For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)

Obviously the Apostle was not speaking of living physically because we live physically whether or not we put to death the deeds of our body. In any case the context reveals that the issue here is spiritual life, in particular the making alive of the mortal body.

If we live after the flesh we will kill our own spiritual life and consequently produce a resurrection of corruption.

The purpose of our Christian life is to attain the resurrection to eternal life, in particular, the crown of life and righteousness. The Apostle Paul toward the end of his life was seeking to attain the first resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11).

The resurrection of the dead, the out-resurrection of which Paul speaks, must be attained. It is not gained by making an initial profession of belief in Christ. If it were, Paul would not still be seeking such perfection after serving the Lord for so many years.

After we receive the forgiveness of sins through the blood atonement made by Christ Jesus, and are baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit, we find we now have a choice. We can continue to live as an adamic man, our mind being involved with the things of this world.

Or we can begin to enter into the things of the Spirit of God by praying earnestly each day, meditating in the Scriptures, and having fellowship with fervent Christians.

We can seek to save our life, or we can present our body a living sacrifice that we may prove the will of God for ourselves, finding what area of service He has in mind for us.

It is our opinion that there are few believers who truly are presenting their body a living sacrifice, who are taking up their cross and following the Master. There are some, but they are but a handful compared with the number of people who profess faith in Christ.

As we learn to walk in the Spirit, being guided and helped by godly elders (for walking in the Spirit is an art that requires many years to perfect and there are many dangers!), we find we have in our personality a tendency to look to the things of the world for our security and survival, there are many lusts, passions, and appetites in our flesh that are not holy, and we have a strong will that is determined to accomplish its own desires.

These three areas, trust in the world, fleshly lusts, and self-will bring spiritual death.

As we are faithful in cooperating with the Spirit in overcoming the world, our flesh, and our self-will, we are given to eat of the body and blood of Christ. We increase daily in eternal life. Christ is formed in us. The adamic personality continually is being crucified. This is what it means to attain the out-resurrection from the dead.

As the sins in our personality are brought to our attention, and we confess and renounce them, we actually are passing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. If we are faithful in confessing and renouncing our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. These sins never will be brought up again. It is an eternal judgment.

To be continued.