Introducing The Tension Between The Flesh And The Spirit: Romans 7:4-6
“4) Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5) For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6) But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:4-6
Paul now introduces the battle alive within every believer. It comes down to the tension between the flesh and the spirit. Through Christ, we died to the Law which is dependent on the flesh and self effort to be good and do good. The sinful passions aroused by this system end up producing fruit for death.
But those who cultivate the walk in the Spirit begin to produce fruit unto God. We can serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Rather than righteousness being forced from the out side in by the Law, it is birthed from the inside through the indwelling Spirit. The two approaches are radically different.
No matter how hard you try to discipline your flesh, control your flesh or reform your flesh; it is still human flesh and is in alliance with sin. In Galatians 5:24, Paul argues that the only productive recourse for the flesh is to crucify the flesh. Apart from walking in the Spirit, all religious endeavor is destined for failure not because the Law is bad, but because human flesh is sinful and devious. We need to walk in newness of the Spirit.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global