The "sin nature"

The first couple had free will.  They lived in a state of harmony with one another, nature, and God. Sin did not exist.  And we are told that they were naked and not ashamed.

The deception was that the serpent questioned the word of God. Did God really mean that, that they would die?  

The woman questioned God, and her act and Adam’s act resulted in sin and its consequences.  The immediate result was death, but not physical but spiritual.  Their eyes were opened.  They saw they were naked and were ashamed.  They experienced the opposite of good.

The effect of disobedience was a perception that distorted what was good.   This change became a part of them that would cause a craving beyond what is appropriate morality.

The curse was an added consequence for sin.

The Curse towards the serpent goes beyond the physical creature, but why the physical change?  The serpent was changed it seems as a symbolic reminder of the fall and a reminder of Satan’s destiny.

There is also the conflict that will come between the seed of the serpent and the woman.  The seed of the serpent would be those who belong to him spiritually, so obviously Satan is in view.  The seed of the woman would be those who spiritual belong to Christ, who is the ultimate seed here.

There was a change to the woman physically.  Child birth would be in pain.  Her husband would rule over her.  “What was to be a blessing to be a married partner and have children is now tainted by the curse.  In those moments of life's greatest blessing -- marriage and children -- the woman will feel the most painful consequences of her foolish act.”

The changes for man were in the hardness of labor and the changes in the nature.  Man will physically die.

Genesis chapter 3 reveals to us the origin of sin that came into the world.  Adam gets the credit, but we all suffer for it.  We may not understand the why or purpose or even the account details but we know the fact of it and the experience of it.  Those who don’t believe that we suffer the consequences of Adam’s sin but only our own, still have to admit that we do not all share the same environment of opportunity, and nature has suffered from Adam even to the area of birth defects.

Why should all suffer for Adam’s sin?  I don’t know.  Even if one rejects the idea of an inherited sin nature, there are still the issues of an imperfect environment, for all do sin personally, and all suffer the original sin affect on nature.  Though God set it up so all who are born are born in the already effects of sin, God has also made provision for the effects of sin at great cost to Himself--whether we grasp that cost or not.  So it seems that in one way or another, all people suffer for what one person did.  

In reference to Rom 5:12, we are told sin entered the world.  If this does not mean everyone was affected some how by Adam’s sin, then what could it mean?  We are told that death came by that sin.  Is this physical or spiritual?  Or both?  Though both came about by sin, Why is it inevitable that all sin if this isn’t the case?  Is it environment?  If it is unfair to be born with a sin nature, then why not say its unfair to be born in an unfavorable environment?  

Ron Wallace on Rom 5:12   THE sin: Paul usually uses this word, hamartia, with the definite article (the) as a reference to the sin nature, and especially in Romans. This could refer to the "principle" of sin coming into the world, but the overall context favors that it refer to the sin nature (Rom. 5:21; 6:1-23; 7:1-25).

 Adam's act of negative volition first and foremost caused a separation between Adam and God. This separation is spiritual death.

 Secondly, the act of negative volition caused a physical mutation of his mentality; a mutation that took up residence in his mentality genes and caused a distortion of all mental activity, making the physical senses the center of all human activity. Thus, his nature changed, and became resistant to the viewpoint of God and inherently evil. We designate this mutation as the sin nature. This sin nature which man received is not in the soul or the spirit. It is in the physical body and has a direct influence on the soul through an unidentifiable "wiring system" between the soul and the brain (Romans 6 and 7).

It can refer to the masculine noun "death," but that result is quite unacceptable, for it would mean that BECAUSE OF DEATH, all have sinned, and that is certainly never the case anywhere in Scripture. Whether it be physical or spiritual, death is never the cause of sin, but the result.

It can refer to the IDEA of what happened to the human race because of Adam's sin, which again is the presence of the sin nature in all of his progeny, and is represented by the feminine noun, THE SIN. In this case, the antecedent is not directly the feminine noun, but rather the idea that is represented in the context. This is acceptable since the construction is used without a corresponding noun as an antecedent in Phil. 3:12 and Mat. 26:50. Thus, the idea that is being communicated is, "because of which (sinful condition) all have committed sin."

