In The flesh Vs In The Spirit

Romans 8:5-11
[5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

[9] You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [10] But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How does Paul’s logic up to this point in Romans help us to make sense of the relationship between the Christian and God’s law?
2.   Who is the Holy Spirit? What does it mean that he dwells within the Christian?
3.   What does it look like for someone to have his or her mind set on the things of the Spirit rather than on the things of the flesh? How would you describe your pre- vs. post- converted life in these terms?
4.   Where do we see total depravity and total inability in this passage? How does this inform your doctrine of salvation?
5.   How does Paul relate Christ’s resurrection to our future resurrection in vv. 9-11? How does his logic reassure us and strengthen our hope?

References: Romans 9:31; John 14:23, 26; 15:26; Romans 5:1; 6:12; 7:24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:16