Put to Death Indwelling Sin: The Old Has Gone, the New Has Come

Believers in Christ Jesus are freed from the condemning power of sin yet we are called to pursue putting our sinful natures to death, that is, to die to its strength and power within our lives. In this, we are to be vigorous at all times even, and perhaps particularly, when we are not suspicious of any danger of falling. Indwelling sin – referred to as “the old self” by the great Apostle Paul, continues to be within us. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV): “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

The redeemed man continues to have an impure heart, full of craftiness and subtlety and greatly desirous of its own ways. To be sure, we will battle flesh, sin and the devil until we are home with the Lord. Therefore, Paul tells us we are to put to death the indwelling sin by the Spirit also living within us. Flesh will fail us here every time – we can be so weak in the flesh and we seek to pander it. Therefore, we must depend upon the indwelling Spirit Who equips us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus – pleasing Him in all we say and do and think. This work is carried on by degrees until we are home with the Lord. We never “get there” so to speak, rather this is a lifelong pursuit. Our goal as believers is to walk as Jesus did through His power and for His glory. Like Enoch, who walked with God until God just called him home apart from dying. Believers are to be heading towards perfection on our treks to our heavenly home.

The comfort and power of our spiritual life depends much upon the death of being controlled by our sinful nature rather than the Lord. And what we do now matters greatly in our heavenly dwellings. Also, sin is never silent even when perhaps it seems to be. Remember still waters run very deep. We are to always be alert. Not placing ourselves in situations that we are uber easy to fall. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV): “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” When things are going swimmingly well for us, we often become drowsy to Satan’s antics and fall prey to his luring’s. We must constantly be on guard against his antics and temptations and our own stinking selves for that matter. Sadly, oftentimes Satan is not the culprit – we are. Also, God is always faithful to show us the door of escape. We are told by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV): “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” It behooves us greatly to remain vigilantly aware of God’s door of escape.