KILL YOUR SIN OR IT WILL KILL YOU!

Transcription

1 SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 EXPOSITIONAL SERMON by Marvin R. Knight Senior Pastor, The Church at South Mountain FANNING INTO FLAME YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Four-part Series on Spiritual Disciplines KILL YOUR SIN OR IT WILL KILL YOU! 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.. ROMANS 8:12-13 INTRODUCTION: How are you doing in your battle against sin? How you answer this question reveals much about who you are and where you are spiritually. Are you killing it or is it killing you? Charles Simeon once wrote, Either sin

2 must be our enemy, or God will. 1 Now if you let that thought sink into your mind and heart, then you will begin to see and feel the weight of the subject before us in this study. This study is serious business! The doctrine that explains this spiritual discipline of killing sin is called mortification. In our church and in most churches today it is either completely unknown or it is superficially understood. However, there is no true progress in real holiness or spiritual growth without its practice. John Owen was considered by his peers to be the tallest redwood among the English Puritan divines. He was a pastor and chaplain to King Charles II and Parliament and vice Chancellor at Oxford. He was close personal friends with the military leader Oliver Cromwell and John Bunyan. In what scholars consider to be the richest of all his works, The Mortification of Sin in Believers, this humble saint set a word picture before us to help us see the need for it in our lives. He wrote, the heart is like a garden and a field and mortification prunes all the graces of God, and makes room for them in our hearts to grow. In a garden, let there be a precious herb planted, and let the ground be untilled, and weeds grow about it, perhaps it will live still, but it will be a poor, withering, and unuseful thing but let another of the same kind be set in the ground, naturally as barren and bad as the other, but let it be well weeded, and every thing that is noxious and hurtful removed from it, it flourishes and thrives and you have it for your use when you please. So it is with the graces of the Spirit that are planted in our hearts. If they abide where there is some neglect of mortification they are about to die (Rev.3:2) but let the heart be cleansed by mortification and there will be room for grace to thrive and flourish, the graces that God gives will act their part, and be ready for every use and purpose!" In this study, I want us to consider four headings: A. What is mortification and where it is taught in the New Testament? B. What mortification is not. C. Why must the flesh be mortified? D. How is mortification practiced? WHAT IS MORTIFICATION AND WHERE IS IT TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE? Read the following verses carefully and, as you do, look for the answers to the following questions: 1. To whom is it directed? 2. What is the condition? 3. What is the means of accomplishment? 4. Is it a past act or a present work? 5. Who does the crucifying? God or us? 6. What duty to we have? 7. What promise is given? Romans 6:5-7 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:11 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 1 Charles Simeon, Expository Outlines On the Whole Bible

3 Romans 7: but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Romans 8:6 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:13 13 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. Romans 13: The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. 2 Corinthians 4: always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:24 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 6:8 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:14 14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Colossians 3:3 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:5 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. How did you do? Let s find out. 1. To whom is it directed? for if you if we let us now those who belong to Christ Jesus It is obviously directed to true believers. The exhortation is directed toward Christians (Rom.8:1; 9-11). An unbeliever cannot mortify sin. 2. What is the condition? Union and communion with Christ. John Owen points out that the purpose of the condition if you is to express the certainty of the relationship between the cure and the result. There is a clear connection between the mortifying of the deeds of the body and living; eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ (Rom.6:23), but it is also the means to an end.

4 3. What is the means of accomplishment? if by the Spirit By the Spirit is meant to teach us that the work of mortification happens by the indwelling Christ who is one with the Spirit (John14:16-20; 15:5). 4. Is it a past act or a present work? Notice the past act in Romans 6:6, our old self was crucified with Him This points back to a past event back at the cross where historically when Jesus died for our sins, we were there positionally or representatively. God placed us there. But in Galatians 5:24, the present work is indicated: those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh That is, those who are identified with Jesus are to give outward expression of this identity progressively by faith and repentance. Christ settled the issue of our sins on the cross. This does not mean that Christ eradicated the present active function of our sin capacity on the cross. It simply means that God judged our sins by Christ s death on the cross in a judicial and positional sense. Christ s crucifixion is our crucifixion. We do not try to do what is already done, we do not true to crucify ourselves. We believe that Christ was crucified for us and that He crucified us. Now, by faith we draw on the finished work of Christ to live the Christian life. Faith takes hold of God s facts and appropriates them to experience. We don t have to pray about being crucified with Christ. J. Vernon McGee puts it plainly, When Christ was crucified, the believer was crucified at the same time. The believer is now joined to the living Christ, and the victory is not by struggling but by surrendering to Christ. The scriptural word is "yield;" it is an act of the will." 2 5. Who does the crucifying? God or us? Both. Positionally, God crucified us at the cross of His Son. Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6:6, the verb is the passive voice, I have been crucified old self was crucified which speaks of what has been done for the believer as a result of Christ s death. But in Galatians 5:24, the verb is in the active voice ( have crucified ) and it points rather to what the believer had done himself and must continue to regard as being done. The proper term to describe this act is repentance. James Montgomery Boice comments, As in an actual crucifixion, life lingers even though the criminal has been nailed to the cross. Nevertheless, the believer is to regard the decisive act as having been done. He is not to seek to remove from the cross what has been once nailed there What duty to we have? putting to death the deeds of the body.put on the Lord Jesus Christ make no provision for the flesh in regards to its lusts crucified the flesh with its passions and desires cleanses ourselves from the defilements of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness What are the deeds of the body? Galatians 5:19-21 places them in three categories: sexual sins, spiritual sins, and social sins (Col.3:5; 2 Cor.7:1; 2 Cor.12:20-21). Outward deeds of the body are nothing more than yielding to inward lust. Indwelling lust and sin is the fountain of all sinful action. According to Galatians 5:17, the work of the Spirit, who is planted in our hearts, opposes the lusts of the flesh all the days of our lives (Gal.1:6). 7. What is the promise? you will live. The life promised is the experience of eternal life now. This life is the very opposite of the penalty: if you live according to the flesh, you must die. However, the life here does not only mean life in heaven, but spiritual life in Christ here namely the joy, comfort, and vigor of life in this world. Paul describes it in Romans 14:17 this way: for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. In other words, what 2 Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Notes & Outlines: Galatians 3 James Montgomery Boice in The Expositor's Bible Commentary

