"Condemnation"...: this is where I personally disagree with the lesson study, helped by several leading, senior pastors.

The late lesson author, and the church generally it seems, too, hold this view that "condemnation" comes from sinful choices we each make. This is mistaken, since "guilt" is what comes from our sins, while condemnation is...the legal status of sinful flesh.

"Under the law" (eg. Rom 6:14b) is equally the legal environment of sinful flesh, given this legal status of condemnation of sinful mankind's nature, not an experience of guilty - else Christ would not have been "born...under the law". Both these legal aspects of sinful nature - "no condemnation" and "under the law" - indeed are changed in the teachings of Romans. Condemnation is removed from the world, by grace (2 Cor 5:14b; Heb 2:9; Rom 8:1c, only in the KJV, shouldn't be there, as it fits in Rom 8:4 only, instead, for it is, truly, an experience of faith) - and we experience being "under grace" (Rom 6:14b), rather than the law's condemnation of our nature, by daily death to self through faith.

Christ does this for the world (its justification by grace in Christ's person) and also in us (justification by faith, i.e. the experience we have of justification by grace) by him having taken our condemned, sinful flesh as his own and dying primarily, also as the Son of God and Author of life, putting our selfish, sinful flesh to death eternally as he suffered divine wrath against sin.

With our sinful flesh thus legally executed, as required by the law condemning it for its sinfulness, in God's judgement on sin in Jesus for us, the whole world is thereby freed from condemnation and believers may then experience this life "under grace" and "not under law" (Heb 2:14, 15). Sinful nature itself, in principle & before & separate from the guilt from our 'eventual' choice to sin, suffers condemnation and being under the law. The redemption that is through Christ Jesus is from condemned, sinful nature and the carnal mind, not just release from guilt.

Were "under the law" about having sinned 'again', then Jesus "being born of a woman, born under the law" makes no sense, Biblically. It makes sense for Jesus if "under the law" means solely the legal environment of sinful nature, which he took for his own and "condemned sin in the flesh". Condemned, sinful nature was then judged by our holy God in our Substitute's death for sin, redeeming us from our nature's judgement of death.

Any questions?

In the following passage Paul describes born-again, fully converted believers (people who are actively, aggressively abiding in Jesus, partaking of the divine nature, living in harmony with everything Jesus commanded) successfully recognizing and resisting the unholy thoughts and feelings generated and communicated via sinful flesh nature tempting them from within to be unlike Jesus. Paul is definitely not talking about believers sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting. He goes on to say that Jesus, who was also tempted from within via sinful flesh nature to indulge His innocent and legitimate needs in unholy ways, successfully submitted and subjected them to a sanctified will and mind.

Colin, are you saying sinful flesh nature is condemned? If so, by who or what? And, how does it impact the host, the human being?

No, Paul is not talking about believers sinning and repenting. He is talking about sinners who see that the law is good in their mind, but are not able to live according to it because they haven't yet been born again. He is speaking about his own struggle before he accepted Jesus.

Paul says, "I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." What was it that brought that commandment to the mind of Paul but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom Jesus said, "the Father will send in my name? He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Paul continues, "And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which was good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." {RH, April 1, 1890 par. 4}

Men sometimes become ashamed of their sinful ways, and give up some of their evil habits, before they are aroused to manifestly come to Christ; but it is the power of the gospel, the grace of Christ, that is drawing them to make reformation in their conduct. An influence of which they are unconscious works upon the soul, and the conscience is quickened, and the outward life is amended. And as Christ draws them to look upon his cross, to look upon him whom their sins have pierced, the commandment comes home to the conscience. The wickedness of their life, the deep-seated sin of the soul, is revealed to them. They begin to comprehend something of the righteousness of Christ, and exclaim, "Was all this love, all this suffering, all this humiliation demanded that we might not perish, but have everlasting life?" They then understand that it is the goodness of God that leadeth to repentance. A repentance such as this lies beyond the reach of our own powers to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ, who ascended up on high, and has given gifts unto men. Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one who can arouse in the natural heart enmity against sin. He is the source of our power if we would be saved. No soul can repent without the grace of Christ. The sinner may pray that he may know how to repent. God reveals Christ to the sinner, and when he sees the purity of the Son of God, he is not ignorant of the character of sin. By faith in the work and power of Christ, enmity against sin and Satan is created in his heart. Those whom God pardons are first made penitent. {RH, April 1, 1890 par. 5}

The apostle Paul, in relating his experience, presents an important truth concerning the work to be wrought in conversion. He says, "I was alive without the law once"--he felt no condemnation; "but when the commandment came," when the law of God was urged upon his conscience, "sin revived, and I died." Then he saw himself a sinner, condemned by the divine law. Mark, it was Paul, and not the law, that died (4SP 297). {6BC 1076.7}

That means you do disagree? Paul, in your view, does not speak of frustration, failure, and condemnation"?

I mostly agree with this, and the quotations are to the point. Regarding Paul I agree, but regarding others, I think it could include those who have backslid. I think the general principle Paul is getting at is that the flesh, apart from divine help, is unable to keep the law, and this is true regardless of whether one has never been converted, or has been but has backslid.

I agree.

Paul said, "I allow not ... it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." I hear you saying this reflects the experience of an unconverted person.

Yes, it is condemned, by God's holiness & law - requiring the death, i.e. execution & eternal extinction, of the sinful nature and the (unrepentant) sinner, in judgement. It impacts the human being, and therefore the Saviour of all men, as expressed here:
We are redeemed from our sinful nature's condemnation and not just released from our guilt.

Colin, still not sure of something. Are believers, who have "ceased from sin", condemned because they possess sinful flesh nature?