Through the Spirit, Kill Sin

Scripture: Romans 8:13 (KJV)

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Personal Reflection

The Christian life is a war against sin. Conversion changes our relationship to sin, but it does not remove sin's presence. The old master has been dethroned, yet remaining corruption continues fighting for territory.

Paul's command is uncompromising: mortifythe deeds of the body. Put sin to death.

But notice the essential words: “through the Spirit.”

Biblical mortification is neither passive nor self-reliant. We cannot say, “God must remove this sin, so I have nothing to do.” Neither can we conquer sin merely through willpower. The believer acts vigorously while depending completely upon the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit leads God's children to kill sin, pursue holiness, reject worldly patterns, and delight in obedience.

John Owen's famous warning remains urgently relevant: “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”

Sin never negotiates for peaceful coexistence. The sin we excuse today seeks to enslave us tomorrow. Mortification therefore requires specificity. We must stop speaking vaguely about our “struggles” and identify our sins by name.

Pride must be humbled. Lust must be starved. Bitterness must be confessed. Covetousness must be exposed. Anger must be restrained. Unforgiveness must be surrendered.

Then we replace sinful habits with righteous obedience through the Spirit's power.

The Christian who fights sin will sometimes stumble, but he refuses to make peace with the enemy.

Contemplation

What sin have I been managing, excusing, or tolerating instead of seeking to put it to death?

Puritan Quote

John Owen wrote:

“Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”

Prayer

Holy Spirit, reveal the sins I excuse. Give me grace to hate what God hates, resist temptation, and mortify remaining corruption. Make holiness increasingly precious to me. Amen.

Application

Identify one recurring sin and remove one practical source that regularly feeds it.