Great Nasty Words of the New Testament, Living in the Flesh

Romans

Triad of Bad Influences

  • Introduction of the triad: the world, the flesh, and the devil
  • The sparse references to Satan and Paul’s infrequent invocation of Satan

Concept of the World

  • Explanation of "kosmos" (world) in New Testament usage
  • Discussion on the world as the sphere of darkness contrasted with the light of Christ

Concept of the Flesh (Sarx)

  • Introduction to the term "sarx" and its different meanings
  • Detailed explanation of "sarx" as a term with multiple meanings
  • Various uses and meanings of "sarx" in different contexts (physical substance, human body, collective human beings, etc.)
  • The distinction between human and divine nature, and human weakness

Theological Implications of the Flesh

  • Dualism in human nature, physical vs. spiritual aspects
  • Conflict between the spirit and the flesh; the idea of the flesh being weak and prone to sin

Paul’s Teachings on the Flesh

  • Paul's distinction between life in the flesh and life in the spirit
  • The tension between living according to the flesh and according to the spirit, and the implications for Christian life

Human Standards vs. God's Standards

  • Discussion on human standards of behavior and achievements vs. God's standards
  • Contrast between attempts at justification by works of the law and by faith in Christ

Conclusion

  • Summary of Paul's views on human nature, sin, and justification
  • Summary of the lecture series, emphasizing the need to examine words in their contexts
  • Theological and practical takeaways for Christians

*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.

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