Why the Flesh (Body/Sin) Must be put to Death-Romans 8:13b
Romans 8:13b “…but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
1. To whom is this directed:2. What’s the condition:3. How can this be accomplished:4. What’s the duty:5. What’s the promise:
• Colossians 3:5 -“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.”• Why?• Romans 8:13 – “For if you live according to the flesh (sinful nature) you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”• “Always be killing sin or it will be killing you.” (Quote from John Owen’s Mortification of Sin)• Examples: Cain (Genesis 4), David (2 Samuel 11), Joseph (Genesis 39:6-10)
• What is Paul’s own example?•1 Corinthians 15:31b “I die every day!”•1 Corinthians 9:27a “But I discipline my body and keep it under control.” • What did Jesus say?“If your right eye causes you to sin… And if your right hand causes you to sin…” (Matthew 5:29,30)
2 effects of not putting sin to death1. We no longer feel bad when we sin (pornography, masturbation, money problems, overeating, unable to live without entertainment, video games, social media)2. We become a bad influence to others as a Christian
6 reasons why we need to put sin to death every day:1. Sin is still in us2. Sin is active3. Sin grows4. God gives us the Holy Spirit & our new nature to oppose sin & lust5. Sin decays our inner man6. Sin hinders our spiritual growth (sanctification), which is our daily duty
1. Sin is still in us. Isaiah 64:6 – “all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment (filthy rags).”2. Sin is active. Hebrews 12:1 – “sin which clings so closely” (ESV); “sin that so easily entangles” (NIV)3. Sin grows. Hebrews 3:13 – “But exhort one another every day.. that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”4. God gives us the Holy Spirit & our new nature to oppose sin & lust. Galatians 5:17 – “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”5. Sin decays our inner man. 2 Corinthians 4:16 – “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”6. Sin hinders our spiritual growth (sanctification), which is our daily duty.1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”2 Peter 3:18 – “But grow in the grace & knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.”
Some Final Thoughts:
•A very scary thought about sin:•“Sin will (always) take you further than you want to go; cost you more than you want to pay; and keep you longer than you want to stay.”•We can’t put our own sin to death.•Only “by the Spirit” are we able to do so.•Only because of what Jesus has already done for us on the cross, can we win the guaranteed victory and “live” (Romans 8:13b).
Sermon outline loosely based on 1 chapter of “The Mortification of Sin” by John Owen.
