The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 81.

Subject: Tho Life-Giving Spirit, Roms
Will, 1-14-GoIden Text, Rom. viii., IA
-Memory Verse. documentary on
the Days Lesson.
I. Freedom from sin through Christ Tvs.
! whole previous argument, and especially to
the previous chapter. The apostle has
shown in the previous chapter. that the law
could not affect deliverance from sin, but
that such deliverance was to be traced to
the gospel alone. "Now." The last chap.
ter closed with an account of the deep dig
tress of the penitent; this one opens with
. an account Of his salvation. The now" In
the text refers to the happy transition from
pardon, which this believer now enjoys.
''No condemnation" As condemnation is
the result of disobedience this clearly i'm.
plies that the believer can iye without
transgressing the law of God-he may live
free from sin. "In Christ Jesus" The
whole previous argument of the. epistles
makes it plain that those who are in Christ
are those who have been justified through
2. The law" A law is rule of action
established by recognized authority to en-:
force justice and direct duty. The word
law here means that rule, command or in
Esprit Of life" The close argument fol.
lowing implies that the Spirit Of life here
is the same as the Spirit of God and of
! Christ in verses 9. II, IA; and this can be
no other than the Holy Spirit in chapter
s.: 5. He is the Spirit of life, for all life
springs from Him. The Holy Spirit is the
Spirit OF. life because BE leads theesoul to
escape the sentence of death, and then
"animates it with the energies of the new
o. 10
the meritorious cause Of justification, the
head of the justified and the giver Of the
! Spirit. The meaning is that deliverance
from sin and death is by faith in Christ,
through the medium of the Holy Spirit.
"Free." Liberated from the bondage
caused by obeying the dictates of evil. This
is not partial deliverance, but freedom
from all bondage. Claw of sin and
death" Sin and death are partners of one
throne and issue one law. To obey sin is
to walk in path, marked out by death. 4.
moral code as is always meant y %i when not
powerless to deliver from sin or to produce
holiness. 1t could not secure its own fulfil
ment. "The flesh" The term flesh has
several different signifcations. In this in
stance it has reference to mans corrupt
and fallen nature Sending" This refers
to Christ's birth and plainly implies that
Christ was Gods Gown Son" before He
was sent-that is, before He became incar-
nate. "In the likeness, etc. That is, he
took upon Himself human body, similar
to ours, but not controlled by sin. In Him
was no sin. He was made of our flesh in
the likeness of its sinful condition: "And
CONDEMNED sin" Proclaimed its down
fall in the human heart. Christ came to
destroy the works of the devil. Through
the atonement man may be saved from sin.
AS. 'The Righteousness" The demands
of Gods righteous law which could not be
met by us when we followed the evil in
clinations of corrupt, sinful nature are
now fulfilled in US. who live and act as the
Spirit guides. "Flesh-Spirit." "Men must
be under the predominating influence OF
one or the other of these two principles,
the mastery will be the complexion of the
life and character of the actions" An evil
tree brings forth evil fruit and good tree
brings forth good fruit. =.
II. The carnal and spiritual contrasted
Tvs. 6-s). 6. ."Carnally minded" To al
low the carnal or corrupt nature to gain
the .ascendaney and to be controlled and
led by it. "Is DEATH" Not will lead to
DEATH" but "is DEATH" Such a course
not only ends in eternal death, but those
who are carnally minded are dead already
spiritually dead; they are dead while
.hey live q Tim. 5: 6; Eph. 2: !, S.. "But,'"
ings of the Spirit and cultivate the graces
of the Spirit, lis life and peace"-is the de-
Hgn of our existence and the only true
p 7, 8. rs penmity." This is stated as a
reason why "the mind of the flesh is
death" ". 81; it is opposed to God and
hates. God. "Neither-can be-" This is
absolutely certain, because it is carnal
mind and relishes earthly and sinful things
and lives in open rebellion against. God.
e91 sRen AGAINST seGsuse God besore Sss ey mne that
are in the Aesh"-those who are led and
controlled by the dictates of their corrupt,
aeshly nature, Cannot please God" and
consequently are doomed to eternal death.
III. The condition of those who follow
the Spirit (vs 9-l4). 9. "But." Paul now
gives the picture of the regenerate state.
1.-THE Spirit" The Spirit, the Spirit of
| God, and the Spirit Of Christ are merely
different expressions for the Holy Spirit,
the third person of the Trinity. Dwell in
you" The Holy Spirit is often spoken of
as dwelling in the hearts of Christians.
See 2 Cor. g.. Is; Gal. a: 8: This is more
the actual and personal indwelling Of the
Holy Ghost, producing all the fruits of the
truth. "None of his" This is the supreme
test by which we may know that we have
passed from death unto life; loud profess
sions, the ordinances, zeal for the cause,
many prayers, generosity-none Of these
10. - "Body is dead" There are variety
e u, &la af
and II. The following from Beet seems
quite clear: Because of Adams sin the
body of those in whom Christ dwells is
dead, that is, is prey of worms and cor.
ruption, but because of the righteousness
which is through Christ and through faith
the spirit which animates that mortal body
possesses sRR undy;nng yin lis life" R.rns. +bnts th.
verse does not refer to the resurrection of
the dead. But others think the reference
is to the resurrection. Quicken" Make
alive. The reference is to the resurrection
i2.l4. Debtors" We are debtors to
the Spirit, but to the flesh we owe moth
ing We disown its unrighteous! claims.
"ShaN ';e." If you live to indulge your
carnal pronensities you will sink to eternal
death. "Mortify." 'Put to death, destroy.
Sin is mortified when its power is de.
stroyed and it ceases to be active, Deeds
of the body" The corrupt inclinations
and passions, called deeds Of the body be-
cause they are supposed to have their ori:.
gin in the feshly appetites. "Shall live"
Shall be saved Either your Gins must die
or you must. No man can be saved in his
sins. Led" Submit to his influence and
control "Sons Of God" Children Of God.
This expression is often applied to Chris
tians in the Bible.