Put Sin to Death
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Romans 8:9-13
Good morning everyone
great to see you this morning
it was a wonderful night last night to gather to pray together at our prayer night. I was just really encouraged. What a great God we have who hears our every prayer. It’s a privilege we have.
Well this week I asked some people in my home group and a few other friends this question;
what do you think is the hardest thing about being a Christian, a follower of Jesus? If praying is a joy and delight, this is the opposite right.
Of course, when you ask this kind of question you get a wide range of answers.
You know some thought sharing the gospel with my friends and family. That’s hard isn’t it?
In a similar vein others said try to tell people the truth about God. that’s the hardest thing because I get these looks, people think I’m a crazy person. I feel judged.
Others said; not having comfort and material security
Someone said ‘the cool and better thing’ is to agree with worldly things. Agree with same sex marriage. It’s really really hard to go against the tide of the culture.
There’s lots of hard things about being a Christian
But you know what the most consistent answer was?
One word; Sin: the constant battle to put sin to death.
people phrased it differently
not falling into the ways the world
not succumbing to temptation
saying no to natural desires
grieving my own sin;
Someone summed it up well; the constant 24/7 battle of trying to resist temptation and therefore sin when it’s all around me
Sin. Putting sin to death. It’s the hardest thing about being a Christian. It’s a lifelong battle.
And it’s true isn’t it
When you follow Jesus – he tells us put sin to death. Don’t dabble in it, don’t delay. Kill sin, or as the Puritan John Owen famously put, kill sin or it will be killing you.
Paul says Romans 8:13 in our passage
Romans 8:13 (ESV)
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
There you have it
God wants us to put sin to death.
So how do we think about this? Put sin to death – yes. But it is so hard. How do we do it?
Well, this morning I want you to be comforted assured that you are in the spirit by faith in Jesus - that’s who you are – God’s Spirit dwells in you, so put to death sin by the spirit.
That’s my big idea; you are in the spirit so put sin to death by the spirit. The idea is simple.
First
2. You are in the Spirit (8:9-12)
Look how Paul starts verse 9
Romans 8:9–10 (ESV)
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.
Paul declares that you – you all - are in the Spirit. if you’re Spirit of God dwells in you, you’re in the Spirit. and in the Romans case, they have the Spirit. There’s no doubt about it. Why? They trust in Jesus. They belong to Christ. That’s comforting isn’t it?
And I want you to take notice of how the Holy Spirit is described. It’s very interesting. He is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ verse 9. He isn’t some weird force – may the force be with you - cue Star Wars. Don’t be confused. He is the third person of the Trinity.
And look at verse 10 so interesting, he is the Spirit of life because of righteousness – or he gives life because of righteousness.
This is absolutely key to why they can be comforted. It’s why we’re comforted. Why? the battle with sin is not one we will ultimately lose. Why’s that? The Spirit gives us life because of righteousness. Jesus has made us right with God.
Let me flesh this out a bit. God through His Holy Spirit brings us to understand the Gospel. we have no ability. We are in sin. Destined for death. But the Spirit enables us to accept Jesus. He brings us to understand that far out I’m a sinner, Jesus has paid for my sins. He is righteous. I can be declared right with God by trusting in him. His death and resurrection. Jesus has forgiven us of sin.
Friends it’s the Spirit who imprints upon a person the finished work of Jesus. As we accept Jesus and his forgiveness the Spirit is at work in us. So that when we trust in Jesus, the Spirit actually dwells in us. You see it there in verse 9 and verse 11. It’s a supernatural work of God. every believer has the Spirit. all of the Spirit.
The old order, old realm the flesh that’s gone. If you are in Christ, you are now in the new realm, you are in the Spirit. You belong to Christ. There are no dual citizens. You either turn to Christ and you have the Spirit. or you don’t turn to Christ and you don’t have the spirit.
