Kill or Be Killed | Romans 8:12–13

We are debtors. Debtors to what, or who?

Not to the flesh. That is to whom we were enslaved, but to The Holy Spirit who gives life to our mortal bodies.

So how do we live out that life? Paul says by putting to death our flesh.

Put to death - Thanatuo

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Nekruo - To kill, to stop utterly

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

2 Corinthians 4:7–10 ESV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

We carry Christ's death in our bodies so that we may also carry his life

v. 11-12 - For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the lif eof Jesus alsom may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

I will either KILL sin or be KILLED by it

So how do I kill sin? In his book, the Mortification of Sin, John Owen gives us 9 ways to kill sin in us. Today, we’re going to look at these and ask God to do a work in us.

You Must Recognize that Sin is SERIOUS

We will never deal with sin unless we see it as deadly.

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Sin Separates us from God

Micah 3:4 ESV

Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.

It breaks our relationship with God.

You Must Realized The Consequences are DISASTROUS

I must also realize the devastation sin causes. Se might ignore sin if we simply recognize its severity, but we must realize the damage sin does to themselves and others:

Owen outlines four dangers sin poses for the believer:

Sin Hardens our Hearts

Proverbs 28:13–14 ESV

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Sin brings about God’s temporal discipline

Hebrews 12:5–6 ESV

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Sin destroys our peace and strength

Romans 8:7 ESV

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

Sin leads to eternal destruction

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

By continuing in sin, one may prove he was never truly converted.

Sin grieves the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:25–30), wounds the Lord Jesus (Heb. 6:6), and can cause a Christian to lose his or her usefulness for ministry.

You Are Guilty

Third, I must recognize my guilt.

One of the biggest problems with sin is that it leads us to refuse to recognize my guilt.

Psalm 32:5 ESV

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

The greatest trick of the Devil is not convincing us that he does not exits, but convincing us that our sin is not sinful.

True repentance begins with the recognition of our sinfulness before God.

You Must Desire Deliverance

Some do not desire deliverance because they don’t recognize their guilt. Because of this, they run from the savior. Killing the flesh recognizes our guilt.

Luke 18:9–14 ESV

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We must

You Know Your Bent

6. Avoid Temptation

7. Don't Wait

8. Think on God

9. Don't Forgive Yourself too quickly