05/16/10 LIFE IN THE SPIRIT...
There are three successive steps for those who want to be delivered from sin for a lifetime.
1. SPIRITUAL BIRTH...
Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
In order to be delivered from sin, a person must be born again, born of God, born of the Spirit. When identifying those who are delivered from sin, our verse (5:18) says a person must be led by the Spirit of God. The only people whose lives are led by the Spirit of God are those who have been born of the Spirit.
Romans 8:14-16
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 8:9
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Galatians 4:6
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
2. SPIRITUAL DEATH TO SIN...
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Crucifixion is nothing less than death and crucifixion of the flesh is nothing less than the death of the sinful nature, old man, carnal mind, evil heart of unbelief.
Too many Christians want to be delivered from sin, but do not follow Christ by taking up their own crosses and dying to sin.
Romans 6:6-7
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 6:14
14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
3. SPIRITUAL WALK...
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
After being born of the Spirit, we must die to the flesh (old man, sinful nature) and then we must walk, continue to follow Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit Who indwells us.
Galatians 5:16
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Romans 8:4
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:8
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Colossians 1:10
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 2:6
6 He that saith he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
THERE IS NO DELIVERANCE FROM SIN UNLESS WE ARE:
Born of the Spirit
Dead to the Flesh
Walk in the Spirit
People quickly proclaim the idea of Growth In Grace but neglect the Death To Sin part.
We never "grow" out of sin.
We must be delivered from sin and then we grow in grace.
As someone said, concerning the Spirit filled life and deliverance from indwelling sin (the flesh, sinful nature, old man),
"It is something that we approach gradually, enter into suddenly and grow in forever."
