And then let's go to the Lord in prayer. Our Father in Heaven, tonight, as you have called us again to come and worship you, and even to this passage, O Lord, where we seek assurance, we ask tonight, Father and God, that as we have sung, that you may continually make us aware, not only of your working in us, O Lord, to conform us more and more to your likeness, but of the call that you give to your people, that we may likewise strive, O Lord, for that which is ahead of us. Help us, Heavenly Father, tonight, as we hear this word, to do so with great diligence. Lord, let us lay up these truths, mark them in our hearts, and inwardly digest this glorious word that is Christ. We pray, Father, that you would let us note, yes, of we who have been saved, And we who will lord you have promised to glorify, that you will continue to sanctify us. Do so, we pray, for Jesus' sake. Amen. If you have your copies of God's Word with you this evening, if you'll please turn with me to Romans chapter 8. We'll be looking tonight at verses 12 through 13. It's found on page 944 of your ESV pew Bibles. There will be not many places we're going to, but we will be flipping back a couple of pages from where we are in Romans 8 tonight. But nevertheless, let us keep our Bibles open, for this is the word of God. It is inerrant and infallible. Let us hear it with great reverence. Ladies, choose upon our hearts as we seek to practice them in our lives with exceeding great joy. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever. You may be seated. Over the past week, we have noted how the Christian life is something that is entirely different from our own natural inclinations. And there are a few passages in the New Testament that will show us that in great detail, but let us know tonight that we come to one in verses 12 and 13 where Paul is telling us that the Christians called to put sin to death. Using the old, maybe more archaic language, to mortify our sin. But let us understand that if there are, in these two verses, what we basically see here are the basis of a series that John Owen would later turn into his book, The Mortification of Sin. And I think that, as if you have read this before, and I know our ladies are currently going through a more modernized version of that, I think it is important for us to hear the substance of what Paul is telling us here. But when we hear the idea of mortifying our sin, of killing our sin, some might ask the question, well, why so negative? I mean, after all, shouldn't we focus on the positive work of Christ and the peace of God and joy in the Holy Spirit? Well, yes, these are beneficial and good things for us to look to always, but I want us to know, as we continue this evening in Romans chapter eight, in what we're calling our series, The Winter of Our Assurance, we find that the negative aspects of killing our sin actually lead to the positive aspects of the life that we have in Christ. Meaning that as we struggle in this life against sin, that we find assurance that we belong to our Lord because we see that he is working within us to do something, not only that we can't do, but we would never do on our own. And that's why Paul, first and foremost tonight, begins by reminding us of the grounds for killing sin. The grounds for killing sin. It's important for us to understand, first and foremost, the principle for which killing sin originates. Because as much as the unbeliever may be one who is put off or put out by his own sin, let us know that they will never be those who will kill their sin. In fact, in verse 7, it told us that he actively cannot do that. And that's true, because yes, while he nevertheless may have heinous sin within his life, and may seek to drop that and walk away for something maybe is a little more socially acceptable, or something is easier to hide, or something that isn't putting him in the hospital a couple times a month. But let us understand that even though he may move from one sin to another sin, or move from one thing to another, that it is always sin. that he's always revolving around his own heart, which focuses on sin. And because only the believer, one who is in Christ, in whom the Spirit is in, because we are our Lord's people, that we are alone able to kill sin. And that's why Paul again here presses home the fact that the Christian is different by telling us in verse 12, so then. Again, this is another version of a therefore, and that's because what we have been hearing in chapter eight, as we are making our way through this, is basically one assurance built upon another assurance. It is just stacking up that all that he has told us before leads us to what we have now. And so that we may briefly recall these things, remember we started in verses one through four by hearing that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. That what he's speaking to us here is of the gospel of Christ, that Jesus saves sinners. But notice he goes on to tell us again in verse two, that for those who by the law of spirit have life, because he has set you free in Christ Jesus, that he has set us free from the law of sin and death. And that is a different thing, that we are somewhere, we are different people altogether. And I think that that's something that came out in verses five through eight, as we were mentioned, that we are not what we were. That we are not those who live according to the flesh, or I think more rightly spoken in the literal translation