It is imperative to recognize that this passage displays Adam as the originating cause for man's sinful condition, but the SINFUL CONDITION that is in view is not a positional sinfulness through imputation of Adam's sin, but a natural sinfulness that exists because of the presence of the sin nature. And it is because of that sinful condition that death has spread to all men.

Genesis 3 gives us the historic background to the origin of the sin problem and its consequences on mankind and the world.  Romans 5:12-21, Paul again looks at the consequences of Adam’s act, but contrasts that with Christ’s act and its consequences.  There are 2 men, 2 acts, and 2 outcomes affecting creation.

 Therefore, just as through one man [the] sin entered the world, and death through [the] sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

The previous verses, 6-11 speak of Christ dying for the ungodly.  This was God’s love demonstrated.  By Christ’s death, we are justified, reconciled to God, and saved from wrath.

Verse 12 presents Adam as the proactive channel in which sin was transmitted.  Sin here should be understood as “the sin nature” as it is usually called.  The word “sin” has the definite article “the” in front of it in the first two occurrences.  The immediate result was “death.”

Sin results in death.  This death was immediate in that it was a spiritual death, alienation from God, as we considered in Genesis 3.  This death was inherited to Adam’s progeny, because “the sin” nature was inherited.  We come into this world this way by natural birth.  The sin nature is a inclination that is resistant to Divine viewpoint and inherently evil.  “It is a powerful force or influence on the soul that makes sin the pathway of least resistance.” --R Wallace

What happened when this sin nature entered the world?  There was spiritual death, which spread to all because of this sin nature.  Also, because of this sin nature, all became sinners.  I believe it is best to see this last part of verse 12 saying that because of this sin nature, all have sinned.  It’s not that all sinned when Adam sinned, as many believe, but because of the sin nature we inherited from Adam, we all sin.  All have sinned is a statement of fact.  It is the same statement found in Romans 3.23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

If you think this is unfair and can’t understand the why of it, it is the way it is.  But if you try to understand all this some other way, you still discover that life is unfair in the circumstances we are born into.  In the Scripture that follows, we will see that though even though Adam’s act brought sin and death, God’s act brought righteousness and life.

Verses 13-14 tell us that even before the Law was given, sinning was in the world and death reigned.  The Law was added to make sin more sinful, to make it obvious.  But man had moral direction prior to that.  Prior to the Law, man was still a sinner and was alienated from God.

Adam is referenced as a type of him to come.  This is referring to Christ, obviously.  Adam was a type of Christ in that he is seen as having a universal cause and effect.  

 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the giftis not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from oneoffense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Verse 15 begins the comparisons between Adam (and his act and outcome) and Christ (and his act and outcome).  

The first contrast is between the “free gift” and the “offence.”

The offence brought death; Adam’s sin brought spiritual death.

Now the word “gift” is used 2 different ways here, and are 2 different Greek words.  The “free gift” is “charisma.”  The second use of “gift” is dorea, and it is the result or benefit of the free gift.  The free gift corresponds to the grace of God and Christ mentioned.  2 Corinthians 8:9 speaks of this grace and free gift:  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

The free gift is what Christ did on the cross, dying for the sins of all.  This is the grace of God and Christ by which we are saved.  The gift that is available to all because of that, but it is conditionally received, unlike the results of what Adam did.

The word “many” refers to everyone who comes under the effect of the act in view.  The many in Adam’s act is everyone who is born, because the sin nature and death are passed on through procreation.

The many that benefitted in Christ’s act is the same group as Adam’s, because the grace act was for all, and the gift is provisional for all, through faith, as Paul has taught elsewhere.

The words “much more” sets forth the principle that the effect of one cause, Adam’s,  will be surpassed by a greater cause, Christ’s.

Verse 16 sets forth a contrast between the judgment and the gift.  The offence brought judgment, an indictment, which results in condemnation.   Adam’s sin affects all of the race, then an indictment came on all, and the result is the consequences on all, condemnation, speaking of ultimate destiny (to perish).

