Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Holiness: Kill sin by the Spirit

Romans 8:9-13

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.  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  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. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you dput to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

Rev. Charles Han

Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.

Why you must kill sin

1. Because you are in the Spirit, not in the flesh. You are no longer a debtor to the flesh.

The power of the ressurection, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. He is stronger than any indwelling sin.

2. Unmortified sin can lead to all kinds of problems, even spiritual ruin.

Walking in sin leads to death. Eventually, you are led away from the Lord.

3. A life of mortifying your sin is the assuring evidence that you are saved and will have eternal life.

This is not legalism. This way of living proves that you are saved. You are already saved, therefore you put sin to death.

How you must kill sin

We are not called to just say no. We are not fighting with just willpower. It isn't just saying no.

We are to depend on the Spirit.

But this does not call us to being passive. We are NOT to let go and let God. This is not legalism. We are justified by faith.

But sanctification calls for action on our part! 2 Peter 1:5 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 speaks to this.

Instead of: "Let go and let god"
Try this: "Hold fast and let God!!"

Kenneth Berding - "Obedience and trust. Action and acquiescence..."

We are called to active dependence on God.

What does this look like?

Galatians 5:16-24 tells us.

1. The expulsive power of a new affection: it's not just saying no to sinful desires, it's saying yes to greater, more powerful desires that snuff out the sinful desires.

2. The Holy Spirit through the Word cultivates in us godly affections, the fruit of the Spirit

3. These godly affections are designed to kill the desires of the flesh at the root, thus weakening the sin in our lives.

What is the practical application?

APTAT

Admit I can't in myself do what needs to be done.

Pray for God's help

Trust a particular promise that God has given.

Act to do whatever God has called you to do.

Thank God for His faithfulness in helping us.