The Sin-Killing Ministry of the Holy Spirit
April 11, 2021      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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”Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”
~ C.S. Lewis

Considering Jesus
Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

Give Careful, Fixed Attention…. 

1 Peter 2:23-25 (NIV)
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

He took our sins that we might die to sins and live for righteousness 

Romans 8:3-4 (NIV)
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so
he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus = A sin offering, Condemned Sin in the flesh SO THAT...

Romans 8:10-14 (NIV)
10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.
13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Body IS subject to death because of sin, but Spirit (IS giving life) because of righteousness

Therefore…. we have an obligation, we are debtors (to the Spirit) 

Romans 8:13 (NIV)
13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:13
1) Condition - “If”
2) Means - “By the Spirit”
3) Persons - “You” (believers)
4) Obligation / duty - “Put to death the misdeeds of the body”
5) Promise - “You will live”

“Be killing sin or it will be killing you” - John Owen

Connection - “IF” - “THEN”

Death to sin by self-strength results in self righteousness
... “The soul and substance of all false religion in the world”

The sword “of the Spirit”

Lust – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
Contentment – Hebrews 13:5-6
Pride – Jeremiah 9:23-24
Anxiety – 1 Peter 5:6-8
Fear – Psalms 56:3-4

Acknowledge
Confess
Turn / Repent
Receive Life

Condemning Power versus Indwelling Power

Colossians 3:1-5 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

The body is a slave - an instrument

Romans 6:19 (NIV)
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

Christ’s Cross = Death to Sin
Romans 6:6 (NIV)
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—

My Cross = Death to Self
Romans 6:11-13 (NIV)
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

The Spirit Gives Life!