Progressive Sanctification (Progressive Holiness)

As we move through studying Romans we again are reminded of the fact that we are not debtors to the flesh, and slaves to its sinful desires if in fact the Spirit of Christ dwells within us. I think perhaps we need to be reminded of this fact because we view being “dead in the flesh and to sin” as being just theoretical. However this death is no mere theory, if we are born again of God’s Spirit the new has come and the old has passed away. The life that I now live I live to Christ, because he lives in me and gives my mortal body life. This is a vital truth, and we must constantly be reminded of it. Here is what Paul says yet again on it: You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 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. Romans 8:9-13

Paul is saying here that we have, as believers, life in Christ and life in Christ only. Our body, with all its sinful desires, has died because of sin. Yet the Spirit of God will give life to our physical bodies. If you have repented of your sins and put your trust in the savior you are no longer alive. The old self was put off and died and never got back up, but the new self recreated by God’s Spirit took up immediate residence in your mortal frame. This is why we are not debtors to the flesh, because the flesh is dead and cannot collect the debt. Therefore knowing this vital truth I choose not to live according to the flesh, but by the power of the Spirit I choose to put to death the deeds of the flesh (or stop sinning) so that I might live fully consecrated to God.

Let me put it this way. If I had gotten saved and had a million dollars and the new me wanted to build a Christian orphanage, but I had set that million dollars originally to build a porn shop, and even had business partners who were counting on my million, would I have the right to withhold the money from the porn partners. What Paul is saying here is that not only would I have a right to withhold it, but I would have an obligation. Pornography is a deed of the flesh, but when reborn my flesh died, and I no longer had to serve it because I owed it nothing because it no longer lived to collect the debt. Would the business partners be upset? Would they pressure me for the money? Of course they would, but if I live by the Spirit then I put to death the deeds of the flesh. I am free from the old obligation to build a porn shop, and am now free to help build God’s Kingdom. A porn shop is an extreme example I know, so let me bring it closer to home. You and I are free to no longer watch dirty movies, and only take in wholesome movies instead. You and I are free to no longer fight with our spouses, and discuss things calmly instead. You and I are free to love the way God intends us to. So let us remember to quit living according to the flesh which we crucified with Christ, and start living for the Spirit that gives us life. As we live for and by the Spirit we will not sin because God’s Spirit will not sin. But it is a choice to live in the truth, or to believe and practice a lie. The longer we live this truth the better we will get at not sinning, and this is what we call progressive sanctification..

Father God,
May I no longer live as a debtor to the flesh. May the truth that I owe the flesh and the sin life nothing sink into the very depths of my heart and soul. Help me to learn how to walk and live by your Spirit, so that I may lead a holy life.