of the Greek, that we are no longer those who are according to the flesh. That we are no longer under the dominion of sin. We are no longer those who exist in death and darkness, but we rather are in the light of Christ and union with him. And yes, we are those who are legally declared not guilty and we're forgiven in Christ, but with that, notice that the Lord has also brought to us a real spiritual change. That's what we heard in verses 9 through 11, that you are in the Spirit. That this is the dominion in which we reside. This is the place where our new home is. And again, it is ruled by God because the spirit of Christ has made himself at home within us. He dwells in us and with us. And that's why tonight he refers to us as brothers. Because understand that this is more than just a term of endearment. That he's, in a sense, telling us that because we are united to Christ, we are united to him. We are united to everyone who is united to Christ. And yes, next week we will begin to unpack that a little bit more. But if you recall back in verse 10, it's because we are still in the body of death, living in a world of sin, that we are those who will instinctively be drawn back. by our corrupt hearts, and that we will continue to struggle, and sometimes very greatly. But as those who live, or are according to the Spirit, who are able to set their minds on the things of the Spirit, We need to take to heart that things are different, that in Christ, the dominion of sin is broken. Its power, the crushing penalty of the law over us, is no longer there. All things are new, meaning that the life that we now live is not what it was. But as we have note that our being is inseparably connected to where we live, that by the grace that we are given, Paul also wants us to recognize that the grounds for killing sin basically comes from the fact that having heard all of this before, that we kill sin because we are debtors. And mind you, that's not telling us that we need to pay God something back for our sin or for our salvation. Understanding, as we do, being those who are in Christ, we know that our works don't do anything. And so thinking that we're going to pay God back by maybe some degree of sweat equity over time, that this is not going to actually take place. But the grace that makes us alive in Christ, let us understand that by that grace that he gives to us, that unites us to himself, that this is what makes us duty-bound to live for our God. that it makes us those who desire to live to Him. In fact, I think it was Ian Hamilton who very clearly, in a wonderful statement that I use from time to time, that he tells us and reminds us that grace is absolutely free, but it makes absolute demands on our lives. Grace is absolutely free, but it makes absolute demands on our lives. And I want us to hear that because Paul is telling us that we no longer owe anything to the flesh. That we don't need to try to satisfy its demands upon us. We don't have to live like we once did. In fact, he's saying that you must not do that. And I think that is important for us to hear, because brothers and sisters, there are times when our consciences will tell us, whether in times when we are strong or in times when we are weak, that your sin is just too big. It's just too much a part of who you are. You're too set in your ways. You're never gonna change. You're never gonna grow in grace in Christ. And I want you to see that the conscience at times can make us feel as if we are hopeless, and that everything is against us, and it will sell to us that, well, you're not gonna ever be perfect, so you might as well just give up. And I want you to know that, because I have actually heard believers say that very statement to me. I don't know why, if you can't be perfect, why don't you just live? Jesus will forgive you. But dear friends, let us note, instead of going back to and hearing what the Word of God tells us in Philippians chapter two, that He works in you to will and to work for His good pleasure, that He's doing this within us. that He is likewise conforming us more and more to the image of Christ. And because as we hear in verse 28, and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Nevertheless, instead of looking at these things we often take on this mentality, well I'm just a victim, I'm a poor thing, I guess I just can't do any other. But Paul here is telling us something different because we are different. He's telling us that despite what we feel, what we see, the difficulty that we may endure on a daily basis because of what Christ has done and how who we are, we are obliged to live. that in Christ we are responsible to wrestle with our sin and war against the flesh. In fact, Charles Hodge, I think eloquently says it here, that if God condescends to dwell with us, it is the highest duty to allow ourselves to be governed by his spirit. Meaning that we are a people who must set our faces on a search and destroy mission to kill our sin because in Christ, we are enabled to begin to do this. And as those who are in Christ, we need to know the danger and understand that we must do this. But let us first see the great privilege and the grounds of sin, or the grounds for killing sin that we see here. Again, this says, because brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. We don't have to do this like we did. But secondly, so that we will take these things to heart, notice that Paul goes on to give us what we'll