"Mortify" is a metaphorical expression meaning to put something to death. To put something to death is to take away the very source of its strength and its power so that it cannot act or exert its strength any more.
Indwelling sin is compared to a living person, also called "the old man." It is like a man with his faculties, his wisdom, his craftiness, his subtlety and his strength. All of this must be "mortified" or put to death so that the sin that is living within us can no longer exert its strength and master us. All this strength is taken away by the Holy Spirit of God.
The Spirit does this by applying the results of the Cross of Christ to our lives, and thus the old man is said to be, "crucified with Christ" Romans 6:6 and "dead" with Him, Romans 6:8. At our conversion, a principle or power contrary to indwelling sin was planted in us, Romans 6:3-5. This work of putting to death sin by the new power of the Spirit and the cross within is carried on by degrees towards perfection all our days.
The goal of this command to "mortify the deeds of the body" Romans 8:13 is:
- that the indwelling sin remaining in our bodies may no longer have the life and power to produce the deeds of the flesh (sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these - Galatians 5:19-21).
- Rather, that the Spirit will produce in us the "fruit of the Spirit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control - Galatians 5:22-23.
HOW this is to be done is still coming!!
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