The Discipline of Mortification

Today's Scripture: Colossians 3:5
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you."
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Making the right choices to obey God rather than our sinful desires necessarily involves the discipline of mortification. What is mortification? And what does it have to do with holiness?

The apostle Paul gave us the answer: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death [mortify] the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13). To make the right choices it's necessary to mortify, or put to death, the misdeeds of the body—the sinful actions we commit in thought, word, or deed. Paul was more explicit about some of these in Colossians 3:5: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

As we look at Romans 8:13, one thing we clearly see is that mortification, or putting sin to death, is our responsibility. Paul said, "If you put to death ." It's our responsibility, something we must do, not something we turn over to God.

We should also note that Paul said, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die." Paul was talking about spiritual, not physical death. The opposite is also true. If we live according to the Spirit—that is, if by him we "put to death the deeds of the body"—we shall live in the spiritual sense. Once again, as he did so frequently, Paul stressed the inextricable link between justification and sanctification. Paul clearly taught that we're saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), but he also stressed that we're to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), that is, without presuming on the grace of God.