But the gift, speaks of that which comes through what Christ did on the cross.  This gift is justification made available by the “free gift.”

This justification is God’s act of declaring one righteous, though they are not but sinners.  

Verse 17 Tells us this justification is “received.”  It is not universally granted.  

 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NAS, 5:18:  So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

 Verses 18-19 are like a summary. The NKJ has added words of “judgment came” and “the free gift,” but I think the NAS reads better here without them. For the judgment would be the charge that all are under sin, while the result of Christ’s act would be the gift of righteousness, not the “free” gift comes to all.

Here we see the outcomes of what both men did.  Because of Adam, condemnation would come to all, being they would eternally perish.  But because of Christ, justification comes to all which leads to life eternal.   Now these are provisional, available to all, for they must be received, as verse 17 says.  Romans 4.5 and 5.1 are clear we are justified by faith.

“Justification to life” says that justification results in eternal life.  If you are justified, then you will receive eternal life, which begins now in the new birth.  The new birth brings “deliverance from the status of spiritual death in time, cancels the perpetuation of that death into eternity via the lake of fire.”

Verse 19: “This verse restates the previous one with emphasis on the judicial classification that is made based on each person's spiritual condition.”

“The many: this is a term that refers to everyone who comes under the effect of the act that is in view. In Adam's case, the many includes everyone who is descended from him through physical procreation. In Christ's case, the many refers to those who believe in Christ - everyone who is descended from Christ through spiritual birth.” Ron Wallace

Many were made sinners through natural reception of the sin nature.  Many were righteous through faith in Christ for salvation from sin.

Verse 20-21:  The purpose of the law was to make sin more sinful, to make the offence abound.  However, grace abounds over the sin nature.  The sin nature is again referenced here in vss 20-21.  

The sin nature reigned by means of death, through alienation from God and immorality.  The law made this condition obvious.

But the grace of God that brings justification and life overcomes or exceeds sin and death, and reigns in righteousness and life.  

“But in every instance where sin's presence ruled, the grace provision of God and the grace act of Jesus Christ by providing justification, exceeded the effects of sin and offered salvation to all men.

This REIGN of righteousness has both a temporal reality as well as an eternal reality, for every believer possesses RIGHT NOW, the eternal life which is in Christ (1 John 5:11-12). But there yet remains the PHYSICAL application of eternal life through resurrection…

Now, although, no matter how much a person sins after salvation, the magnitude of God's grace in saving us is undiminished, any expressions of sin place the individual under the experiential rule of the sin nature, and under the negative effects of personal sins in the life. Thus, the answer to the question is that if we continue in THE sin so that God's grace might be continually amplified, we take ourselves out of the experiential blessings of salvation and reap misery and even divine discipline throughout our life.” Wallace

Romans 5:12, Young’s Literal translation: “because of this, even as through one man the sin did enter into the world, and through the sin the death; and thus to all men the death did pass through, for that all did sin;”

My translation/ interpretation: In order to accomplish this [our complete salvation, which is in connection with Christ, that is similar to and greater than the sin and death in connection with Adam], even as through one man [Adam], the sin [nature] did enter the world, and through the sin [nature], the [spiritual] death [entered]; and thus to all men the [spiritual] death did pass to all men [by the sin nature being genetically passed on from Adam as the proactive channel through procreation], because [of which--the sin nature] all have sinned.

From Adam -> the sin nature -> spiritual death -> all have sinned.

The sin nature is part of this body. You don’t need a sin nature to sin, but it is part of the body and has a direct influence on the soul; it is resistant to the viewpoint of God and inherently evil..

Two men:  Two acts (A), Two outcomes (O)

Adam (the first)  /  Christ (second Adam)

Verse 15:

A= Offence / A= the Free Gift, grace of God/ Christ (Christ’s death)

O= Many died / O= the gift

Verse 16:

O= judgment (all sinners) / O= the gift

O= condemnation (perishing) / A= the free gift O= justification (declared righteous)

Verse 17:

A= Offence / A= Righteous Act

O= Death Reigned / A= Grace

 -> “received” ->

 / O= the gift of rigteousness

 ->“will reign in” ->

 / O= Life

Verses 18-19 Summarizes what has been said.