5 we are being told here is that the vigor, power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh. What is mortification? To mortify means to put any living thing to death. To kill a man, or any other living thing, is to take away the principle of all its strength, vigor, and power, so that it cannot act, exert, or put forth any proper actions of its own. It is the constant duty of believers to render a death blow to the deeds of the flesh, so that it does not have the life or strength to bring forth its destructive influence. WHAT MORTIFICATION IS NOT Again Owen says, All other ways of mortification are in vain. Men may attempt this work based upon other principles, but they will come short. It is a work of the Spirit, and it is by Him alone that we are to experience victory. Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, to the end of a selfrighteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world. 4 Mortification is not 1. To utterly root it out and destroy sin so that it should have no more hold at all nor residence in our hearts (that would be perfectionism). 2. Just the changing of some outward aspects of sin. 3. Just the improvement of our natural constitution (ex: "I've always been nice, but I'm really nice now."). 4. When sin is only diverted (not practiced outwardly, but haven't dealt with the heart). 5. Occasional victories over sin. Two occasions which seem to bring victory but it has not in reality the sudden breaking out of sin and great trial. Vows I promise Orders I follow Fastings I refuse Penances I do Poor clothing I dress Outside endeavors I will show Bodily exercises I practice Self-performances I serve Mere legal duties without the least mention of Christ and His Spirit I follow the rules Constant learning and listening to sermons (2 Tim.3:7) I read or heard Owen This is the general mistake of men who are ignorant of the gospel when men are troubled with the guilt of sin that has prevailed over them, they promise themselves and God that they will sin thus no more, but they seek to accomplish their own victory. They watch over themselves and pray for a short season until 4 John Owen, The Mortification of Sin in Believers

6 the pain of conviction waxes cold and the sense of sin wears off. Mortification then also goes out the door, and sin returns to its former dominion. These ways are not sufficient. There is no self-endeavor that can accomplish mortification. Almighty energy is necessary for its accomplishment. 5 Dear friends, the call of God for us is to believe. We have no hope apart from the death of Christ and the work of the Spirit in regenerating our hearts. Are you born again? Have you been made a new creature in Christ? You cannot cause yourself to be born again, but you can open your mouth and pray and cry out to God. You and I need a foreign righteousness! Something that exceeds that outward external righteousness of the Pharisees (Matt.5:20). They were so fastidious in their prayers, fasting, tithing, and self-righteous moral living, but Jesus said, unless you righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Where do we find that righteousness? In Romans 10 Paul said, 6 Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down), It is not remote, so do not attempt the unnecessary. 7 or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). It is not unavailable so do not attempt the absurd. 8 But what does it say? THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, Christ is not unattainable, but easily accessible. 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. Christ is equally accessible and He satisfies. 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; Christ is sufficient. Christ never impoverishes us. He always enriches us. If the Lord ever shines in your hearts to give the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus, you will see that without Him mortification is impossible. WHY MUST THE FLESH BE MORTIFIED? If we understand the destructive nature of indwelling sin, then there will be no question of the need to mortify its influence. Let me give you a picture from the life. The way an Eskimo kills a wolf is grizzly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. First the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. 5 Ibid., pp.16-17

