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There is a vast ocean before us. Each of the doctrines taught in the Scriptures, is like a drop of water in the ocean. Each one is precious. Each one is a gem. Each one has brought life to me.
Today, however, I want to give thanks to my God for one specific doctrine, one that gives God’s children a way out of sin. I am grateful because God has given his children the possibility to mortify sin every day.
This is a doctrine that reaches down into my heart and pierces my soul, and enables me to walk in holiness in my home, in my kitchen, in the city, in the farm, in the office, in the school, wherever I go.
We are saved by grace, our justification is a decree from God. He makes us righteous without any merit on our part. He saves us by grace through faith. I didn’t choose God; I couldn’t have chosen Him simply because I was dead in my sins. But when He came and by His infinite grace He called my name, and gave me life, He set me free from the terrible and cruel hands of the Devil, the father of all sinners. Now I am free.Free, free indeed. Free from sin
Isn’t this wonderful news? Isn’t this something that sets your feet on dancing and makes you raise your hands toward God, the great Deliverer of His people? I am so grateful, grateful for this wondrous miracle!
God has set the feet of His own people free from bondage and has set them on a new path. A path which is not always smooth. During this journey, Satan will try to make us fall, he will try to deceive us, he will promise us the world, all the satisfactions and power, if only we would bow before him and what he has to offer. But now, we are free… now we can truly say no to his schemes.
Now, because God has called us out of darkness into His admirable light, now we can by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, so that we may live.
“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 8:12-13
Octavius Winslow said it well,”To the flesh we owe nothing but uncompromising hatred; to Jehovah we owe undivided and supreme affection.”
It is concerning this doctrine, the Mortification of our flesh, our sinful desires (Sanctification) that we are called to action.
It is here where we have no other option but to do something, to be “doers”, to act. It is here where God expects us to obey, to die to self, and carry our cross
But I am grateful, yes, I am grateful because even though this is not easy, the Lord is on our side; it is He who enables us to walk in holiness, it is He who strengthens our weary souls, and renews our strength and gives us the victory! We are indeed more than over-comers in Him who has called us! A.W. Pink reminds us that “mortification is not optional but imperative.” He continues to say:
“The imperative necessity for this work of mortification arises from the continued presence of the evil nature in the Christian. Upon his believing in Christ unto salvation he was at once delivered from the condemnation of the Divine law, and freed from the reigning power of sin; but “the flesh” was not eradicated from his being, nor were its vile propensities purged or even modified…”
“Mortification is a task to which every Christian must apply himself with prayerful diligence and resolute earnestness. The regenerate have a spiritual nature within that fits them for holy action, otherwise there would be no difference between them and the unregenerate.”
I am forever grateful that God works in me day after day, He who began the good work in me will bring it to completion at the Day of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that I am in the process of becoming more like Christ every day, and that it is because of Him, because of His grace that I can press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. How glorious is this truth!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Daily On My Way to Heaven 
>Justification makes me dance because it is a free Gift from God! Sanctification makes me dance because, again, God did–God gave–God poured His love and spirit into my new heart, which He gave to me. God will help me–He will finish the good work that He has begun. The reason I want to dance the most is because God IS greatly to be praised!! My best is filth without God! Blessings!
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>What a blessing this is to the believer. Thank you for sharing such an uplifting truth.
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>"Now I am free.Free, free indeed. Free from sin!Isn't this wonderful news? Isn't this something that sets your feet on dancing and makes you raise your hands toward God, the great Deliverer of His people? I am so grateful, grateful for this wondrous miracle!"Becky…I have no words other than Amen, Amen, Amen! To hear your absolute delight in this truth fills my heart fit to bursting and yes, makes me want to dance around in praise in absolute gratitude. Bless you!
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>Thank you for the wonderful reminder of our freedom from the bondage to sin.
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>Great reminder! As Mr. Sorensen said, it's good to see someone who's willing to talk about such an unpopular subject!
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>Thank you for sharing this wonderful post!
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>"Isn't this wonderful news? Isn't this something that sets your feet on dancing and makes you raise your hands toward God, the great Deliverer of His people? I am so grateful, grateful for this wondrous miracle!"Dancing with you, Becky, and praising God for this gift! Thank you for this encouraging reminder that we are not helpless and hopeless in our battle against sin.I love this post!
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>What a delight to see, in our day, those who would even talk about "mortification of sin." It's just not a popular topic. For one, it's just so "serious sounding." I mean, after all, you're talking about killing and death and all that nasty stuff. For another, it's just so "doctrinal." Doctrine divides and we should be all about whatever brings us all together.I deplore these types of attitudes and applaud you for standing firmly on the Scriptures, as well as high upon the shoulders of giants who express these truths so well. Thanks.
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>Thank you for this terrific post this morning Becky! This is wear the rubber meets the road isn't it? That day to day battle with the flesh. This killing of sin can be such a stubborn battle. The power to conquer it is always plentiful and available, but I sometimes have such difficulty taking that first step! I realize that in the flesh dwelleth no good thing and I can't!- But when I ask God to make me want to take the first step in killing it, He does!! Still, battling sin daily is a beast I will be so glad to be free of once and for all.I loved this admonition:"The regenerate have a spiritual nature within that fits them for holy action, otherwise there would be no difference between them and the unregenerate."Have a blessed day!
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>Excellent! Our sermon yesterday was on the fact that we are no longer slaves. It ministered to me greatly!As my pastor was preaching, I had a picture of one of Israel's battle plans in my mind…the one where they set an ambush behind the city and part of the army approaches the city. The approaching army then turns on its heels as if fleeing in order to draw the men away from the city. Once this has happened, the ambush goes down and sets the city on fire. When the "fleeing" army sees the smoke, they turn around and fight. While not a perfect analogy, I think the cross and Christ's resurrection are kind of like that burning city in that they remind us that the victory is already secured.My pastor also painted a word picture for us. He told us the story of some villagers who chopped off an anaconda's head with an ax. He said that the rest of the body thrashed around violently before it died and related that to what Satan is doing now. We're fighting a winning battle!Keep up the good fight, my friends! We are victorious in Christ! :)Thanks for another excellent post, Becky!
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>Great post, Becky. This encourages me to fight indwelling sin, because we know the decisive victory has already been won by Christ.(John Owen's book, The Mortification of Sin, is another good resource. The Puritan Paperback version from Banner of Truth is very readable.)
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