Pastor Billy Myron continues the Christian Life series with Sin Nature Part 2, focusing on Romans 6. He reviews Romans 7, where Paul describes the internal struggle of wanting to do good but doing evil due to the sin nature (flesh) warring against the mind. This dilemma arises from attempting to live by the law. Paul concludes that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, as the law of the Spirit of life sets believers free from the law of sin and death. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh.
The message emphasizes the importance of mindset. Those according to the flesh reflect on fleshly things, leading to death, while those according to the Spirit reflect on spiritual things, bringing life and peace. Paul urges setting the mind on things above, where Christ is seated, because believers have died and their life is hidden with Christ in God.
Central to the teaching is the doctrine of imputation: God counts believers as having died and been raised with Christ, even though these events have not physically occurred. This position in Christ is received by faith through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, immersing believers into Christ’s death and resurrection. Key steps from Romans 6 include: knowing that the old man was crucified with Christ so the body of sin might be destroyed; reckoning (logically considering) oneself dead to the sin nature but alive to God; and yielding one’s members as instruments of righteousness to God rather than to sin.
Believers are no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness under grace. Walking by the Spirit ensures one will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. The pastor connects this to related passages in Colossians 3, Ephesians 4, Galatians 5-6, and John 15, stressing abiding in Christ for fruitfulness and renewal of the mind. The session outlines victory over the sin nature through understanding one’s position in Christ, renewing the mind, and daily yielding to God.
