Title: The Old Man Must Die
Text: Rom. 6:1-7
[Rom 6:1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
[Rom 6:2] Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
[Rom 6:3] Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
[Rom 6:4] Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[Rom 6:5] For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
[Rom 6:6] knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
[Rom 6:7] For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Introduction
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Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
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Yes, we are in the dispensation of grace. The dispensation of patience. Instant judgment has passed. However, that does not give us the right to continue in sin.
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We are already dead to sin. How can we continue to live in sin?
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As long as you have being baptized into Jesus Christ, you have been baptized into His death
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Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, and we were raised from the dead just like Christ was raised from the dead.
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We are to walk in that newness of life
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As a result, our old man was crucified with Christ
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Such that the body of sin might be done away with
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We should no longer be slaves to sin, because the death we died brought freedom from sin
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So, why do we still struggle with sin?
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The answer: The old man is not dead, he is still alive
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Therefore, the old man must die.
Main Topic
The Problem
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[Rom 6:23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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The end result of sin is eternal damnation. That is the destination if we do not deal with the old man.
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The #1 problem in our Christian walk is not the devil.
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The devil was defeated over 2000 years ago on the cross of Calvary when Jesus said, “It is finished”.
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It is finished means, I have completed the purpose for which I came to earth, which is to deliver man from the grip of the devil.
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[Col 2:14] having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
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[Col 2:15] Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
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We must allow this truth of the Word sink into our spirit man.
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Jesus already defeated the devil.
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The #1 problem in Christianity is the old man, aka, Mr. Flesh, aka, carnal man.
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It is through the flesh that man sins
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It is through the pleasing of the flesh that man fell
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[Gen 3:6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
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If the pleasures of the flesh were not there, we would still be in the garden today.
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The problem is the old man.
The Old Man is not born again (2 Cor. 5:17, Rom. 10:9-10, John 3:3-6)
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[2Co 5:17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
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[Rom 10:9] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
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[Rom 10:10] For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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[Joh 3:3] Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
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[Joh 3:4] Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
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[Joh 3:5] Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
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[Joh 3:6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
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Our spirits used to be in alliance with the devil.
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Once we became born again, we switched sides, we are now in alliance with God
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In the spirit realm, you are no longer the same person. Spiritually, you are a new person.
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However, in the flesh, you still have the same body. Your complexion, height, weight, etc., did not change when you switched sides.
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That old man, Mr. Flesh, is still with you.
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When you get born again, Mr. Flesh did not get born again, because you cannot enter into your mother’s womb again.
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As result, the old man would still like to come out every once in a while.
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But, some of us went back and actually resurrected the old man.
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We are living lives that is 100% in the flesh.
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If Mr. Flesh is dead, we will not have works of the flesh in the church
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[Gal 5:19] Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
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[Gal 5:20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
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[Gal 5:21] envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Old Man will always fight the Spirit Man (Gal. 5:16-17, Rom. 8:5-8)
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[Gal 5:16] I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
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[Gal 5:17] For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
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[Rom 8:5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
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[Rom 8:6] For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
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[Rom 8:7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
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[Rom 8:8] So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
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The flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another
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They will fight each other until the flesh or the spirit is completely dead because they are contrary to one another.
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That is why Paul said:
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[Rom 7:19] For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
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[Rom 7:20] Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
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Anytime you want to do spiritual exercises that are good, Mr. Flesh will protest
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Study the Bible, pray, or fast, Mr. Flesh will fight you.
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Attend Bible study or prayer meeting, Mr. Flesh will protest. You would rather stay home and feed your flesh with a TV show.
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What you feed the most, grows the most
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If you feed Mr. Flesh more than your spirit man, Mr. Flesh will grow and dominate you. In the end, it is death. Rom. 8:6-8.
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If you feed your spirit the most, your spirit will grow and help you keep Mr. Flesh in check.
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[Rom 8:12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
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[Rom 8:13] 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.
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[Rom 8:14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
To be continued….
Conclusion
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We have a problem and the problem is Mr. Flesh
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Mr. Flesh is not born again
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Mr. Flesh will always fight your spirit that is born again
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Who is winning the battle in your life? Who are you feeding the most?