In Genesis, Adam and Eve were tempted by the Serpent, being disobedient to God’s command and being promised the gift of life by the devil. The Tempter knows how to use the tools of temptation to allure us and invite us to follow the pattern of sin. What feels like freedom to do whatever we desire is bondage. Paul identifies three obstacles to our fellowship with God, and they are 1) the “world,” 2) the devil, 3) and the “flesh.” Each of these is an alternative to life with God and directly opposes obedience to God.
But because we have put on Christ, or rather, Christ has imputed his holiness on us (remember, we were dead to sin!), we are set on a new course, given true freedom. This course pursues Christ and the true life that flows from God alone.
The life that these three obstacles present is a flash-in-the-pan lifestyle. It begins with excitement and allure but ultimately fosters death and isolation from God the Father. Life in Christ is the opposite as it delivers on all it promises, bringing the power of the resurrection into our lives today and on the last day.
Questions
1. What does Paul mean by the terms, “world” and “flesh”? What does it look like to follow the “course of this world” today? How can we tell we are living according to the “world”, the devil, or the “flesh?”
2. Is it of great importance for Christians to subdue the sinful cravings of their “flesh”? What means does God provide for us to do this? What is your experience in struggling against sin? Is it possible for Christians to gain power against sin? If so, how?
3.If you could give advice about sin to a new convert, what would it be?
4. Richard Phillips says, “When we dabble in sin, we are risking our character and the domination of the devil, who rules through sinful passions. Sin always takes us further than we wanted to go, keeps us longer than we wanted to stay, and makes us pay far more than we ever wanted to pay—even the price of our souls.” This is a description of what happens when we don’t take sin seriously. It is a minute course change that veers ever so slightly away from God, but one that leads us far from God. What are some excuses we life to give for sin, ones that fail to take sin seriously?
5. Read Ephesians 1:18-19. What hope is there against disobedience for those who are in Christ Jesus? How are we strengthened and empowered?