Verse 20: A purpose of the Law and grace abounds over sin

Verse 21: Grace reigns where sin once reigned.

People today may speak of the 10 commandments as the way of life, but that is contrary to what Paul says: “And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.” 7:10

In Romans chapter 7, Paul “speaks of the person from the standpoint of his fallen nature,,,that he may still try to control incorrectly through the Law.” (Lopez/ Romans/152)

Ron Wallace (from online): “As soon as we trust in Christ as savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside our soul and begins to work within us toward bringing glory to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). We begin the CWL with the Holy Spirit filling us and controlling us. As we begin, in that very instant, "walking in the Spirit," for the very first time in our life the sin nature is not in control (Gal. 5:16) and as we thus "walk in the light" we experience fellowship with God (1 John 1:7).

Yet, that sin nature still resides in our body and it continues to promote its independence from God and darkness viewpoint within our soul.

Even though we now have a new desire to please and serve God, the sin nature is actively waging war with our soul to take us captive back to the old way of life.

Paul describes it at Romans 7:14-23.”

In Romans 7:14-25, Paul writes in the present tense “to indicate the vivid struggle the infant Christian has with sin in light of using the Law for sanctification.  One should not understand this section as the normal Christian experience, but the experience of a struggling Christian who tries to control sin by inappropriate use of the Law.” (Lopez/Romans/152)

 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The Law is spiritual: it is from God and His viewpoint.

Carnal means of the flesh, where the sin nature resides.

Sold under sin speaks of the bondage condition from Adam, “all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath…” (Eph 2:3/ESV)

 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

Paul may be referring back to his struggle with covetousness in 7:7.

“What I am doing” refers to following the lusts of the sin nature.

He did not understand: he was frustrated at his failure.

He speaks from his new attitude, the new Christian way of life.

 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

He’s saying that he is in agreement with God’s standards--which is the new attitude that follows salvation.

 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Lopez says the personal pronoun “I” “should be viewed as the whole person. Yet within the person there are two competing dispositions”; these are the flesh and the spirit, Gal 5:16-17.

The “I” here represents the believer influenced by the new disposition with desire to please God, the new Christian attitude, and yet there is the conflict with the sin nature that is aroused by the Law...the sin nature dictates the darkness viewpoint in promoting independence from God.

Romans 7:5  “...the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.”

In 7:7-12, Paul discovers that the Law arouses the sin that “dwells” in him, and the result is that he does what he doesn’t want to do.

This does not release one from responsibility for their actions, but reveals that the ability to do right does not come from trying to keep the Law. The ability is explained in Chapter 8 of Romans. This is what Paul learned at some point in his Christian life, maybe in Arabia after his salvation, Gal 1.17.

 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, buthow to perform what is good I do not find.

The flesh refers to the place where the sin nature resides, and “nothing good” speaks of the character of that nature.  His words “how to perform” speaks of his failure to do what he should and wants to do.

 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Yes, this appears repetitious, but it amplifies the conflict.  The sin nature has no trouble doing its thing because the Law has aroused it.  

He has a new standard he wants to follow but the inclination is contrary and causes  otherwise.  

 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

This law is the principle of the existence of the sin nature which influences the soul in opposition to the divine viewpoint desire which is there.

Paul’s “I” and “inward man”  speaks of himself as a believer who has the divine viewpoint standard in the soul which he has accepted and seeks to fulfill.

BUT…

“1. A different law: a different set of standards.

2. waging war: the very real warfare that exists in the soul between the Holy Spirit and the sin nature (Gal. 5:17) with the believer's self-consciousness right in the middle.

3. The law of my mind: refers to the divine viewpoint standards which the believer has accepted and is trying to fulfill.” R Wallace

 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

“This recognizes the frustration of the ongoing warfare and the need for outside assistance.” R Wallace

 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

“1. The victory is through Christ.

