THE SINFUL NATURE BIBLE STUDY, PART 1
SCRIPTURE: “...Now I know without a doubt “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT). “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin (nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by SIN? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (the WORD OF GOD)…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
PURPOSE OR GOAL OF LESSON: TO LEARN THAT THE SOUL(YOU) ARE FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE SINFUL NATURE. THE WORD OF GOD HAS SET YOUR SOUL FREE, INDEED.
APPLICATION OF LESSON: TO TRUST AND DEPEND UPON THE POWERFUL WORD OF GOD THAT EMPOWERS YOUR SOUL(YOU) TO LIVE AND WALK FREE FROM THE BONDAGE AND IMPRISONMENT OF THE SINFUL NATURE.
TOPIC DISCUSSION: DISCUSS HOW THE SOUL IS SET FREE FROM THE CONTROL OF THE SINFUL NATURE AND HOW THE WORD OF GOD EMPOWERS THE REDEEMED SOUL (YOU) TO WALK AND LIVE IN “THAT” FREEDOM. “…Who will free me (my soul) from this ...[fleshly, carnal]... life that is dominated by SIN (the BODY OF FLESH)? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (the WORD OF GOD)…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).This is the question of the hour. The REDEEMED are FREED from sin, without a doubt, but why do they still struggle with the sin nature? “…if the Son (Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit)…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).
LET’S DO A REVIEW: REMEMBER The BODY of flesh is given to us by God to participate in the activities of the natural world. Through the body of flesh, the soul can EXPERIENCE, ENGAGE, AND INTERACT WITH everything in the natural world. The body enables the soul to experience, engage and interact with the natural world through the FIVE SENSES (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch).
When the body is ENGAGED through the FIVE SENSES it ENABLES the SOUL to learn and experience THINGS in the natural world. The FIVE SENSES enables the SOUL to learn and experience THINGS in the natural world by sending INFORMATION to the heart (brain), which informs the thoughts. The heart (brain), the information center, helps the soul perceive, learn about, store information from the world by experiencing things “in” the natural world.
For example, SIGHT has visual influence in learning through image reinforcements that simulate the brain (heart). HEARING helps with associations that teach the sounds of a bird chirping, to the waves in the oceans, or music on a radio. HEARING also helps with active learning such as reading, speaking, or focusing on what is being said. TASTE also helps with teaching associations between various foods and the diversity of cuisines. In addition, TASTE helps in teaching one to discriminate between what they like and dislike when it comes to specific preferences. SMELL has a powerful influence on learning because it activates the brain (heart) to trigger new memories, or bring up memories from many years ago, or those made just yesterday, or only moments ago. TOUCH plays an important role in experimental learning because it requires direct contact with something or someone. Further, TOUCH has a powerful influence on learning, because it can heavily affect the brain (heart), often in the pleasure center, by stimulating emotions that release oxytocin or endorphins that motivate the desire to repeat certain actions over and over again.
However, “ALL” of your FIVE SENSES have been AFFECTED by the EVIL ONE. “...We know … that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19 RSV). “.. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world...” (1 John 2:16-17 NLT).
The FIVE SENSES enable the SOUL to learn and experience THINGS in the natural world which will influence HOW they MAKE decisions and choices. The body of flesh is ACTIVATED by the FIVE SENSES. The FIVE SENSES will DICTATE how the body of flesh engages, interacts, and experiences the natural world, which will INFLUENCE how the SOUL commonly, on a daily basis, engage, interact, and experience the natural world. The body of flesh was not CREATED to obey God, but to be a vessel and servant for the soul and at one time, the SPIRIT too. “…The [flesh]...nature ... never did obey God’s laws, and it never will…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
Therefore, the body of flesh cannot and will NOT obey God, but it will OBEY the FIVE SENSES by engaging, interacting, and experiencing the natural world as it was CREATED to do. Left to itself, the body of flesh, without the HOLY SPIRIT, can become totally depraved, ungoverned, rebellious, and out of control, through the FIVE SENSES, taking the SOUL along with it! “…The [flesh]...nature ... never did obey God’s laws, and it never will…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
Thus, the problem, with the body of flesh, COMES because the natural WORLD, which is FILLED with LUST and PRIDE and worldly desires DOESN’T come from God. “.. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:16-17 NLT).
The body of flesh engages, interacts, and experiences the world through the five senses, but the world is under the power and influence of the evil one. The soul, therefore, is engaging, interacting, and experiencing natural life within a world which leads them inadvertently toward obedience to the evil one whose ONLY goal is to enslave them through the flesh and their five senses. “...We know … that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19 RSV).
The body of flesh, through the FIVE SENSES, enables the soul to engage, interact, and experience the natural world. The natural world heavily influences them to learn and make decisions based on the information sent to the heart (brain) from “that” world, which is under the power of the EVIL ONE. “...the whole world lies under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19 RSV). The soul becomes inadvertently obedient to the evil one, through the five senses and thus become HIS willing servants THROUGH the body of flesh (sinful nature). “…Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV).“…The [flesh]...nature ... never did obey God’s laws, and it never will…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
Before salvation, the body of flesh “IS” controlled by the evil one, through the five senses, in ALL areas of life. Thus, the body of flesh develops strongholds, such as habits, obsessions, addictions, religion, pretense, and bad memories, to ensure the evil one’s continual dictatorship over man’s SOUL. “...the whole world lies under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19 RSV).
