322. The Body is Dead Because of Sin

All sin in the world comes because of lust. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life all come from sin in the flesh.

“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” If Christ is not Lord in a person’s life, then the lusts are lord, and such lusts are costly to satisfy. The belly can be expensive and so can clothes. Then comes every kind of entertainment, and when there is no longer money available, one is tempted to swindle, rob, etc. And from these follow murder and every other kind of wretchedness.

If on the other hand the body, through the power of the Spirit, is held in death, so that Christ who is our head reigns in our life, then the fruits of the Spirit grow up: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

“Against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:19-23.

Christianity is first and foremost about conquering sin. Through the power of God this is possible. You do not need to be angry. Anger is a result of pride; you imagine yourself to be better than you are, and when this imagined greatness is confronted, you become angry.

You do not need to be a follower of fashion. Let the cross reign over this, and clothing yourself will become far cheaper.

You do not need to let your stomach be your god. In God’s Spirit you can decide what your body needs for sustenance rather than the other way around. The same applies to drink. Nor am I to be swept away by the lusts of the eyes. Instead, the Spirit of God will lead me according to God’s will. Then my body is dead because of sin, and it does not decide any more. I reckon myself dead indeed to sin, but alive to God.

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Rom. 6:12.

Much spiritual decisiveness and wholeheartedness is required if we are to keep sin from reigning. Without my consent, sin in the body can do nothing. I will, in the power of the Spirit of God, conquer sin in my mortal flesh (my body). This is the good fight of faith; this is what it means to follow Jesus, the One who was the author and finisher of the faith. When we do this, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.” Verse 14. We must seek for grace to help in the time of need. If we do that, grace will not be in vain. This is what it means to take up our cross daily. In this way the old man is crucified with Him, and sin in the flesh is destroyed so that we no longer serve sin.