An Exposition
The Epistle to the Romans
―Breaking Through the Flesh‖
Part II
Romans 8:31-39; 4-9
What Things?
Romans 8:31 (KJV)
What shall we then say to these things?
Will to Good, Inclination to Evil
Romans 7:15-20 (NIV)
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do
not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not
want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is
no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18]
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful
nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I
cannot carry it out. [19] For what I do is not the good I
want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on
doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no
longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Sin»Emotions King
• Sin rules through our emotions
• It rules through our intellect
• Sin rules through inclinations
• Preferences—if you prefer unhealthiness, you will resist
anything that threatens the pay offs for being unhealthy:
– Having others take care of you (i.e., Victim Mentality).
– Having others take care of your responsibilities (Rescue Me)
– Avoiding accountability
– Avoiding responsibility
– Resisting/Sabotaging healthy change
What Things?
Romans 8:31-32 (NIV)
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for
us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his
own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also,
along with him, graciously give us all things?
Promises
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NIV)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
[3] His divine power has given us everything we need for
life and godliness through our knowledge of him who
called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through
these he has given us his very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may participate in the divine
nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by
evil desires.
The “What”
• Eternal life
• Guide you with Mine eyes
• Not lay on you more than you can bear
• Lift a standard against your enemies
• Exalt you in due season
• Give you peace
• Make your bed in sickness
• Provide
• Make your enemies to be at peace with you
• Comfort you
• Deliver/Sanctify you
“The How”
Excellence, Understanding, Emotional Maturity, &
Determination,
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith
goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to
knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance;
and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness,
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. [8] For
if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they
will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in
your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lion
Negative Effect/the Flesh
• Sees others as less than self
• Preoccupied with self, self centered
• Hostile, inappropriately aggressive, violent
• Blaming, critical, judgmental, ―seldom wrong‖
• Controlling, bullies, power hungry.
Concepts from: Dr. Alibrando, S. (2007). Follow the Yellow Brick Road;
How to Change for The Better When Life Gives You Its Worst. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.
The Tin Man
Negative Effect/The Flesh
• Unhealthy or immature dependency; depends on others’
opinions and approval to feel good.
• Very sensitive to rejection and abandonment.
• Takes things personally.
• Feels ―less-than‖ other people.
The Scarecrow
Negative Effect/The Flesh
• Detached, avoiding, uninvolved.
• Cut off from feelings, uses thoughts instead of feeling.
• Avoids closeness and conflict, wants to be left alone,
prefers things to people.
• Play-acts, role plays, acts ―as if‖.
Comparison of Three Companions
Companion Positive Negative Feeling Fear of
Expression Expression
Tin Man Care, concern Compliant Soft feelings, Being weak
Empathy, inferior warmth, caring and vulnerable
―healthy ―unhealthy love, fear
dependency‖ dependency‖
Lion Courage Hostility, Hard feelings Being ―bad‖
assertiveness, rage, anger, resolution, and getting
honesty exploitation envy, hate hurt back
Scarecrow Objectivity, Emotionality, No feelings, Being alone,
Enduring, disconnected, unaffected abandoned,
Self awareness indifferent objective not belonging
Concepts from: Dr. Alibrando, S. (2007). Follow the Yellow Brick Road; How to Change for The Better When Life Gives
You Its Worst. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.
Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
[32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not
also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge
against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he that
condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the
right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? [36] As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
[38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.