These formations of behavior, influenced by the EVIL ONE’s carnal world by using the flesh and its five senses, become automatic behaviors. These automatic behaviors over long periods of time and usage become established behaviors. These automatic behaviors are often done, without total awareness one is doing them or without permission from the SOUL. The SOUL may WANT to do right, but it CAN’T. “…The ... [flesh]... nature ...never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “...I am all too human, a slave to ... (the sinful nature through the senses) ...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin (nature through the senses) that is … within me (within my heart, mind, etc.) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by SIN? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
The evil one uses and puts into your intimate and immediate environments, all kinds of triggers that continually reinforce and condition sinful behavior, involving one or more of the five senses. These triggers work by dictating how the body of flesh engages the soul with the things of the natural world. These triggers also aid in the evil one’s ability to control, influence, and dictate destructive behavior, that will involve one or more of the five senses, using the body of flesh, of course, while imprisoning the soul at the same time (classical conditioning). “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by (the old heart and mindset which was affected and polluted by the) SIN(ful nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “… The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (the indwelling Holy Spirit and THE WORD of GOD)…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “…THE WORDS ... they ARE SPIRIT…” (John 6:63 KJV).“… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).The Word becomes the POWERFUL and LIFE-CHANGING information that produces spiritual FRUIT “IN” their hearts, which renews their minds, and transforms their behavior. “…It is …God [the indwelling Holy Spirit] ... who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…Ye shall know [those with the indwelling Holy Spirit]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…The [indwelling]...HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH [the redeemed] … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [their]... lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“… Jesus (the WORD of GOD) …came and SPAKE, unto them saying, “All POWER is given unto me (the word) IN heaven and earth…” (Matthew 28:18 KJV). “… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (through the revelatory information and knowledge of the WORD)….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “…If the Son (the word) therefore shall make you free, you SHALL be free indeed (without a doubt!!)…” (John 8:36 KJV). Jesus made YOU (your SOUL) free from SIN (the sinful nature). It DOESN’T matter whether you are STILL within the body of flesh or not; you (your SOUL) can FREELY choose “NOT” to let “that” old nature CONTROL you anymore. “…you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
“… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (the renewing of the mind(heart) will empower you to take authority over the sinful nature by directing righteous behavior)...” (Romans 12:2 KJV). Otherwise, “….you [will become or continue to be] ... slaves of the one you obey (follow)…” (Romans 6:16 NIV). Your body of flesh was NOT set FREE. It will NOT obey God and it will NOT help YOU obey God. “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). YOU (the SOUL) WERE SET FREE!
It is your SOUL that was set FREE and RESTORED to its original spiritual POWER. “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm 23 KJV). “…the Holy Spirit gives birth to (or restores) SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT). God is a “…restorer of thy life…” (Ruth 4:15 KJV). “…The law of the LORD (the WORD of God) is perfect, restoring the SOUL…” (Psalm 19 NASB). “….He (the WORD OF GOD) restoreth my soul….” (PSALM 23:1-3 NLT). “…I (God, the holy spirit) will restore…” (Jeremiah 30:17 KJV). “….Jesus Christ (the WORD of GOD) maketh thee WHOLE (AGAIN)…” (Acts 9:34 KJV). “... and man became a living soul (again) …” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).
The SOUL is EMPOWERED by whatever is in the HEART(mind), which informs the thoughts. The thoughts direct behavior. “…from within, out of the heart of man (woman), proceed evil thoughts… wickedness…” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV). The thoughts (righteous or evil) direct a person’s behavior. “…All these evil things come from within, and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).
“...God SEES NOT as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “…No one needed… to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart…” (John 2:24-25 NLT). “…Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men…” (Acts 1:24 KJV). “… He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked…” (Psalm 11:4-5 NLT).The heart(mind) (the information center of the SOUL) “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). "… out of the abundance of the heart (mind) (information center of the SOUL) the mouth speaks. The good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things." (Matthew 12:34-35). “...[Jesus’]... name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).
“…Jesus Christ (the Word of God) is in you (the Word is “in” the heart (mind) of the redeemed)…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “ ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS (mind)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “ …[you]…have this treasure in [your]…earthen vessel (body of flesh)...” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). Thus, “…Christ [THE WORD dwells] in your hearts (minds) by faith …” (Ephesians 3:17 KJV). “…THE WORDS ... they ARE SPIRIT…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…God is Spirit …” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The [Holy] Spirit of God dwell[s] in you (in the heart (mind) of the redeemed)…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “….Jesus Christ (the WORD of GOD) maketh thee WHOLE (AGAIN)…” (Acts 9:34 KJV). “... and man(mind) became a living soul …” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).
“…you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “…the Son (the word) ... [made]... you (your soul) free, you (your soul)...[are]... free indeed …” (John 8:36 KJV). “... and man (woman) became a living soul (again!) …” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). “... free indeed …” (John 8:36 KJV).
“...you have no obligation to do (through the dictates of your five senses) what your sinful nature urges you to do…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “… if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…I WILL GIVE you a new heart (Jesus, the Word is sown in your heart making it new), and I will put a new spirit in you (the indwelling Holy Spirit is “IN” you)…” (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT).
“ ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS (mind)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…[you]…have this treasure in [your]…earthen vessel (body of flesh)...” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV).
“…It is God which worketh in you…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “… [Therefore, the redeemed]… are changed into the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV). “…by the grace of God ... [the redeemed are what they are]…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “... a living soul (again!) …” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). “... free indeed …” (John 8:36 KJV).
QUESTIONS TOMORROW, THE SINFUL NATURE, PART 2
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