Michael D.R.I.V.E.: Spiritual - War between the flesh and the spirit

Rom. 7:14-15; (Key word in this passage is “carnal”. As an excuse to sin, this is one of the most deliberately misinterpreted scriptures in the Bible. Here in THIS passage, the apostle Paul refers to HIMSELF as carnal, so he is obviously talking about - NOT after, but BEFORE he was born of God (!) when he says this);

“I am carnal, SOLD UNDER SIN… for what I want to do I don’t do, and what I hate, that’s what I do.” The person he refers to here must follow his flesh; has no power over the flesh, and cannot possibly be one who is born of God. It is contrary to the self control which we have through the Holy Spirit, and to the “peace”, the “joy”, and a “sound mind” that we have in Christ! Paul himself states in all of his letters to the churches, that anyone who is born of God is NO LONGER ‘sold under sin’, but has been bought by Christ, and has POWER OVER SIN! Phil. 4:13; “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.” 1Cor. 6:12; I will not be brought under the power of anything. Rom. 6:14; Sin shall NOT have dominion over you. John 8:36 says;Whom the Son sets free is free in their deeds. Paul, in another passage, speaking of being “carnal”, says this; Rom. 8:6-8,13-14; “To be carnally minded is DEATH... because the carnal mind is enmity AGAINST God and is not subject to God’s laws, NEITHER in deed CAN be (in deed = in things you do). For IF you live after the flesh, you shall DIE: but IF you, through the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” They who are in the flesh CANNOT please God. Again, he says; Gal. 5:16-18,24; We must walk in the spirit in order to NOT fulfil the lust of the flesh, because the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary one to another, rendering one unable to do the things he would do, but IF you are led by the Holy Spirit, you are not under the law (dictations of the flesh). Those who do not keep the commandments shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God. Vs. 19-21; “They who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and desires”. Gal. 6:8; “He who sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap CORRUPTION; but he who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Rom 8:1; (This is even more clear in these next verses); “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” 8:4;The righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled in us, who do NOT walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1Cor. 9:27; (Then in another passage, bringing no excuse to sin, Paul says this); “But I keep my body under, and BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I MYSELF should be a castaway!”

CLICK CONTINUE TO THE NEXT CHAPTER