Sunday School Thoughts and Text for this Week - Scriptures: Romans 8:5-8; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

Battle for the Mind
Lesson: Are You in the Right Mind?
Scriptures: Romans 8:5-8; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

Paul told the Roman church that the flesh is not able to subject itself to the Law of God. This was in direct opposition to the religion he had known all His life prior to his encounter with the living Christ on the road to Damascus. In fact Paul had prided himself for being a Pharisee (Phil. 3:5), a person dedicated to adhering to every law, and even beyond the Law to oral tradition. In the church today we must guard against a modern version of Pharisee-ism. Often we fall under the notion that we can obtain a greater grace, or deeper love from God, by engaging in more and more Bible study, prayer, and works of service. Of course these things are beneficial and worthwhile, but they cannot gain our approval by God.   Our approval by God comes from only one source... Jesus Christ.

All that was necessary to justify us before the Father was accomplished by the Son.

How do we view spiritual "disciplines"?
What motivates us to pray?
What motivates us to read the Bible?
What motivates us to serve one another in the church?

"The god of this world" is, of course, Satan. But his being the god of the world does not imply his ownership or ruling authority over the earth. Paul uses the Greek word "aion," which means this age or epoch. He's referring to the fallen world system in which Satan and his demonic minions operate. Because fallen men are also subjected to this world, Satan has the ability to blind them from receiving the light of Christ. Note also that Paul does not say these people are blinded "so that" they do not believe. Unbelief leads to spiritual blindness. God does not wish that anyone would perish, but that all would come to knowledge of Him and repent of their sins.   Knowledge of the truth of God is unfit for those who reject Him as Lord and Savior.  

As believers we are infinitely blessed by the pure light Christ shines into our hearts, the light that reveals who He is through the testimony of His Word.

In 2 Cor. 2:12 Paul uses a different word for "world" - "kosmos." Now he speaks of the whole ungodly mass of humanity in rebellion toward Christ. We did not received that spirit, because it is hostile to God. The Spirit we received is Himself God. The Holy Spirit, the Helper as Jesus called Him in John 16, is as much fully God as is the Lord. To have the very Spirit of God dwelling in us means we have all the fullness of the glory of God to teach us the spiritual words He has spoken.

Do you think Christians today comprehend who the Holy Spirit is?

Pray for the lesson this week and lift up all the prayer needs that we discussed Sunday.  Ask God for a deeper understanding of His word.... Let's go deeper together.

God Bless