Killing Sin

Taking a short break from the identity series...

Our pastor presented this to us on Easter Sunday: a multifaceted approach to killing sin. Emerging from an exposition of Colossians 3:5-8, the following steps provide the biblical essentials for mortifying sin. Sin will always be with us, but we should never settle for it in our lives. Go after it, find it, destroy it. Pursue righteousness.

A. Repent Confession

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

B. Watch and Pray

Matthew 26:41 - Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

C. Starve and abandon sin, i.e.,flee temptation

Genesis 39:12 - She caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!" And he left his garment in her hand and fled and went outside.
[Compare with...]
Proverbs 7:6-9 - For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.

D. Seek the help of others

Hebrews 3:13 - But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

E. Put on the "new self"

Ephesians 4:28 - He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

F. Remember that old you is dead; a new you was raised with Christ (Rom. 6)

Romans 7:17 - As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but sin living in me.
Romans 6:12-13 - Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 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.