Awake to righteousness, and sin not, for some have not the knowledge of God and I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15 ; 34.
The scripture above is a warning call to live to and be conscious of God’s righteousness or the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, which brings us into death to sin and living for righteousness, thus becoming sons, daughters and servants of God and of righteousness.
Death to sin is the best death of all deaths.
It bring the believer back to constant fellowship and walk with Christ.
It keeps the believer safe and secure from defeat from the spiritual harassment and attacks of the wicked one for in righteousness shall thou be established… Isaiah 54; 14.
It freed the believer from the condemnation of the second death, and finally, it prepared and enables the believer worthy of participation of the sudden taken up to heaven (rapture) of the living saints when the Lord shall descend from heaven, and the trumpet shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall be raised first, and we that remain and alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air…1 Thessalonians 4; 14 – 17.
The death to sin is the reason why the Lord came into the world to put on our nature, to fulfil the righteousness of the law, so that through the seed of God in us and by walking in the fruit of the Spirit, the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us and be freed from condemnation of the law and sin. Romans 8 ; 1 – 5. 1John 3; 9.
Sowing to the flesh is corruption and this is not the decomposition of the body in the grave, but eternal corruption, which is the second death in hell.
Death to sin simply means freedom from the controlling power and domination indwelling sin, by living unto God and obedience to his word, just like the testimony of Samuel’s life as he grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 1 Samuel 3 ;19.
Similar observations and exclamations were made by David in Psalms 119 verses 9 and 11…
They are just the ways out and power over the indwelling sin through the help of the in-​dwelling Spirit of God in us, for the scriptures says, if you, through the help of the Holy– Spirit, you mortify (put to death or destroy) the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5 ;19 – 20) you shall live. Romans 8 ; 13.
The sin you refused or failed to mortify or kill shall condemned and destroyed you at the end — the sting of death is sin.
Before we come to Christ, we were dead in sins and trespasses, ruled and controlled by the prince of the power of the air, walked according to the standard of this world, and were children of wrath and Satan.
Now in Christ Jesus, we are children of God, we are crucified with Christ and are buried with him in baptism into death ; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in the newness of life. Romans 6 ; 3 – 6.
Death to sin is the new creature. It is to be born again. It is the primary reason Christ was born – to save us from all our sins (Matthew 1 ; 21). With the Lord is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalms 130; 8.
Your church, denomination, naissance background and religious practices whatsoever is of no use if you are not in Christ, living and walking in the newness of life or in a changed life – And if Christ be in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Galatians 6 ; 15. Romans 8; 10.
The works of the flesh are demonically controlled and rightfully handover the ownership of your live to Satan — know you not that whosoever commit sin is of the devil, for the devil sin from the beginning, and for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works (sins) of the devil. 1 John 3; 4 – 8.
Though you we born again, yet we must watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.
We must take heed, having done all to stand, keep standing and taking heed, lest we fall.
We must look diligently lest any fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
Death to sin is to depart from sin — for whosoever is mentioning the name of Christ or thinks he serves Christ should depart from sin. 2 Timothy 2 ; 19.
There are words in the scriptures which are meant to empower and deliver us from the controlling influences of the indwelling sin or works of the flesh.
Such words as reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin Romans 6 ; 11. You cannot reckon if you do not have personal encounter and relationship with Christ. You must see or consider yourself dead unto sin in the light and knowledge of your crucifixion with Christ who is now living in you, in whom you now live by faith of him that loves you and gave his life for you. Christ in me cannot lie, fornicate, prostitute, commit adultery, covet, steal, slander, blaspheme, worldly, backslide etc. Galatians 2 ; 20.
Yield your members (eyes, mouth, tongue, legs, hands, ears, etc) as instruments of righteousness unto God. This is putting the body under subjection. Denying the flesh of its cravings and dictations — If it is your right eye that would cause you to sin, it is better to pluck it out, fir it is better to get to heaven with one eye than for the whole body to be cast into the lake of fire. Romans 6 ; 13. Matthew 18 ; 9. 1 Corinthians 9 ; 27.
Suffering in the flesh — Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 1Peter 4 ; 1 – 3.
If you must suffer the flesh to do the will of God, you must keep yourself from your sin as David once said – for I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgements were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Psalms 18; 21 – 23.
How many times have you gone to the Lord in fasting and prayer to overcome a particular sin or the work of the flesh in you ?
People can fast to obtain a car, promotion, wife, fruit of the womb, forgiveness of sins after sinning or falling, but how many have fasted purposely to overcome fornication, lying, drunkenness, adultery, envy, wrath, hatred, pride, talkativeness, tale bearing… etc.
They that belongs to Christ must crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
This is the way to suffer the flesh and to have the outward man perishing daily as the inward man is renewed day by day. Galatians 5 ; 24.
Set your affection on things above and not on things on earth (Colossians 3 ;1 – 3)
Thus our heart becomes the battle ground and place of victory or defeat over sin.
We must be renewed in the spirit of our mind by setting or turning our heart to whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report etc.
We shall reap and eat the fruit of our thoughts. The heart and its thoughts must be guided by the word of God if our attitudes and actions are to be corresponding to the same — for from the heart comes evil thoughts, blaspheming, fornication, adultery, evil eyes etc. all these comes from the heart and they defile the man. Matthew 15; 19.
Lastly, such words as put off the old man and put on the new man is a daily spiritual practice we must engage and improved upon. Ephesians 4 ;22 – 24.
The old man is the old habit which must not be lived out again.
He should be treated as an old cloth not useful for outing or any ceremonious things again, while the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3 ; 8 – 10.
Awake to righteousness and stop sinning for whomsoever the Son shall set free, shall be free indeed.