...a battle that pits our spirit against our flesh We are in a battle! ...a battle that pits our spirit against our flesh

Rom. 7:21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. v. 15b - ...I am doing the very thing I hate.

Where are the battle lines drawn? Between the flesh... Gal. 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Where are the battle lines drawn? Between the flesh...and the spirit Gal. 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

In which camp do we stand? Rom. 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you Gal. 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Are we to continue sinning?

Romans 6 v. 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase? May it never be! (NASB) God forbid (KJV) Certainly not! (NKJV)

Why are we to no longer go on sinning? Because we are dead to sin ‘How shall we who died to sin still live in it?’ – v.2 We’ve been buried in baptism – vv.3-4 We walk in newness of life – v.4-5 Our bodies of sin have been crucified – vv.6-7 We now live with Christ – v.8

Why are we to no longer go on sinning? Because we are dead to sin Because we are alive to God – v.11 Sin is not to reign in our bodies – v.12 Instead, our bodies are to be instruments of righteousness – v.13 Freed by God’s grace – v.14

Why are we to no longer go on sinning? Because we are dead to sin Because we are alive to God – v.11 Because we are slaves of righteousness – v.19 We are slaves either way, either to sin or obedience – v.16 We became slaves of righteousness – vv. 17-18 Serve righteousness the way we once served sin – v.19 Be sanctified as a result – v.19b Freed from sin and enslaved to God – v.22

Why are we to no longer go on sinning? Because we are dead to sin Because we are alive to God – v.11 Because we are slaves of righteousness – v.19 Because the wages of sin is death What we have earned through sin is death – v.23a What God has given us through grace is eternal life – v.23b

Galatians 5 vv. 24-26 Look back at the list of the deeds of the flesh in vv.19-21 Out of the 15 deeds mentioned, 8 of them have to do with ‘challenging one another, envying one another’ – v.26 Live by the Spirit, walk by the Spirit