Mortifying Your Flesh Session 5

Knowledge Objectives  Explain the meaning of the three steps of mortification in Romans 6—know, reckon, and yield—and how our identification with Christ at salvation makes these steps all possible.  Recognize the importance of refusing to obey or to feed the flesh.  Understand why God-dependent self- denial is crucial to flesh-free living.

Application Objectives  Respond by using the teachings of Romans 6 in your daily fight against the power of your fleshly nature.  Respond by examining your life for areas where you are feeding the flesh.  Respond by appreciating the importance of self-denial instead of despising or resisting it.

Mortifying Your Flesh Session 5

Mortifying a Motorcycle

Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Colossians 3:1-5 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.... Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.... Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.”

John Owen on “What Is Mortification?” “Every lust is a depraved habit or disposition that continually inclines the heart toward evil.” “Every lust is a depraved habit or disposition that continually inclines the heart toward evil.” “The primary task of mortification is to weaken this habit of sin so that its power to express itself—in violence, frequency, tumult, provocation, and unrest—is quelled.” “The primary task of mortification is to weaken this habit of sin so that its power to express itself—in violence, frequency, tumult, provocation, and unrest—is quelled.”

 We have been “made free from sin.” We no longer have to obey its pull.  We were baptized into Christ’s death.  Before our identification with Christ, we were required to serve the flesh. We now have a choice!  “This is something you need to know!” We Have to Know Some Things

We Have to Reckon Some Things  We “reckon” things every day: a speed limit sign.  We may feel as though we have to give in, but we need to know better.

Romans 6:9,11 “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.... Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.... Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:12,14 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.... For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.... For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

We Have to Yield Some Things  Romans 6:13, 16, 19

Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Romans 6:19 “As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” “As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

We Have toYield Some Things  Don’t obey the flesh! We are not defeated but disobedient.  The Christian life is not easy, but it is not complicated.  The flesh can be denied, and it must be denied.  We are foolish to feed the flesh.

I Peter 2:11 “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

Galatians 6:7-8 “Be not deceived [i.e., Don’t kid yourself!]; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption [i.e., ruin, destruction, dissolution]; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” “Be not deceived [i.e., Don’t kid yourself!]; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption [i.e., ruin, destruction, dissolution]; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

The Seat Belt of Self-Denial  Since the flesh is always with us, self-denial is always needed because the danger is always present.

Back to Mortifying  Cut the fuel to the “flesh” engine. Don’t feed it!  Disengage the clutch—the “flesh” engine doesn’t have to drive the wheel.  Apply the brakes. Say no to the flesh.  Stop the motorcycle!

Take Time to Reflect  Is your entertainment flesh-free?  Is your pursuit of possessions flesh-free?  Are your friendships flesh-free?