2. He first accomplished the basis for victory by providing redemption through His payment of a ransom for sin.

3. Next, through the standards of divine truth, represented by the term, "law of God," we gain the offensive arsenal needed to shut down the viewpoint of darkness and avoid sin.

4. If we instead allow the "flesh" (physical body) to be the most important thing in our life, then through the "lusts of the flesh" we will serve "the law of sin" which is independence from God.

The victory over this "enemy within," involves two things.

First and foremost is our salvation relationship with God. Without being born again into the family of God it is impossible to live outside the controlling influence of the sin nature (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Secondly, we must allow the Holy Spirit to work within our soul promoting the viewpoint of God and seeking to keep us in fellowship with Him and following His truth. This requires that we "let the word of Christ abundantly dwell within us (Col. 3:16)" so that the Spirit will have divine viewpoint in our soul to use in fighting off the sin nature and its lusts. Gal. 5:17 tells us that the conflict within us is between the flesh (sin nature) and the Spirit.”   R Wallace

Romans 8:1: There is no condemnation for those in Christ.

Condemnation is the result of Adam’s sin, 5:16, and this word goes beyond judgment. It speaks of the result of judgment. You’ve been charged a sinner, and therefore you will die. The sin we received from him is also at work in us so that we do contrary to the Law of God, Romans 7. When the sinful passions are aroused, the result is death. This must speak of a spiritual death. Paul asks “who will set me free from this body of death?” 7:24 The body of death refers to place of the sin nature. Rom 6:6.

Romans 7.25 says the release comes through Christ. Romans 6:6 says it is through the old self counted as crucified with Christ that release comes. Romans 8.1 says there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Is this the truth of the believer’s standing with God despite the existence and evidence of sin? What of the qualifying clause that follows? Should it not be there, and the verse is a statement of positional truth, or should it be there to qualify the statement? If the latter, does it mean condemnation is temporal sense?

“Those who persist on living by the Law’s standard will encounter frustration and defeat, because the Law can not aid Christians in overcoming sin. To overcome sin, believers need the help of the Holy Spirit. Lopez

After having shown the impossibility of overcoming the Adamic nature by obeying the law, Paul develops now the only solution available for the Christian to stymie the effects of sin and live victoriously.” Lopez

In light of Romans 7, the issue in Romans 8.1 and onward is a practical one. The condemnation may speak of the effect of sin’s power to enslave one to sin more and experience frustration.

Freedom from this power comes through not walking according to the flesh but the spirit. “According” is different than “in,” as the former deals with likeness and walk, while the latter speaks of position. Only those who walk according to the spirit will not experience sin’s power.

Verse 2: The law of the spirit…has made me free from the law of sin and death. This law speaks of principle. The latter is simply that sin brings death. In contrast, the spirit brings life. To live by the Law is to arouse sin and bring death. The believer can live by the spirit. The spirit has imparted a new spirit which is eternal life in us, and it is righteous. By it we can have a life experience. More about this later as we consider the inability of the Law.

Verse 3: The law was powerless in curtailing sin because of the sin nature in us. So…

God sent His son in the likeness of sinful flesh…

He had a body affected by sin but without the nature, due to the virgin conception. Because of sin he came. He condemned sin in his flesh. This is the same word for condemnation. Sin through the cross was dethroned of its slavery, mastery over the believer. Christ’s death is the eans by which the “body of sin” is done away, where the sin nature resides with its slavery,

Rom 6:6. That won’t be fully realized until resurrection.

Now I can see how this can be seen in a positional sense, but the focus is on the practical effect.

The old self and nature has no eternal hold on me, and by new birth, the Spirit, and the Word, I can do the following…

Verse 4: that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us…

This refers to the righteous acts required of the law, not judicial acquittal. This is possible if we walk not according to the flesh, directed by the old nature and value system of the world, but the spirit, directed by the new nature aided by the spirit and value system of the Word.

