Putting Sin to Death: Living by the Spirit

Devotional

Day 1: Tiger in the Backyard

The apostle Paul warns believers: “If you live according to the flesh, you will die.” Sin crouches like a pet tiger—seemingly harmless until it mauls. Romans 8:12-13 rejects truces with destructive habits. Just as a tiger’s instincts can’t be tamed, sin always seeks to destroy. Paul urges radical action: “Put to death the deeds of the body” through the Spirit’s power. [47:34]

Jesus didn’t negotiate with sin. He confronted it head-on at the cross. The Spirit gives us that same resurrection power to starve our cravings, confront lies, and break cycles. Sin’s trajectory leads to death, but the Spirit offers life.

What sin have you been feeding like a harmless pet? Name the compromise that keeps circling your thoughts or habits. Where has complacency dulled your vigilance? What first step will you take today to starve it?

“So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 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 8:12-13, ESV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to expose one specific sin you’ve tolerated. Confess its danger openly.
Challenge: Write down the name of this sin. Destroy the paper as a symbolic act of surrender.

Day 2: Glove and the Hand

Paul insists we fight sin “by the Spirit.” A lifeless glove can’t pick up a Bible—it needs a hand. Similarly, willpower alone fails. Lasting change comes when the Holy Spirit fills us. The disciples didn’t conquer fear until Pentecost’s fire ignited their courage. [50:34]

Jesus told His followers, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” The Spirit isn’t a cheerleader for our efforts—He’s the source. Just as a hand moves the glove, the Spirit redirects our desires, strengthens our resolve, and rewires our habits.

Where are you striving in your own strength? What battle have you been fighting alone? Pause. Breathe. Whisper, “Spirit, move through me today.” How might outcomes change if He led?

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
(Romans 8:14, ESV)

Prayer: Pray, “Holy Spirit, take control of [specific situation] today. Move me as Your glove.”
Challenge: Set a phone reminder for 3:00 PM to pause and say aloud: “Spirit, lead me now.”

Day 3: “He’s My Father”

A Roman emperor’s son dodged guards to reach his father’s chariot. When scolded, the boy declared, “He may be your emperor, but he’s my father.” Paul says we cry, “Abba! Father!”—a child’s intimate term. Slaves fear masters; children trust fathers. [01:05:01]

Jesus redefined God as “Father.” Adoption erases shame, replacing fear with belonging. The Spirit whispers, “You’re His.” Not a subject, but a son. Not a servant, but an heir. Your failures don’t revoke your birthright.

Do you approach God as a nervous servant or a confident child? When tempted to hide, how might saying “Abba” shift your posture?

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
(Romans 8:15, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific ways He’s loved you as a father this week.
Challenge: Text one person: “Remember today—you’re God’s child, not His project.”

Day 4: Roger’s New Name

Pastor Craig Barnes’ family adopted Roger, a boy orphaned by addiction. At first, Roger fought and stole. But daily, the parents repeated, “That’s not how we act in this family.” Over time, his behavior aligned with his new name: “son.” [01:07:24]

We’re adopted, yet old patterns linger. The Spirit whispers, “That’s not how God’s children live.” Our obedience flows from identity, not earning. Like Roger, we’re learning a new way to walk.

What “orphan behavior” persists in you—self-reliance, shame, or rebellion? How might remembering your adoption loosen sin’s grip?

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
(1 John 3:1, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you still feel like an orphan. Ask to feel His lavished love.
Challenge: Write “I AM GOD’S CHILD” on your mirror. Read it aloud morning and night.

Day 5: Heirs of the Parade

Roman soldiers once guarded a victory parade. But the emperor’s son broke through, declaring his right to approach. As co-heirs with Christ, we walk freely into God’s presence. Our future includes reigning with Him—no longer cowering spectators. [01:05:17]

Jesus’ resurrection guarantees our inheritance. Suffering now precedes glory, just as the cross came before the crown. The Spirit reassures us: today’s battles are temporary.

What earthly struggle feels overwhelming? How might your eternal inheritance reframe it?

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”
(Romans 8:17, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one glimpse of your eternal future that fuels today’s hope.
Challenge: Share a meal or coffee with someone this week. Discuss: “What excites you about heaven?”

Sermon Summary

We are reading Romans 8 and confronting a deep tension: the new identity Christ gives us and the persistent patterns of sin we still feel. We see that being in Christ means we are no longer debtors to the flesh; we possess a new life and a new family. Yet the flesh continues to draw us, offering easy rationalizations that this is simply who we are. That option of making peace with persistent sin carries deadly consequences, because sin functions like a power or kingdom working to widen its hold unless we resist it.

Paul issues a clear call: by the Spirit we must put to death the deeds of the body. Mortification of sin requires intention and effort, but it also depends on the Spirit who leads, empowers, and confirms our identity. Historical reflections, especially John Owen’s work, sharpen the urgency: unaddressed sin grows from seed to tree to orchard, and every small concession helps sin advance into ruin. The choice is stark: either we kill sin in its infancy or it will kill the life God has given us.

We take seriously both the seriousness of the fight and the promise of help. The Spirit does not leave us as a lone glove trying to lift a book; God’s Spirit animates and enables our effort while we still must act. The Spirit also secures our identity: we receive adoption as sons, we cry Abba, Father, and the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we belong to God. That identity reorients our motives. We do not labor to earn membership; we work because belonging already changes us and gives hope of future glory.