call the initiative for killing sin, or the incentive, pardon me, the incentive for killing sin. This is really just the beginning of verse 13, where he says, for if you live according to the flesh, you will die. I mean, honestly, I really shouldn't have to say anything else after that. But if you live according to the flesh, that which is death, you will die. In fact, he's saying here, this is a matter of life and death. That's what we need to see this as. In fact, that's why he uses these if-then statements, the conditional statements. If you continue to do this, then you need to understand that inevitably you are one who is doomed to die. And that's not just merely what might be a physical death, but certainly spiritual death. And again, I want you to note that, because as we mentioned last week, the if-then, the conditional statement that is being made here is very matter-of-fact. There is absolutely no gray area in any part of this. And Paul is making this contrast so that we'll begin to really begin to think through about what it means, or what sin means to the professing believer. It helps us to understand what sin means to the professing believer, and help us to ask the questions that are necessary in doing that. Oh, Lord, in the light of eternity, does sin really benefit me? Does it really do something for me that's going to help me 20 years down the road? I mean, seriously, honestly. But honestly, in the light of eternity, Lord, Am I going to benefit from sinning? But also we need to ask the question, why do I need to rely on that which only leads to misery and shame and despair and death? Brothers and sisters, these are important questions that we need to ask ourselves. Now mind you, I do want to stop for a second and see that yes, Paul is not telling us that the believer can lose their salvation. But what he is telling us here is that we need to understand if we are quick to dismiss our sin and to presume upon the Lord, continuing as if our sin were nothing, continuing to go back to the thing, well, I can just do whatever I want. God will forgive me. Let us understand that one of two things is going to happen. The first of those that we see is that in time, you may prove yourself not to actually be even a believer. That's not you losing your salvation, it's saying that you may never have been one to begin with. Because what we see with those who are not believers is they refuse to repent because they don't want to break with their habitual sin and its rule over certain aspects of our lives. But on the other hand, let us see that even for the believer who neglects to heed sin and the effects of it in his life, that when it becomes more serious, that he begins to take note of it. Let us see, secondly, that it might be too late to do anything. Brothers and sisters, sin has terrible, horrific consequences. And again, this one we're saying is not somebody who is losing their salvation, Because our salvation is not something that we have done, but they're losing assurance, and the fact is, like we see with people all throughout Scripture, is that they just don't end well. I think it was Derek Thomas who told me, or not told me, but I heard one time him saying that, I think there are over 600 different character sketches of people that we see throughout the Bible, most of them end saved, but don't end well. And that's what Paul is wanting us to understand. That's what he wants the Romans to understand. And I want you to see that because the incentive for killing sin that we find him giving to us is that which shows us that sin is something that deceives us. It's something that destroys us as it makes us believe that we can enjoy the pleasures that it provides, forgetting that it is only for a season and that in time we will reap what we sow. Brothers and sisters, do you ask yourself and even take heart of the fact that what we hear in Hosea chapter eight, when he says, having sown the wind, that which leads to absolutely nothing, that we are able to reap the whirlwind. death or ending very, very poorly. Dear friends, let us note for the Christian that we must be those who are mortifying our sin and not see it as any kind of option. But thirdly, seeing this is why Paul lastly gives to us directives for killing sin. This is the longer part of our passage tonight. But notice that this is what he simply tells us and encourages us with the directives, how we're to go about this. end of verse 13, but he says, But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Now mind you in Romans 8 there are no commands, but notice in this section right here we actually find two implied commands. The first of those is that we are to devote our sin to destruction. We are to devote our sin to destruction. And mind you, I say it the way I do, is because as we find in Deuteronomy chapter 20, as the people of God found out what happened from their sin the last time, 40 years before, and now another generation's preparing to go into the promised land, that God is going to let them go. That He does give them a directive, as we hear in verses 16 and 17, when He says that in the cities of these people, the Canaanites, that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall save nothing alive that breathes, but devote them to complete destruction as the Lord your God has commanded you. Dear friends, I want us to see that because it is, what we're finding here is that he's reaffirming The judgment that God has