Verse 5-7 “According to” is to “set your mind on the things of.” To live according to the flesh is to set your mind on the things of the flesh. Likewise the spirit. The righteous requirements of the law can not be accomplish by the flesh. The flesh lusts. By setting your mind on the things of the flesh, you fulfill its lusts and not the law. But you do the opposite when you set your mind on the things of the spirit.By the death of Christ, we are released from the penalty of sin and the slavery of sin. This requires the impartation of new life and a new master, Rom 7:4. The latter is the means by which we can live righteously. Set your mind on the things of the spirit and the new nature is manifested. Though the law is spiritual, it is for the flesh to bring condemnation as one tried to live by its rules. But to set your mind on the things of the spirit is to renew your mind in God’s word concerning salvation and its communication, ministering to others in accordance to it. One needs to be in the Word and praying daily and going to church as avenues for this transformation to happen so that one will live according to the spirit.

Verses 8-10: “In the flesh” is different than “according to” the flesh. It is the unregenerate state.  The unsaved can’t fulfill the righteousness of the law. The believer is “in the spirit.” This is his position, especially because he is born again. Spirit of God and Christ probably are the same thing. You must have the spirit to be God’s child. The holy Spirit indwells us but we also have a new spirit. The HS assists us to walk in the spirit. This dwelling could refer to the new spirit just as sin dwells in us. “Christ in you”: is the righteousness that is manifested in us through walking according to the spirit. Gal 4:19 Paul speaks of Christ being formed in them.

What you set your mind on affects what controls you, whether the desires of the flesh or the spirit. One needs to be in the Word and praying daily and going to church as avenues for this transformation to happen so that one will live according to the spirit.

Romans 8: 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those [who] [live] according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be piritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is]

enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Because the believer has the Spirit of God and has a new spirit/ nature in them (the new birth), they can have “life and peace.”  

The key is what you set your mind on/ affections. The words “set their minds” means to mind/ think. The word “set” is not really there. Phil 2.5: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14-15: “as many as are mature; have this mind.”

Life is full of options, choices, things to do. There are a lot

temporal concerns, obligations, and distractions. Where do we “draw the line” on our pursuits? Whatever we do, it should line up with God’s moral will, and if possible, seek to adjust what you do to have the greatest eternal impact. The mind of the flesh is not just immoral desires and actions, but its selfish pursuits. A lot of what can motivate us is selfish. It’s our nature. But then again, that “drawing the line” is not so easy. We do need to be careful in judging others by our value system. The mind of the flesh is at enmity with God—opposition. It is the value system of the world.

The unregenerate cannot please God because the mind of the flesh is all they have, though it does not operate at its worse at all times. (The unregenerate can come under conviction of sin and fear the judgment of God.)

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God

dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not

His. 10 And if Christ [is] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the

Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who

raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the

dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells

in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live

according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die;

but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

That one is “in” speaks of your position. The believer is in the Spirit. This speaks of the fact you are born of God and belong to Him. So obviously, if you do not have the spirit of God, you do not belong to Him.

Probably most would say “spirit” in Romans 8 refers to the Holy Spirit.

Bullinger has a word studies on “spirit” and he believes it is the new spirit/ nature referenced until you get to verse 16. The spirit of God/ Christ is the new spirit. I am actually indecisive about it. If sin is said to “dwell” in us, than why not say the new spirit/ nature dwells in us? It would be a better contrast.

“Christ in you” I believe is the image created in us, the character of Christ in us by means of walking according to the spirit.  Romans 8:29: “Predestined… to be conformed to the image of His son.” Gal 4:19: “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” 2 Cor 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory , just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” James 1: 23 “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” Col 1: 27 “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you , the hope of glory.”

As before stated, avenues to achieving this requires time in the word of God, praying daily, and being involved in a church. Because of sin being in us, the body is dead, but because we have the spirit of God, we will live eternally and be raised from the dead. The spirit is life because of righteousness. That righteousness is manifested as the image of Christ in us.  Because of this spiritual reality, we are no longer obligated to the flesh. The spirit has delivered us from the flesh, and it delivers us as we walk by it; you put the flesh to death, that is not fulfill it:  Gal 5: 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.eath and life are before us. What we mind and walk according to determines a life or death experience for us in our fellowship and blessing from God.

