Sermon July 22, 2007 Romans 8.13 Death and Life
Romans 8.13 Death and Life
The work of mortification: putting our sinful habits to death
PUTTING TO DEATH
Putting to death the deeds of THE BODY
Putting to death THE DEEDS of the body
BY THE SPIRIT…putting to death the deeds of the body
If by the Spirit YOU are putting to death the deeds of the body
If by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, YOU WILL LIVE.
A. MORTIFICATION: REASONS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS WORK
1. Sin is always with us
2. Sin is constantly at work in us [7.23, 21, 19]
3. Sin, if left alone, will lead on to greater sins
Sin aims at the utmost…
every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could;
every covetous desire would be theft. [John Owen]
4. God gives His Spirit and our new nature for this purpose [Gal 5.16-17; 2 Pet 1.2-4]
5. Negligence in working against sin impedes the work of grace
6. It is our duty to always be growing in grace [1 Pet 2.1-2]
B. MORTIFICATION: A WORK OF THE SPIRIT
1. The Spirit alone enables us to put sin to death [Eze 36.25-28]
2. How the Spirit will do this
a. Working in us the fruit that is contrary to our sin
b. Destroying the root of our sin
c. Bringing Christ and His cross into our lives [Rom 8.10; Eph 3.16-17]
3. Why, then, do WE have to be involved? [Phil 2.12-13]
He works in us and with us, not against us or without out. [Owen]
C. MORTIFICATION: THE PATH TO LIFE
1. Every unmortified sin will weaken the soul [robs us of spiritual strength]
2. Every unmortified sin will darken the soul [robs us of comfort and peace]
John Olson