promised would come 400 years earlier in Genesis chapter 15 when he told him, Abraham, that the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet complete. Now it is. But why is he telling them this? Because having given the people of God the land and knowing their propensity towards idolatry, He goes on in verse 18 of Deuteronomy 20 by saying that they may not teach you to do in accordance with their abominations and their idolatrous practices that they have done for their gods, so that you sin against the Lord your God. While yes, That command is given to national Israel at a very specific time, and it is not something that is ever going to be repeated, because that is not the way we advance the kingdom of God now, praise God. But let us note here that we do find that there is a spiritual application of this in our own lives. from Colossians 3 when Paul is telling us that we are to put to death therefore what is earthly in you, understand it has this reference to Deuteronomy 20, that he's telling us here to devote our sin to death. And notice that the sins that he lists are the same ones that you would have seen in the Canaanites, or the people of Israel would have seen as they were going into the land. sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry. And he tells him, on account of these things, the wrath of God is coming. Brothers and sisters, again, Paul, what he's telling us here in Colossians chapter 3, he's telling us this to the individual, to the whole of the church, yes, but we are to begin with ourselves and to look and to see where these things are within our own hearts and in our own minds, where we dwell upon them. And then maybe perhaps when we do see bits and pieces of these things and others, that we are to lovingly go to them and address those things. But notice that's precisely where our Lord Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew chapter five, that if your eye causes your sin, your eye being that which informs the way you understand the world and think, tear it out and throw it away. Or if your right hand the stronger hand, the one with which you do what you do in this world. If your right hand calls you to sin, cut it off and throw it away, for it is better to lose one of your members than your whole body be thrown into hell." And I want you to know that because he's saying two of them don't just cut out the misdeeds of the body. those things that are obvious and outward acts that you are doing, but consider what you dwell on, what you think on. In fact, it was Derek Thomas in a sermon that he preached on this many years ago, he had just one question. And that was very simply, what do you think about when you have nothing to think about? That is one of the most probing questions I've ever heard. What do you think about in times when things do get a little more quiet, when you're just kind of off by yourself, maybe when your mind is wandering a little bit, what is it that you think about? And the reason for that is, is because he's telling us here, this is most likely what you desire the most. This is what you're setting your mind on. And is it the flesh, that desire which leads us to sin and death, or is it of the Spirit, that which leads us to life and to Christ? And I want you to hear that, because recognizing that, it means that we are to be diligent to deny sin. That's something that is persistent and crafty. I remember a pastor of mine once used to describe sin as something that it tends to plead with you and try to negotiate. Oh, let's just, maybe we can come to some kind of negotiation here and meet in the middle. I'll just sit in the corner and be quiet and you won't even know I'm here. And it may seem for a while that you're at peace until it begins to be evident that it's puffing up your pride, that you're not falling into sin quite as much, and that your reliance is upon yourself. Friends, that's one of the reasons why John Owens, in a less famous quote, says that when we realize sin, that we need to put our hands around its neck and choke it to death. That's very stern, but let us understand that sin is not neutral. It is not our friend. It does not love us. It does not help us. It is not beneficial in any way, shape, or form. In fact, it is actively trying to kill you, and if you deal with it softly, you will be killed, or you will kill. Dear friends, I want you to understand that because oftentimes we look to our sin and we want to kind of pick and choose, well, this would be good for me to get rid of because then I might lose some weight. Or this one might be good because, you know, I know I have a problem with that. But brothers and sisters, do we understand that the only way to deal with one sin is to deal with all sin? Now granted, it's not telling us that if we first put all of our sin to death, then we will live. That's not what it's saying at all. You're never gonna do that. But as we kill sin, it frees us to live to Christ more and more. But because the Holy Spirit gives us life so that we will live, it means that secondly, we see within here is this other command, is that the Christian will devote their whole life to holiness. that we will seek to have a heart of holiness, meaning that on the one hand, we will set our minds on the thing of the Spirit. We will look to the truth of God. We will look to the works that He has done. We will consider His providential actions within our lives on a daily basis. Yes, things that