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)

There are several passages of the New Testament that list the deeds of the body.

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:29-32)

These are the deeds of the flesh. There are many more such behaviors listed in the New Testament.

We are to put them to death. If we do not, through the Holy Spirit, put them to death, we will die spiritually in the present hour. In the day of resurrection we will receive corruption.

If we as a Christian practice moral filthiness in the present hour we will receive moral filthiness in the day of resurrection.

If we as a Christian practice hatred and strife in the present hour we will receive hatred and strife in the day of resurrection.

If we as a Christian practice lying and deceit in the present hour we will receive lying and deceit in the day of resurrection.

When we are made manifest at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will receive back the things practiced by our body, whether good or evil and corrupt.

Salvation is a program of redemption. It begins when we make a profession of faith in Christ. It continues throughout our lifetime. We have to work out our salvation. We work it out by putting to death the deeds of the body and laying hold on the virtue of Christ.

We are not made a partaker of Christ until we hold fast the beginning of our confidence to the end of our discipleship.

We begin to follow the Spirit in a state of freedom from condemnation, given to us on the basis of the atonement made on the cross of Calvary.

As we pray, read the Bible, attend the assembling of fervent believers, the Spirit of God will point out some area of worldliness, lust, or disobedience in our personality. Have you had that happen to you recently? You probably did for we now are entering a period of judgment, the spiritual fulfillment of the Levitical Day of Atonement.

Let us say the Spirit shows you there is bitterness and unforgiveness in your personality.

We know that Christ has commanded us to forgive those who sin against us. Our first action in putting to death unforgiveness and bitterness is to confess these as sin. We are to confess with our mouth that we have unforgiveness and bitterness in our personality and that these are sin.

When we confess unforgiveness and bitterness as sin, we are passing judgment on these actions. This is why it is so extremely important to confess our sins as sin. The things hidden in our personality must be brought out into the open and judged for what they are. Otherwise, they will be made manifest at the Judgment Seat of Christ in the Day of the Lord.

Having confessed them as sin we then are to ask the Lord to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We may be instantly, totally delivered the moment we confess and repent. In other situations there may be a prolonged battle. The Spirit may bring up related behaviors in our personality, such as anger. Our task is to follow the Spirit, read our Bible, pray, serve, give, as we have said previously.

We will find that once we have confessed and denounced a sin its immediate power over us is greatly weakened. If we then keep on serving the Lord as a Christian disciple, remaining diligent, we can keep the particular behavior under control. We will grow in freedom from bitterness and in the ability to forgive those who formerly infuriated us.

We are not to strive hopelessly against all the sin in our personality. We are to follow the Spirit.

As we engage in spiritual warfare, we remain without condemnation. God's promise is that if we walk after the Spirit in this manner the righteousness of the Law of Moses will continually be imputed to us.

Never, never, never compromise with the sin in your personality. Confess it as sin. Bring it to the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing.

To be continued.