Monday, October 1, 2007

Bible Study - Our Sinful Nature

This week's study is going to be pretty basic. I don't want to put a lot of stuff in here, because I want to build a firm understanding of who we are without Christ.

1) Please read Romans 6:6 and Romans 7:15-25. Then please read Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8. We will be focusing more on chapters 6 and 7, but I did want you to read about the positive side also. :) The results of the following will vary for each person due to the different translation you each use in your study.

2)Re-read the chapters, this time underline or highlight in your Bible, or write on a piece of paper, the different phrases used for sinful, flesh, carnal, etc.

3) Now, lets see what these phrases mean in the original Greek.
www.studylight.org/lex/grk/search.cgi?word=carnal
www.studylight.org/lex/grk/search.cgi?word=flesh
www.studylight.org/lex/grk/search.cgi?word=sinful
www.studylight.org/lex/grk/search.cgi?word=nature

4) Do you see any repeats? If on each of the above you will click on the underlined number to the left. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page, you will see scripture references where that word is used. Look at the words in the chapters we are looking at.

My goal in having you go on this particular "treasure hunt" is for you to understand exactly what Paul is saying when he is talking about our struggle with our flesh - our carnal and sinful nature.

There are basically a couple of different words he uses in the Greek and then they are translated differently once we get into different versions of the Bible. It is important for us to understand our human nature. It is more important to understand the power we have through the Holy Spirit- but that is another Bible study lesson coming soon.

You don't have to post the actual answers to your questions, but I would love to hear any comments you have regarding the scripture passages. Has there ever been a time when you were a Romans 7:15-25 Queen candidate? Did ya just know you shouldn't do something, but ya did it anyway? If it is not too damaging or scary, please feel free to "share"... :)

I love you all!
Have fun digging for treasure this week!
Dorinda

2 comments:

Kay D said...

You really have to read and reread these chapters in Romans. I remember some of these verses from when I coached Senior Bible Quiz one year. We laughed at 7:15-25 because it seemed so confusing. What I got is that sometimes no matter what I know I should do I still want to do what I'm not supposed to do. Not only that but somtimes while I'm doing what I'm not supposed to do I know full well I should not be doing it but continue on anyway.

Anonymous said...

One defintion that really stuck out to me was for sinful (devoted to sin). This helped me to understand how we have to die to our sinful nature everyday. I have to make a decision , "Am I devoting my life to God or to sin today?"
This definetly convicted me today. I want my life to be devoted to God.
Beth