When we read Paul's accounts in Romans chapter 5 and chapter 6, we soon realise that there are three things that should be at work in our lives. Paul speaks distinctly of being slaves to sin, slave to righteousness but later in chapter 6 and again in chapter 8 we realise there is another aspect at work in our lives. That third element is the Holy Spirit.
Paul speaks about the law and its effects on our lives, ultimately lending us over to sin and how having the laws of sin at work in our lives. This is ultimately a metaphor for those who follow the flesh and are subjected to the flesh.
Paul also however speaks of subjecting ourselves rather to sin but to righteousness. This aspect examines the workings of our minds. Yet Paul hear emphasises that our mind is in continual battle. This I believe is because of our thoughts and the influences upon them from the world in which we live. Some time ago I did a study and found that primary school children received over 3000 messages through media, television, internet etc every day. This study is now over 10 years old and the effects and influences from these elements would be far greater now than ever. In fact they estimate the web grows by at least 750,000 pages per day. Therefore the influences from the web would have a greater effect than ever on the minds of everyone who use it as a reference source.
The final element that Paul puts to us in the metaphor of the heart. Hence body, soul and finally spirit are all examined in these chapters of Romans. In this last aspect, Paul says it is those who are led by the Spirit which are the sons of God. So whilst we know we cannot be slaves to sin (the body), that our thoughts are in constant battle by external forces (the mind), what we can rely on to lead us to righteousness is the leading and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
It is this which calls us sons of God, when we each day are led not by the flesh or even our own intellect and thoughts by Gods Spirit.
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