Video Notes: 

• There’s an interesting connection between Romans 7 and Romans 12.
  • In Romans 7, it contrasts the body of the flesh, the sinful self it contrasts that with the mind that loves God. Sin lives in the body and it causes the Christian to do all kinds of evil. The mind, however, loves God’s Law and desires to follow the Law.
  • In Romans 12, we are urged to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. We are also urged to be transformed by the renewal of our minds.
• This isn’t a definitive connection, so I’m not saying that Romans is definitely connecting the body and mind in Romans 7 with that in Romans 12, but I am saying that it’s interesting to think about Romans 12 in light of Romans 7.
  • Recognizing that we have this battle going on inside of us between the body of sinful flesh and mind that loves God, we should sacrifice the body of flesh and so not be conformed to the ways of the world around us.
  • At the same time, we should be transformed by the renewal of our mind.
    • The word for renewal is only used one other time in the New Testament in Titus 3:5. The use of “washing of regeneration” is a clear reference to baptism. So, the transformation by the renewal of our mind begins at our baptism and continues in the life of the Christian as we live in our baptismal renewal. 
  • As our mind is renewed day after day, we learn to love God’s commands. We can test them and see that they are good and acceptable, and perfect.
• Romans 7 shows us that even in the transformational process, we still struggle with sin and will fall. Thus we continue to trust in the washing of regeneration we have received by God in baptism, repenting of our sins and receiving the grace and mercy of God.