So Friends, if you have the Spirit, you can please God. that’s the reality. you are not defeated. Powerless in your sin. You’re not a slave to sin. You are right with God. The Spirit is life because of righteousness.
And more than that; look at your guaranteed future.
You will be raised to life forever. Jesus has secured your standing with God. Jesus has secured your future.
Look at verse 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.
Yes our bodies are breaking down now. We die. But God will ultimately bring your mortal body from the grave. It’s guaranteed because He brought Jesus from the grave.
And not just spiritually. But physically. It’s a spiritual and physical resurrection.
We will be raised with bodies fit for purpose when Jesus returns.
Our future is guaranteed. Because of Jesus we will be raised to life forever.
So friends, be comforted. Be assured. We know that Jesus has secured our standing with God – right with him. Jesus has given us his Spirit. he dwells in us, we have our future secure raised forever.
So place your battle with in in it’s right place. It’s momentary. It won’t last. 2 Cor 4: 17
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Suffering and sin is just momentary. Just a blip in the radar. Persevere. God will lead you home.
Don’t know who your insurance company is. Christian super has this catch phrase ‘we’ve got you covered.’
Brothers and sisters, God has you covered if you’re in Christ Jesus. Your past has been dealt with. Jesus died for your sins. Your future, secured, at the resurrection and in the present – well – he's given you his Holy Spirit. He dwells within you right here and now.
God the Father has you covered - planned your salvation
God the Son has you covered – he died and rose form the grave
God the Spirit has you covered – he has written in your heart resurrection hope –
He’s got you covered.
So if you trust in Jesus,
Don’t think yourself as a sinner, that’s all you are.
Don’t think of yourself as someone who constantly falls short of God’s standards.
Don’t think you are a constant disappointment to God.
Don’t think God accepts you because of Jesus but he isn’t pleased with you.
Think of yourself as a person in the Spirit. Someone not under condemnation in the law. Accepted. Pleasing to him. Loved. Able to live a righteous life in Christ.
Yes, while you and I sin. Of course We need to repent of our sins. We do it every week at church don’t we? We confess our sins. But if you are in Christ. Your sin does not define you. Your not out of relationship, in relationship with God out and in every time you confess. God does not view you as a ‘sinner.’
Like I want to emphasise the point;
The new testament is filled with language that described Christians
Loved by God
Holy
Sanctified
Purified
Washed
Precious to God
Those who walk by the spirit
Sinners is what we were. But not anymore. We still commit sin but that’s not our identity. That’s not the realm we belong. You are in the Spirit because of Christ.
So when you sin, and you will and I will, I want to encourage you to see that as inconsistent with your new identity in Christ. You belong to Christ. The Spirit dwells in you. You can please God. Have a spirit mindset. View yourself as you really are, dead to sin alive to righteousness, raised with Christ, new creations.
Friends, I asked the question; what’s the hardest thing about being a Christian? Actually – can you see in Christ you already have right standing with God. The war is over. Jesus has defeated sin. He’s defeated death. God has raised Jesus from the dead he will raise you by faith. Now his and his spirit dwells in you. He’s got you covered.
So now, we engage in a new war. A war we can win. We are to put to death sin by the Spirit. Look at verse 12 – I want you to focus on the word debt there.
3. So put sin to death by the Spirit (8:12-13)
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 put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Paul talks about debt or indebtedness 5 times in Romans. We are indebted not to the flesh but to the Spirit.
I love watching the show Undercover boss. The premise of the show – the boss of a company goes undercover, like I’m talking fake hair, makeup the works. And he or she goes on to investigate how their business really runs on the day to day, how it can be improved, who’s working hard. It’s feel good because at the end of the episode, the boss obviously reveals who they are… and they reward hard working employees. So, on this particular episode Andy CEO of Fatburger – not sure why you call yourself that, maybe they have good sized burgers. Andy’s sitting with one of his hardworking employee Lisa. She’s this very skinny lady, very hardworking, she’s buried in debt. Had a rough life. single mum, husband died from heart disease. She’s racked up huge bills in medical expenses. Andy the boss is very generous. He goes, look Lisa I want to help you. I’m going to pay your rent for a year, $15k US. Right. But there’s more. He goes, I’m getting you a financial adviser, and pay off all your debt – works out to be $190k, and I’m going to give you $10k to buy a car. You can imagine, single mum, 3 little kids, doesn’t remember life without debt. She’s bawling her eyes out. She’s so thankful. He’s given her a fresh start. He’s cleared her debt. How do you think she felt? Indebted right. Like she owes him.