7 When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder, the wolf licks the blade in the Arctic night. So great becomes the craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his own warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more--until the dawn finds him dead in the snow! Such is the power sin has to destroy our lives. Thankfully, it does not have to be that way. Jesus has done everything necessary to provide salvation for His people. Here are six reasons we need to be at this important work: 1. Indwelling sin always abides while we are in this world. (Phil.3:12; 2 Cor.4:16; Rom.7:24; Heb.12:1) 2. Sin is still acting and laboring to bring forth the deeds of the flesh. (Gal.5:17; James 1:14; Heb.12:1) 3. Sin, if not continually mortified, will bring forth great, cursed, scandalous, and soul-destroying sins (Gal.5:19-21). You know what sin did in David, and in others. Every time sin rises to tempt or entice it always seeks to express itself in the extreme (Heb.3:13). The advance of sin keeps the soul from seeing that it is drifting from God. The soul becomes indifferent to the seed of sin as it continues to grow. This growth has no boundaries but utter denial of God and opposition to Him. Sin precedes higher by degrees; it hardens the heart as it advances. This enables the deceitfulness of sin to drive the soul deeper and deeper into sin. Nothing can prevent this but mortification. Mortification withers the root and strikes at the head of sin every hour. The best saints in the world are in danger of a fall if found negligent in this important duty. 4. The Holy Spirit and our new nature are given to us oppose sin and lust. (Gal.5:17; 2 Pet.1:4) 5. Neglect of this duty makes the inner man decay instead of renewing him. (2 Cor.4:16) 6. Our spiritual growth is our daily duty. (2 Cor.7:1; 1 Pet.2:2; 2 Pet.3:18) HOW IS MORTIFICATION PRACTICED? What are the ways and means in which we can put to death or weaken any particular sin or lust? There are two general rules that are necessary for victory. First, unless you are a true believer and joined to Christ, you can never mortify one single sin (Rom.8:13, Col.3:5). It is our duty to mortify sin, but we must do God s will, God s way. A servant who is directed to pay a bill must first collect the money at the bank. It is his duty to pay the bill, but he must first collect the money before he can obey. So it is in this case. Sin is to be mortified, but something is to be done in the first place to enable us to carry it out. If only the Spirit can truly mortify sin, how can we mortify sin if we do not have the Spirit? We cannot! How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

8 o Romans 8:8-9 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. It is our union with Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to mortify sin. Second, you cannot mortify a specific lust that is troubling you unless you are seeking to obey the Lord from the heart in all areas. God requires universal obedience. (Read Isaiah 58:1-12) John Piper helps us with a vivid illustration: Picture your flesh that old ego with the mentality of merit and craving for power and reputation and self-reliance picture it as a dragon living in some cave of your soul. Then you hear the gospel, and in it Jesus Christ comes to you and says, I will make you mine and take possession of the cave and slay the dragon. Will you yield to my possession? It will mean a whole new way of thinking and feeling and acting. You say: But that dragon is me. I will die. He says, And you will rise to newness of life, for I will take its plan; I will make my mind and my will and my heart your own. You say, What must I do? He answers, Trust me and do as I say. As long as you trust me, we cannot lose. Overcome by the beauty and power of Christ you bow and swear eternal loyalty and trust. And as you rise, he puts a great sword in your hand and says, Follow me. He leads you to the mouth of the cave and says, Go in, slay the dragon. But you look at him bewildered, I cannot. Not without you. He smiles. Well said. You learn quickly. Never forget: my commands for you to do something are never commands to do it alone. Then you enter the cave together. A horrible battle follows and you feel Christ s hand on yours. At last the dragon lies limp. You ask, Is it dead? His answer is this: I have come to give you new life. This you received when you yielded to my possession and swore faith and loyalty to me. And now with my sword and my hand you have felled the dragon of the flesh. It is a mortal wound. It will die. That is certain. But it has not yet bled to death, and it may yet revive with violent convulsions and do much harm. So you must treat it as dead and seal the cave as a tomb. The Lord of darkness may cause earthquakes in your soul to shake the stones loose, but you build them up again. And have this confidence: with my sword and my hand on yours this dragon s doom is sure, he is finished, and your new life is secure. 6 I think that is the meaning of Galatians 5:24, those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Christ has taken possession of our soul. Our old self has been dealt a mortal wound and stripped of its power to have dominion. The Christian life, the fruit of the Spirit, is a constant reckoning of the flesh as dead (piling stones on its tomb) and a constant relying on the present Spirit of Christ to produce love, joy, and peace within. The difference between the Christian life and popular American morality is that Christians will not take one step unless the hand of Christ holds the hand that wields the sword of righteousness. This interpretation holds that if you are a Christian, you have already died. Crucified is therefore the believer s present position, possession, power, and potential to live as more than a conqueror over sin, the flesh, and the devil. 6 John Piper, Walk by the Spirit!, sermon

9 September 21, 2016 The Church at South Mountain You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by The Church at South Mountain. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: The Church at South Mountain. Website: casm.org While all reasonable attempts have been taken to trace the literary and biblical sources used by the author, due to the nature of some of the original materials (old audio/radio or live preaching events), some have been impossible to locate. Any information regarding the origin of any unreferenced statements or quotations is welcomed and will be included in the next revision of the study.