Obedience, Not Victory

So far, we’ve discussed how God has delivered us from sin’s reign, united us with Christ, and given us the indwelling Spirit to reveal sin, create a desire for holiness, and strengthen us as we grow in holiness.

Romans 8:13 CSB

because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Those who give their lives over to the flesh will face death, eternal death and separation from God. This part we’re probably all pretty clear on. But the verse goes on to say that believers must slay the desires of the flesh through the Spirit, and in so doing, they will live or enjoy eternal life. There is an obligation that being set free from sin and death brings.

This is certainly deeper than what we might call a “cheap grace” where we are removed from responsibility concerning our sin and we simply “let go and let God.” Consider Col.3:5 “Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.” Now this list isn’t meant to be exhaustive, so are there any other things you might add here that belong to the earthly/sinful nature?

Consider again Heb.12:1 “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.”

I love this passage because it presses deeper than mere conformity to a legal code. It deals with “sin,” but also commands us to lay aside hindrances.

Next, Jam.4:7 “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

And again, 2 Pet.3:14 “Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.”

What is also clear is that we are responsible for an obedient response.

Victory over sin is a partnership between us and the Holy Spirit. We walk in obedience by His power and in accordance with His leading and conviction.

How does the Holy Spirit lead us?

Beware of thinking that dependence upon the Holy Spirit means that we make no effort in the matter.

Consider the words of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

The Holy Spirit is in us; He is working in us, and empowering us, giving us the ability… This is the New Testament teaching — ‘Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.’ We have to do so. But note the accompaniment — ‘Because it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure’! The Holy Spirit is working in us ‘both to will and to do.’ It is because I am not left to myself, it is because I am not ‘absolutely hopeless,’ since the Spirit is in me, that I am exhorted to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling.

Lloyed-Jones would go on to note that according to Rom.8:13 (“because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”) the Spirit is what distinguishes Christianity from morality, legalism, and false Puritanism.

So, here is the humbling note: “If we sin, it is because we choose to sin, not because we lack the ability to say no to temptation.”

One of the sad misuses of grace is that we have used it as a crutch so we don’t have to face up to our own responsibility for holiness. So, Bridges says it’s not that we are “‘defeated’ by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated; we are simply disobedient!” Perhaps we should stop defining sin in terms of defeat and victory and rather call our sin struggles for what they are: either obedience or disobedience.

We need to reckon with our death to sin’s reign, the fact that it no longer has dominion over us, and that we have been united with Christ and His power. And, as we come to terms with this, we must accept responsibility and appropriate the means of God’s provisions in our life in order to make progress in our pursuit of holiness.