Greater than that, the Lord Jesus has written off the incalculable debt we owed to God. He has forgiven all of our sins. Paid fully on the cross. Unlike Lisa, who worked hard, in some sense you feel for her. Jesus saved us Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We hated God and he died for us. We didn’t even want God. So how much more should we be thankful to God? that he would save us? How much more are we debtors to God?
Friends, We’re are debtors not to the flesh to live according to the flesh, but now we are indebted to the Spirit. Jesus is our new master. He is our king. We live for him. We’re indebted to the Spirit.
And Jesus tells us how to live by the spirit; put to death sin.
Now at this point I want to clarify this, before we move on. Before we think about putting sin to death. I don’t want you to be confused. Living by the Spirit is not how you get life. you cannot pay off this debt. It’s impossible. It’s a gift you receive. Jesus died. He rose again. I trust in him for life. That’s a gift. Actually, living by the spirit is a sign you are on the way to eternal life. it doesn’t save you. It shows you that you are on the right path.
When Joy and I take the kids to Sydney, it’s a well coordinated effort, right 4 kids going to Sydney 9 hours huge drive. We got snacks at this time, books at that time, stops at this time.
I rely on signs to know we’re on the right track to Sydney. I’m looking at the signs you know the big green signs okay Sydney only 600 km away, 300km away. The signs keeps me on track. Okay there’s 100km 1 hour to go till we get to Goulburn, where the Big Merlino lives. You look at it and you’re thinking wow that’s huge. When I get there I’m thinking… time for a rest, the sign tells me… okay 200km to go. My point is the sign keeps me on track to Sydney.
It shows us where we are heading.
Living by the spirit is the sign that we’re heading for eternal life. it doesn’t give you eternal life.
So you could translate verse 13 “for if you are living by the flesh you are going to die, but if by the spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body you will live.” Put to death the deeeds of the body, it’s a sign you are in the spirit.
Now, I don’t know about you but I don’t love putting things to death. It’s hard. Back in lockdown, sorry to bring you back to those times, when we were living in Epping we couldn’t leave the house for more than hour... worse thing happened, our place had a rat infestation. I can’t leave my place and I’ve got rats everywhere. The thought of it, shivers. I don’t deal well with dogs, insects definitely not rodents.
Anyway, Joy and I are hearing you know scratches in the ceiling we’re trying to sleep, rat footsteps in the heating ducts, little bits of rat poo under the couches, in the pantry. AHHH. I know I need to put them to death. Joy, the kids are relying on me right. But I hate it. I found it really hard to put them to death. The thought of it shudders. I tried rat traps, killed a few that way, bludgeoned one, bought this $100 electrocution contraption, didn’t work well, poison – don’t go down that path. It was so very very very hard to put them to death. Then there was a particular rat that you see it in the trap, 1 minute later I’m going to get something to collect it, it’s run off. The worst. Seriously.
And it can be like that when it comes to the deeds of the body. Paul means the behaviour that belongs to the old life in the flesh.
You can still behave in fleshy ways rather than spiritual ways. We’re still capable of sins. But Paul says, if you have the Spirit put those things to death.
Friends, when you become aware that you’ve sinned. In your actions. In your heart. Is that what you do? Do you put sin to death? When you are tempted to sin, do you respond by putting it to death? When you find yourself behaving selfishly, lustfully, foolishly or using manipulation, deception? What do you do?
Or When a brother or sister brings up a sin in your life, do you get angry at them – who do they think they are? Or do you kill the sin? Thankful they have brought it up with you for your godliness.
A fleshly person says look that’s just the way I am. Who are you to say what I’ve done wrong?
A person with the Spirit says that’s not who I am, I’m in Christ, and takes steps to change.
Friends, put sin to death. It doesn’t mean feeling sorry for yourself, or put up with sins, saying things like its okay I’ll deal with it later.
It means putting them to death. That’s the sign we are on the way to eternal life.
How do you do this? it’s by the spirit
Slay the deeds of the body by the spirit.
What does that mean? I think it means praying to God for the Spirits help. Don’t try to fight sin in your own strength. We’ve all done that haven’t we? I’ve failed again, feel guilty, but then you go I’m going to use my own will power not to do it again. when the temptation comes, what do you do? Fail again. no, ask God to help you by his Spirit.
It means having the mindset that in christ you have been set free from sin. Sin does not belong in your lives. Say no to sin by the spirit.
And at times when there’s repeated patterns of sin, you got actively do some deep work in your heart. Maybe with help of more mature brother or sister in Christ, a pastor or elder. Have them read scripture with you, flesh it out together.
I remember doing MTS up in Sydney. Dating Joy at time. Catching up with my trainer. It was one of those hard conversations. I bawled my eyes out. My sin. Dating joy at the time. I had to tell her some of my struggles, impurity, lust of the eyes. It was hard stuff. I hurt the women I loved. But you know what he did, he brought me to the scriptures. Prayed for me. Showed me I’m saved by grace – of course got to front up to your sins, and repent, but God died for someone like me. In Christ, I’m saved, I’m indwelt by the spirit. I’m not, we’re not defined by our sin. That’s not our identity anymore.
Friends, it’s hard work. It’s a struggle. It won’t be easy. The Christian life is the life of constant struggle. I’m currently thinking about how I’m not patient at home. Put to sin to death right. I’m reflecting on what’s going on for me. Its not as simple as saying just be patient… I’m reflecting on sleep, sleep too late.. well that doesn’t help to be patient if I’m irritatable because I haven’t slept enough, the circumstances when I’m impatient – before school time rush. Okay let’s reflect on that. Friends we got to be intention. Pray, reflect, seek wisdom - I’m speaking to Joy about it, I’m seek wise counsel.
Put sin to death by the Spirit. it’s an involved process. But friends in it, remind yourself of who you are in Christ, what he’s done for you and trust in his righteousness.
So as we conclude;
4. Conclusion
4.1 You may not be in the Spirit
As we’ve talked about these things, maybe you have realised that you are not in the Spirit. you’ve realised you don’t put to death the deeds of the body. Maybe you’ve assumed that because you are a Presbyterian, or you even talk doctrine very thoroughly, very impressively, maybe you are even active in ministry here at EPC, that you are a child of God. outwardly you put on a good show. But you don’t bear fruit in godliness from the heart. So let me urge you today, it’s Jesus that makes you right with God. he died and rose for your sins. Trust in him. Ask him to receive the Spirit. not trusting in your own ability. Entrust yourself to Christ and his righteousness. Take hold of those precious promises of free forgiveness. New life in Jesus. Don’t be one of those people who knocks on the door of heaven; and Jesus says I don’t know you, depart from me evil doers.
4.2 You are in the Spirit
For those actively killing sin by the Spirit, be assured. You are destined for resurrection life. You don’t need to fear God’s judgment. You don’t need to live in guilt or shame. Remember you belong to Christ – he’s never going to let you go, so trust in him, live by the Spirit by continuing to put sin to death. The battle you engage in is a sign that you are on the right track.
Friends, the Christian life may be a battle with sin. It’s hard. But it’s a battle Jesus has already won. He’s made us right with God, we will be raised forever with Jesus, and so by his Spirit, lets put to death sin.
Let’s pray