We therefore pursue holiness with both resolve and reliance. We name the sins that still cling, refuse the temptation to settle, enlist the Spirit’s leadership, and pursue transformation out of gratitude for adoption and in hope of glorification. The Christian life holds both sober combat and deep encouragement: sin must be fought, and the Spirit has already come to lead, witness, and renew us into the likeness of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Sin is life or death We must treat besetting sin as a decisive battle, not a minor flaw. Unchecked patterns escalate and can unravel relationships, character, and even physical safety. Recognizing sin’s destructive trajectory changes our urgency and motivates sustained action to interrupt its growth. [36:21]
2. Actively mortify besetting sin Mortification demands deliberate practices that oppose sinful desires and thoughts, not passive acceptance. Mortifying sin means naming its beginnings, resisting its conveniences, and refusing small compromises that become strongholds. This hard work proves whether we truly embrace the new life we have received. [44:13]
3. Depend wholly on the Spirit Transformation never relies on sheer willpower; the Spirit leads and empowers our effort. The Spirit animates our obedience, enables mortification, and produces fruit that our striving alone cannot. Our works of holiness flow from communion with and submission to the Spirit’s leadership. [49:27]
4. Adoption reshapes our identity Being adopted into God’s family changes our status and our motives for holiness. We no longer live under fear or slavery but under a filial love that prompts gratitude and obedience. Identity as God’s children grounds perseverance and gives a vision of ultimate transformation with Christ. [50:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:12] - Series on Romans 8
[32:51] - New identity versus reality
[34:55] - Two responses to sin
[36:21] - Read Romans 8:12-13
[39:12] - John Owen and mortification
[41:19] - The battle imagery explained
[44:13] - Be killing sin or killed
[49:27] - Put sins to death by Spirit
[50:10] - Adoption and Abba, Father

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Romans 8:12-13 (ESV)
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Observation Questions

What two outcomes does Paul contrast in Romans 8:13 for those who live "according to the flesh" versus those who "put to death the deeds of the body"?
How does the sermon describe sin’s destructive trajectory using the analogy of a seed growing into an orchard? [45:02]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping believers "put to death" sin, according to Romans 8:14-17?
In the story about Roger’s adoption, what motivated his behavioral changes after joining the new family? [06:57]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul use the strong language of "putting to death" (mortification) instead of milder terms like "managing" sin? How does this reflect the urgency of resisting sin? [44:13]
How does the metaphor of adoption (Romans 8:15) redefine a believer’s identity and motives for holiness, compared to living under fear or slavery?
The sermon warns that sin "will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay." How does this align with Paul’s warning in Romans 8:13? [47:34]
Why is it impossible to fight sin through sheer willpower alone, and how does the Spirit’s role address this limitation? [50:34]

Application Questions

What specific "seed" of sin (e.g., pride, anger, envy) have you been tempted to rationalize as "just part of who you are"? What practical step could you take this week to interrupt its growth? [38:38]
The sermon compares unchecked sin to owning a pet tiger—dangerous even if it seems harmless now. What small compromise or habit in your life needs to be treated with this level of seriousness?
How can you intentionally rely on the Holy Spirit’s power (rather than self-effort) in a current struggle? For example, through prayer, Scripture, or accountability.
The story of Roger’s adoption shows that belonging precedes behavioral change. How does knowing you’re God’s adopted child free you to pursue holiness without fear of rejection? [07:24]
What daily reminder or practice could help you live out your identity as a son/daughter of God (e.g., praying "Abba, Father," memorizing Romans 8:15-16)?
If sin’s goal is to "kill" your relationships, character, or peace, what area of your life most urgently needs the Spirit’s intervention to break its hold? [43:29]
Who in your life could you encourage this week with the truth that their adoption into God’s family empowers them to resist sin? How will you share this hope?

Sermon Clips

40s

#FamilyFaithJourney

“``But did he then have to do a lot of hard work because he was in the family? You bet he did. It was tough for him to change, and he had to work at it. But he was motivated by gratitude for the incredible love he had received. Do you have a lot of hard work to do now that the spirit has adopted you into God's family? Certainly. But not in order to become a son or daughter of the heavenly father. No. You make those changes because you are a son or daughter. And every time you start to revert back to the old addictions to sin, the holy spirit will say to you, no. No. That's not how we act in this family.”

33s

#JesusTakesTheWheel

“realizing that I had been steering my life for too long, and it was going in the wrong direction, and I was miserable. And I really needed Jesus to take the wheel wheel, so to speak, right, and allow him to be the leader of my life. Who's in the driver's seat of your life? Who's the decision who's the primary decision maker of your life? For followers of Christ, we say it's the spirit of God. He's the one who gets to make the decisions, and we submit. We are humble, and we allow him to be the leader of our lives.”

32s

#SinIsASeed

“John Owen talks about this in almost how sin is in a seed form that there's like this you know, the the same way an apple seed can grow into an apple tree, which could eventually grow into an apple orchard, every sin in your life that has has almost a seed form, he says every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could. Every covetous desire would be oppression. Every thought of unbelief would be atheism. So that's what sin wants to do. It's a destructive power. It's a destructive force.”

41s

#FleshIsDeadly

“Paul is drawing some clear lines for us. He's saying there's there's a situation where you can walk according to the flesh, like the old nature of you, the deep patterns of sin and things like that. You can walk that way. You can live that way. If you live according to the flesh, he says, the consequences are dire. This is the way he puts it. He he said it it is a life or death situation. We're talking spiritual life or death for the most part of this passage, although that we all probably haven't heard stories or know people who their life or death situation, like sin that got out of control in their life, really led to their physical death as well.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Liferoads Church This sermon · AI assistant

What does mortification of sin require practically?

How does the Spirit enable putting sins to death?

What does adoption as sons imply for believers?