Killing Sin- A Life of War Led by the Spirit

Runner Illustration-

In order to be a runner, what are some things that have to be true about my life?

I have to eat differently, train a certain way, sleep better, and overall change everything about myself.

Now, if I claimed to be a runner but I never trained, ate terribly, and did everything that I shouldn’t do, what would happen?

I would never improve, I would become physically worse, and I might very well die.

There are things that are not compatible with the identity of a runner.

The same is true as a Christian.

What we see in our text is Paul explaining that a life lived according to the flesh (sinful nature) leads to death, but that a person who kills sin by the Spirit will live.

Sermon Idea: A Christian cannot live according to their old master, instead they must be obedient to the Spirit, and wage war against their flesh.

So, the question is how do we do that?

Our text explains this to us, by explaining why the flesh is incompatible with our new life, the source of power necessary for the battle, and the action we must take.

Romans 8:12-13

V. 12- 13a

Living for the flesh is incompatible with the Christian life, for we owe our life to Christ.

In the previous paragraph, Paul went through great links to explain to the church the difference between a person who sets their mind on the flesh vs. a person who sets their mind on the Spirit.

A person with a fleshly mindset, is someone who is completely wrapped up in worldly sinful things and behaviors.

Obsessed with money, sexually promiscuous, filling their mind with impure things, etc.

They care little or none about God, and their lives are in complete opposition to Him.

This is unfitting for a Christian because this very way of life is what separated me from God in the first place, and what Jesus had to die to redeem me from.

So if living this sinful lifestyle is what Jesus died to save me from, then a life saved from it is completely incompatible with it.

Paul elaborates further though, because not only did Jesus wipe the debt away, but when a person becomes a believer, they are also filled with the Holy Spirit.

So what happens is, God replaces that old heart of stone, and grants us a heart of flesh that wants to follow Him.

As the Spirit comes and gives us new life, our obligations change. Our debt is owed to the one who saved us.

Thus, what we have here is a warning that if I claim Christ, and yet do not forsake my flesh, then I will die in the ultimate sense, because it shows that there is no life in me.

Just as a seed planted in good soil grows, a new life given by the Holy Spirit will as well. A seed that doesn’t sprout and grow is dead.

So now that we have established the reason why there must be a difference, the text tells us how this change occurs.

V. 12b

By the Spirit, Christians are able to go to war against the flesh.

How does the Spirit do this?

The Spirit is the one who imparts new life, enabling us to know and love God.

The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us of sin, reminding us of its dangers, and enabling us to see it for what it is.

The Spirit works in believers, causing us to bear fruit. (Fruit of the Spirit)

The Spirit reveals truth to us. (John 16:13)

The Spirit points us back to Jesus, reminding us that through Him we are forgiven (John 16:14)

So He gives life, convicts us where were wrong, causes us to bear fruit, and points us back to Jesus when we fail.

So knowing that this is what is going on in my life, if I belong to Jesus, how do I live?

V. 12c

Christians wage war by killing the sin in their life.

If I have the Holy Spirit within me, doing all the things we have mentioned, then my life will look radically different.

The responsibility I have now is to take my sin serious and try to kill it.

A Christian who does not seek to kill sin, is like a soldier that lets the enemy through the gate.

He can claim whatever he wants but he is showing that he is either a fool or a liar.

So we go to battle, because a Christian has been given a heart to love Jesus, and Jesus says if you love me you will keep my commandments.

The beautiful thing is though, is that if we love Jesus, the battle is already won. We fight and discipline our body, knowing our place with Him is secure, and that even though this battle is tough and we will fail, our place with Him is secured and each little victory will allow us to enjoy Him more and more.

Discussion Questions:

Why do you think it matters that we try to kill our sin? Matt. 5:8 says that the pure in heart are blessed, because they will see God. Do you think there is a connection with fighting sin and us being able to enjoy God?

What are some ways the Spirit enables us to put our sin to death?

What are some practical ways you can fight sin in your own life?