The Tupelo journal., 1903-05-29
Il SUNDAY q O
Lesson In the International Series
for May 81, 1DO3-The Life
Giving Spirit. 3
THE LESSON TEXT. Z
(Romans S:1-14.)

(Romans S:1-l4.)
l. There is, therefore,, no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life In Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of
sin and death.
o. for what the law could not do, in that
u was weak through the flesh, God sending
Ills W Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
ana for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4. That the Righteousness of the law might
De fulfilled in us who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit.
S. For they hat are after the flesh do
min the things of the flesh; but they that
are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
e. For to be ~carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace.
z. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God. for it is not subject TO the
law of God, neither indeed can be.
s. So then they that are in the flesh an
not please God.
9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell
in you. Now if any man nave not the
Spirit of Christ. he is none of His.
10. And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead, because or sin: but the Spirit is life
pcSduSe OI TlS HteOuSItSS.
II. But if the Spirit of Him that raised
up Jesus from the LEAD dwell in you. He
that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by His
Spirit that dwelleth in you.
II. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors.
not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
10. For If ye live after the flesh. we shall
die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
IA. For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God. they are the sons of God.
TEXT.-For as many as are
led by the Spirit of God. they are the
sons of GOd.-Rom.-S:14.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Free from the law ..............Rom STA.
IN the flesh or Rom S:53l1
Children of God .......-."...Rom. S:l2-l6.
The Spirit of our Helper. Rom. S:11-39.
lME,-Sprin of A. ID. 5S.
PLACE.-Corinth.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Paul was now about to start for
Rome. and in II lesson we see what
doctrine he had written to the Ro-
mans while he was in Corinth. Note
also how well it sets forth the differ
ence between himself and those before
whom he had been brought, as related
in the last lesson.
The eighth chapter of Romans is one
of the great chapters of the New Tesla
ment, and while to us it perhaps seems
technical, and full of unfamiliar terms.
it was not so at all to the people to
whom it was written, and TO us Paul's
thought is perfectly plain and sim
pie. He is speaking of the influence
in the lives of ala true Christians of
the Holy Spirit through what we call
the higher nature"
mo condemnation:" Such as we of
course deserved before the beginning
of the Christian life. "Them that are
in Christ Jesus" Who have accepted
His as their Saviour, and are honestly
trying to do as He would have them
do. Law of the Spirit of life
law of sim" Say control instead of
law; THE control of the Spirit of
Christ Cor as many understand it, the
Christ-spirit), which is the source OF
all that is worthy the name of life.
released me from the control of the
lower. sinful nature, which had ruled
before the Christian life began
what the law (of Moses could not
do" That is, to save men from sin,
this God did do through Jesus Christ.
THE law weak through the
flesh" Law-the knowledge or a
statement of what we ought to dos
powerless to make us do it. 1t is in
efficient, weak" because we are weak.
CONDEMNED sim" "Deposed it,
Vincent. "That the ordinance ire
quirement. r. V. margin) of the law
might be fulfilled" The aim of the
law was right. but it was Intellectual
to accomplish it. 1t was unable to
make mems lives right without touch
ing their hearts. while Christ makes
mems lives right by first making their
hearts and wills right. When that is
done the right life follows naturally.
"Flesh:" The lower nature. Spirit"
The higher and better nature inspired
and strengthened by the Spirit of
Christ.
"They hat are after the flesh" The
kind of people in whom the lower ma
lure controls. THE mind of the flesh"
The low, sinful life Paul has been
speaking of. SIS DEATH" That can be
the only end of such a life. A life that
is constantly going down hill, moral
ly and spiritually, as well as physical
ly. must sometime reach the bottom.
That is death. 'If n man hath not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His"
1t is not membership in any church or
belief in any creed nor the performing
of any particular meritorious act hat
decides whether or not one is Christ's,
but simply whether he is so filled with
the Christ-spirit that he is becoming
really like Christ. 1.-THE body is dead"
''The body isstill death-smitten because
of sins."-Bosworth. 1t vas Paul's be-
lief that all physical death was the di-
rect result of the sin of the ancestors
of the human race. spirit is life"
righteousness and the vigor and life
of the soul GO together.
"We are debtors:" Rather we are
under obligation. "Put to death the
deeds of the body" That is. stop
doing the selfish things the flesh in
clines to."-Bosworth. Paul shows,in
verses 1917 that the Christian is not
whipped into line by God, like a slave,
but that he is Gods child. and that his
service is love service.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS