Why My Old Man Must Stay Dead.

Romans 8:1-11 [CJB]

Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua. Why? Because the Torah [law] of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “torah” of sin and death. For what the Torah could not do by itself, because it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate, God did by sending His own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one – but without sin. God did this in order to deal with sin, and in so doing He executed the punishment against sin in human nature, so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the Spirit wants. For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom [peace]. For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah — indeed, it cannot. Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God.

But you, you do not identify with your old nature, but with the Spirit — provided the Spirit of God is living inside you, for anyone who doesn’t have the Spirit of the Messiah doesn’t belong to Him. However, if the Messiah is in you, then, on the one hand, the body is dead because of sin; but on the other hand, the Spirit is giving life because God considers you righteous. And if the Spirit of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead is living in you, then the One who raised the Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit living in you.

God’s word is true.  When my mind is controlled by my old nature, I fall easily into the same pit of sin I wallowed in before the Lord drew me to Him.  And for mind picture sake, I mean to say that I walk directly back to that pit and jump right in! 

But God!  When my mind is controlled by the Spirit of God living inside me, my body truly is dead to sin.  I not only do not fall into the pit, I don’t go anywhere near the edge!  For mind picture sake, think “Robin in Greenland, sin pit in Antartica!”  That is how far from the edge I want to be when my will is that of the Father’s!

Father, Your word calls me to deny myself and pick up my cross daily in order to follow Your Son, my Savior.  Denying myself is totally contrary to my flesh — and is something I cannot do under my own power, in my own will.  Because of this, I pray Your strength be My strength.  Your will, my will.  Regenerate my mind and renew my spirit for the day, that I may bring You glory in all I do and say.  I pray this in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.