often we look and think that, well, they're not really working all that great, and then to find out that God was actually steering us away from a lot of crazy stuff that would have brought us way down. Brothers and sisters, we see how he deals with sin in some ways that is sinless. But we also see that how he uses all of these things to bring about salvation, faith in Christ, and repentance that is pervasive, a part of our normal life. And this is the life that the Spirit is working within us, that the Holy Spirit, yes, is making us holy. And again, so that we'll understand that the way we think does impact the way that we live, that if we desire to see Christ reflected in our lives, that we will kill the sin that hinders our growth in grace, because we don't want it dominating the way we think. Brothers and sisters, in regards to devoting our whole life to holiness, on the other hand, I'd like for us to see that we need to see that it will take into account all the sin that affects us. that we will be taking into account all of the sin, or pardon me, all that sin affects. And yes, that does pertain to our own life. How do we see sin affecting our time or the way we consider or look at the world in general? But while that in a sense seems like it should be enough, notice how does sin impact our homes? That was something we spoke about this morning. And do we understand how sin affects our marriage and our children and our families? And because of that, as we are seeking to put our sin to death, do we teach our children that when they see it to stop and say no to it so that they will not entertain sin or befriend their sin, but they will cut it out and cling to Christ? Take the heart. Well, God said when he came down to Cain, in Genesis chapter four, and he says, sin is crouching at the door and its desire is to have you. However, you can do what is right and turn from it. Cain did not. My brothers and sisters, do we take to heart what we find in Titus 2, verse 12, the grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. the way to live within our families and our homes, but also, brothers and sisters, this is the way that we are called to live in our church. I think it's very interesting in this passage, every instance of you within it is not to the individual, it is plural. It's to the entire church at Rome, and by virtue of the fact that we are reading it tonight, expositing it, it's to us also. Meaning that it's not just one, but it's everyone. And notice that even here, Paul tells us that we are debtors, and this is something that we must do because we know how sin impacts the church. Paul has seen it in his own ministry. We have seen it in our day, it's often well publicized by media as they find great delight in seeing a minister who falls. But let us understand that this is something that Paul's mind is most likely going back to Joshua chapter seven. This is when God is calling his people to go in and take the city of Ai. And mind you, the band was going to be on and they were going to win without any problems whatsoever, but they're routed and they get chased off. And as they begin seeking the Lord to find out how this took place, it comes down to one man, Achan. And as he gives his testimony or gives glory to God, notice how, or what he tells Achan. Joshua, when he basically says that he, as he was going through and destroying and devoting these things to destruction, that he saw a cloak and he saw silver and gold, and that very immediately he coveted these things. He had a great desire for these things. And coveting these things, he took them and he hid them. He was ashamed. He knew what he had done. And he knew that this was something that was not right. But dear friends, brothers and sisters, is this not something we do with our sin if we think that it's unseen and it really isn't gonna hurt anybody? And I want you to note that because it brings, in a sense, the entire Old Testament church to a standstill and brings him to death. And that's exactly the same thing that, in a sense, can still happen today with sin, little sins that start very quickly and move fast. But does this encourage us more and more to press forward toward holiness in our lives? That are our hearts filled with a desire for Christ, and so in when we are tempted with these things that it is in a sense pushed out because there is no room for sin. But do we also note that in those in whom our sin affects most greatly, that this is where we find also the greatest help, the grown grace. I want you to think about that for a moment, because being united to Christ and being united to all who are in Christ, if we struggle with our sin, it means that there's somebody else out there who's struggling with it too. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that temptation is common to man. And one of the ways that we often see that is through the identification that we have with Paul in Romans 7, 19. If you just turn a page to the left, he says, I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do is what I keep on doing. Brothers and sisters, I want to encourage us if we are struggling in sin, if this is the very thing that even that defines us, find someone that you trust. whether it be your pastor, one of your elders, or just somebody else in the church who you trust and ask them, will you please pray for me for a particular sin with which I'm struggling? You don't necessarily even have to tell them what it is, but just tell them that I'm struggling through this, and it seems to be more than I can bear. Because brothers and sisters, yes, the Bible, James does tell us, make your sins known to one another. It doesn't mean to everybody in the church. But brothers and sisters, understand that when someone else knows, not only do we find that there's a certain degree of the burden that is lifted off of us, but we find that we have help to carry this and to relieve ourselves of it as we are fighting. Someone is joining in that. And we know someone's keeping us accountable so we don't have to suffer alone. This is find someone who loves you and someone who wants you to grow in Christ. That's what we're looking for. And so tonight, are we seeking accountability when we struggle with our sin? One to pray for and even with us so that we will not be led into temptation but delivered from the evil one. And whether it be in our individual lives or our home or our church, And this is someone in this life who encourages us to repent as a regular part of our life. And is it a comfort to us? Because we know that the first concern of every disciple is that we repent and bear fruit in keeping with repentance. That we are those who actively within our life are seeking to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Now many people would ask, well isn't this legalistic? It sounds like moralism. It sounds like we're trying to have our behavior a certain way, but let us understand very clearly, no, it's not. Because if we are debtors to grace, then we have our directive for killing sin, and it is always by the Spirit. The Spirit who indwells us, the Spirit who empowers us, the Spirit who works in us to will and to work for His good pleasure, that He continues to give us grace, because as we find in Romans 5, verse 21, as sin reigned in death, as that is where we sought in that dominion, now grace also reigns through righteousness, leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It leads to righteousness. Not to a righteousness in us that is the equivalent of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it does grow us in holiness. But the question is, well, how do we know that? Because we're those who have been graciously saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. We trust in Him. and that he is the one who has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do. He is the one who was condemned to set us free from the condemnation that we deserve by becoming a savior for our sin. And we know that the whole reason that Christ came and died on the cross was so that we may have a life that leads to eternal life. And when our sin, or when we see our sin, brothers and sisters, tonight, do we take into account that this is why Jesus came to suffer and die. This is why he had to come to suffer and die. And when we sin, do we understand that we're not just offending a God who is distant, but we're offending the Holy Spirit who is with us and in us. And do we consider the personal aspects of our sin for the Christian? That yes, he forgives all who come to him, but it is so that we may go and sin no more because we are no longer what we were. We're united to Christ. And yes, brothers and sisters, we will continue to sin. That's a fact of life. But the question is, is are we seeking to kill sin because we do really grasp the truth of our situation? As John Owen tells us, if you're not killing sin, sin will be killing you. And mind you, that's a slow, painful death. But do we believe this? Do we believe that that is actually what is taking place? And is our life, for that reason, seeking to live in accordance with the work of our God? That's what I want us to hear Paul's telling us tonight, because everything we need to know to engage in the continual and irreconcilable war with the world, the flesh, and the devil, where we are no longer appeasing our sin or bowing to it in idols that it puts before us that lead us to shame, here is what he's telling us. And tonight, Christian, let us hear this, because if we desire assurance, which Romans 8 is replete with, we must understand that it comes as we trust what our God has done to save us, but as redeemed and renewed people who have been given the Spirit, as we obediently put our sin to death and strive to live through our entire life because the one thing sitting before us that we desire more than anything else is to be conformed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray that he will give us strength and encouragement to do that on a daily basis. Let's pray. Our Father in heaven, we indeed believe that holiness befits your house. We pray, Father, as we are a weak people, that we are often at times weak in faith. And forget, oh Lord, that you are working for you. We ask that you will help us more and more to die to sin, to put these things away. But Lord, we pray that you will grant us assurance that as we are able to do this, that we will know that your help is never far from us, that your power is a continual supply that you give to us for this very thing that we may live. Help us, Heavenly Father. to make our desire not merely to live to righteousness. For, O Lord, that would be of ourselves. But help us to be those who would live to righteousness because we are seeking the face of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bless us this night, Heavenly Father, as we prepare to go out. And keep us, we ask for Jesus' sake. Amen.