Killing Sin Within - 2

Who is this condition and promise in Romans 8:13 for?

"...But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Who is "you"?

The "you" of course, refers to believers. Those Paul says in 8:1 "..are in Christ Jesus." It is "us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" v.4. It is those who "are not in the flesh but in the Spirit" v.9. It is those in whom dwells the Spirit of Christ, v.9.

This requirement of putting to death the deeds of the body CANNOT be given to any but those who have the Spirit within. Why? Because ONLY BY THE SPIRIT can we successfully war against the flesh, the sinful principle and power within us.

But if you ARE in Christ and His Spirit lives in you, then you not only CAN but you MUST put to death the deeds of the flesh. This command along with its promise is for you. You cannot plead that you are too weak (that is a granted) or that you are not equipped or that your background ill fits you for this war (who has anything but a dead-in-sin background when they come to Christ?) or that you are not properly motivated or that you have failed too many, many, many times or that your spouse or present situation makes it impossible.

In and of ourselves, of course, we will always lose in this war. Always. That is why we are told "by the Spirit" to fight it. The very best me may strike a temporary blow against the flesh and think its downfall is well on the way. But flesh can NEVER win against flesh. The flesh is wilely. It will lie down and play dead only to rise up again in the midst of my premature celebration and draw me like a 10-ton tow truck back into sin...worse than ever before.

But with the Spirit of God living within WE CAN WIN THIS WAR. We ARE the kind of people who can fight successfully against sin and live progressively holy lives. We must get that fact down. This is NOT positive thinking...this is biblical reality, this is the promise of God. This is what God HAS ALREADY DONE in me if I am Christ's. I will not wage into the war with my all if I doubt the final outcome.

When I was a kid some bullies met me and some friends at the edge of the woods one day and commandeered some worthless boards we had found away from us. I went home pretty shaken and told my dad. Dad got up and led me back to the location of the bullies. They were still hanging around. He confronted them and they meekly gave back the wood with an apology. What was the difference between being bullied and having the bullies meekly apologize? Dad! Bigger, stronger, packing authority I could only dream of. Dad made the difference.

Friends...the Spirit. Infinitely strong, God very God, unable to lose in the battle against the flesh. He lives within. The bully flesh cannot win IF we are willing and learn to do battle in the Spirit. The HOW will come. But for now...remember, believe it, step out in the reality of the indwelling Spirit in your daily battle against sin within. DO NOT give up! HE is with you, He is within you.