Only the sons of God are led by the spirit. If you are led by the spirit, you manifest yourself as a son of God.

James 1: 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

The negative and the positive for receiving the implanted word.

In order to receive this “implanted word, something negative must done. One is to “lay aside” the immoral things in your life. This is not asking you to do what can’t be done, like stop sinning. It is repentance in which one resolves to do differently. It is a cleaning of house, so to speak. It is to remove those things that hinder us or stop the practice:

Heb12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

1 Pet 2:1 “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious.”

The positive thing is with “meekness” receive the word. It is a proper attitude. Someone willing to hear and learn.

- The “implanted word” is with reference to the new birth and the truth of God that brought it about:

James 1: 18 “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

1 Pet 1. 23 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”

“A seed of wheat contains within itself all of the potential from which a fully developed wheat may grow, so too does the gospel. Simple though the message of salvation is, the seed of life which is implanted when we believe this message contains enormous potential which only Christian obedience can fully develop.” Hodges

The implanted word can “save your souls.” Hodges believes this means save your physical life, while that may have some truth to it, I believe it can speak of sanctification.

1 Tim 4: 16 “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

Be doers and not hearers. This step is in accordance with the implanted word. It’s saying live the life of who you truly are. Don’t deceive yourself to think hearing is enough.

“James wants his audience to realize that the regular hearing of God’s word in the meetings of the church is not all he has in mind.” Hodges

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Hearing the word without doing it is like looking in a mirror and then forgetting what one has seen. Someone said that the “mirror” was used in   Hellenistic ethical teaching as a common metaphor for moral instruction.

We have other NT references where mirror is used.

1 Cor 13: 12 “For now we see in a mirror , dimly, but then face to face.”

2 Cor 3: 18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

On 2 Cor 3:18, one commentator says that “if believers look in God’s word and see the beauty of God’s Son, they will be transformed …When believers study and apply God’s word, progressive change takes place. Believers are transformed into the same image of Christ.” This is what I believe the “save your soul” speaks about; and it is the “Christ in you” that Romans 8:10, 29 speaks of.

Here, the mirror particularly speaks of seeing who one is through salvation.

“The man who goes away and forgets what he looks like is recognizable as the one who has not properly used the mirror for self improvement by turning hearing into deeds.” Johnson

What is seen in the mirror is his natural face…”a more precise rendering…would be the face of his birth.”  The Greek word is “genesis.”

Hodges connects this mirror and face with the implanted word, and regeneration, vs 18. It is the implanted word because it is that word by which we are saved, and thereby in that sense implanted in us.

Implanted can mean in-born, and it reveals to the “Christian hearers the true face of their new birth into God’s family. It shows them what they truly are in Christ and, therefore, how they ought to behave in keeping with the image of themselves….We begin by recognizing what we are by God’s grace, and then we are commanded to live accordingly.”

Eph 5: 8 “For you were once darkness, but now [you] [are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them].”

The “believer who hears the word, but goes out and ignores what is shown him, is truly like a person who immediately forgets what kind of person he is. To be a mere hearer of God’s truth is to forget our true identity as born-again and justified children of God, and behave like we are not.” Hodges

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [in] [it], and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.  By contrast is the Christian who is a doer, a work-doer.

The word “law” here is the “principle” of liberty. In Romans 8 we had the law of sin and death and the law of the spirit of life. The latter is in view here. In salvation, we are set free from sin and death and made alive in Christ.

Hodges: “The perfect law of liberty is the spiritual mirror into which the believer looks when he hears the implanted word.” The perfect law of liberty is the implanted word and it is the mirror (the word of God concerning our salvation).

What the Christian really learns from the word is to become in conduct what he already is by virtue of his regenerate nature. Blessing from God comes from living out in life who you are by the new birth. This comes by looking into and continuing in what we see in the mirror concerning our salvation.