new spirit When our spirit is made alive (born again) in Christ, we accept the influence of the Holy Spirit When our spirit is made alive (born again) in Christ, we accept the influence of the Holy Spirit There are two spirits dwelling in every Christian There are two spirits dwelling in every Christian Holy Spirit does the real work in us Holy Spirit does the real work in us Acts 1:8 Acts 1:8 The Spirit of Christ helps us to change our desires The Spirit of Christ helps us to change our desires

Romans 8 : Obeying the Spirit

We are obligated to God if Jesus is Lord We are obligated to God if Jesus is Lord Basic premise of salvation is obedience and submission to God through Christ Basic premise of salvation is obedience and submission to God through Christ “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you….” “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you….” Matt 28:19-20 Living a life of Christ runs totally counter to the desires of the flesh Living a life of Christ runs totally counter to the desires of the flesh

Obeying the Spirit Living by the influence of the flesh Living by the influence of the flesh Makes us subject to the Law & its consequences Makes us subject to the Law & its consequences Mandates death as a resolution for sin Mandates death as a resolution for sin Living by the influence of the Holy Spirit Living by the influence of the Holy Spirit We make a choice not to listen to sinful flesh We make a choice not to listen to sinful flesh Obeying Holy Spirit proves our obedience to God and Lordship of Christ Obeying Holy Spirit proves our obedience to God and Lordship of Christ

In Other Words…. Soul Soul Who we are-our personhood Who we are-our personhood Flesh Flesh The body that is plagued by sin and sinful desire The body that is plagued by sin and sinful desire Spirit Spirit Born through a relationship with Christ and enables us to listen to the Holy Spirit Born through a relationship with Christ and enables us to listen to the Holy Spirit True peace comes from being a person controlled by the Spirit, not by the flesh.

Overview Focusing On the Spirit Focusing On the Spirit Living By the Spirit Living By the Spirit Obeying the Spirit Obeying the Spirit

Adult Two Couples Class