Fight to Kill and Kill to Survive
Notes
Transcript
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
We don’t owe sin nothing
Paul here is shifting to make a conclusive statement regarding all that he has just stated. He wants all believers to live out life GOD has granted us in the proper manner. And he begins by informing them that they are under obligation. When one is under obligation, it means they are legally or morally bound to do a thing or be a certain way. And just as all of scripture does, Paul presented them with a dichotomy (that being a contrast between two things that are entirely opposed) of how to live. One of those is “according to the flesh”, which Paul uses to wholly describe the power of the sinful nature of humanity. And Paul says we owe it nothing.
Application: We must let this penetrate deep in our minds, that if we are in Christ, we don’t owe sin a thing. When sin calls you, knocks on your door, presenting itself with power as if you must respond by what it dictates, our response should always be “I don’t owe you nothing”. Waiting in yo bushes, following us around, yelling out “do what I say”, give in to me.
We are no longer prisoners
Application: Well what gives us the right and the power to respond this way? It is because Paul makes it clear that because GOD condemned sin by Jesus’ death, and because I am in Christ, I am freed from the bondage to sin. We’ve gotta tell that power of lust in ourselves, that you are not my master, I am no longer you prisoner. There’s nothing you can do for me!!
We have all we need in the Spirit
Application: Why is that Laron? Because the life I now have and every blessing in my life is from the Holy Spirit of GOD.
I am no longer guilty. GOD has cleared my record.
I can meet the righteous requirement of the Law that GOD intended.
Because I have my mind on the Spirit, I have eternal life and peace with GOD.
I belong to Christ, and I will be resurrected unto eternal life.
We can only kill to survive by the Spirit
Paul continues to give the reason for this conclusion, that is that we don’t owe sin a thing. And I need us to understand that this dichotomy of how we live also presents a dichotomous result. What’s that? Life or death!! There is no other path or result.
We can’t make any truces with sin
So in terms of survival, which is to remain alive, what Paul essentially shows us is that there should be no truces with sin. Since we don’t owe sin a thing, we can never come to any agreement with it.
We are on the verge of killing ourselves
Remember now, Paul is speaking to those who are believers, who have all the statuses I just mentioned through the Spirit of GOD. But he makes it plain that if they are in a lifestyle being dictated and willingly bossed around by sin, they are on the verge of killing themselves beyond human death.
Application: The point Paul is making, is that a lifestyle dictated by sin is not compatible with life by the Spirit. He already says that a mind on the flesh is death!! Paul wants this picture to be clear so we understand the severity of how we live. There is no double life. There is no guilty sentence, absolutely. I sinned this morning, yesterday, and last week, and a month ago. The question is, are you alright with it?? If we are in a mode of being alright with it, justifying it, we are making truces with our sinful passions.
But Bro. Evans, I’m not perfect. This sin is hard to overcome. You’re making it sound like I need to be perfect. No no. Paul shows that there is a conflict in chapter 7 that we all deal with as humans. But let’s not miss this point that Paul makes in ch 7:23, that the sinful nature is waging war against my inner person, my mind. So since this is a war, and it is a matter of life and death for me, Paul says the way we survive this war and onslaught from sin, is to kill it!!
We have permission to kill
Application: One thing we need to understand is that in Christ, this is the only permission to kill we have!! By the power of the Holy spirit in me, the only thing I have permission to kill is the sinful activity of my body.
We have purpose to kill
Application: Not only permission, but again, what Paul is showing because I live by the Spirit and the Spirit is in me, I need to live life demonstrating that fact. Thus, not only do I have permission, but it is part of the purpose the Holy Spirit is in me. Why else would Paul say by the Spirit. If he is the tool or aid I use in killing, it must be part of the purpose!! Thus, as it was Jesus’ mission to destroy sin and its power, we must continue that mission by the Holy Spirit in us.
We have a daily duty to kill
Application: Lastly, the term “putting to death” is in the present tense, which means it must be an ongoing killing spree. Listen, sin is in the present, it shows up every day. There are no days off. How do I kill it Bro Evans? One of those ways is sincere prayer by faith!! Jesus told his disciples, sit here, watch and pray, so you won’t enter temptation!! That’s why Paul says pray in the spirit continually!! Everyday, I’m suited and booted to ride and gun down sin.
Brothers and sisters, that’s how we survive and continue in this life that GOD has blessed us with in Christ. That’s how we demonstrate are living out the life GOD intended. Tell sin “I don’t owe you nothing”, “I will make no truces with you”, and make it our daily duty to gun down sin by the power of the Holy Spirit!!!