To mortify a sin means to subdue it, to deprive it of its power, to break the habit pattern we have developed of continually giving in to the temptation to that particular sin. The goal of mortification is to weaken the habits of sin so that we do make the right choices. – Bridges, Jerry; [...]
Archive for January, 2012
What Does It Mean To Mortify Sin?
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Mortify, Sin, Temptation on January 31, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
This Is Clearly Our Responsibility
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Colossians 3, Mortification, Responsibility, Romans 8 on January 30, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
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, “You put to death.” This is something we must do. It is not something we turn over to God. Rather it is our responsibility as Paul also emphasized in Colossians 3:5. [...]
What Happens When We Make Wrong Choices
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Habits, Obedience, Sin on January 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
What happens when we make wrong choices, when we choose to sin instead of obey God’s word? We train ourselves in the wrong direction. We reinforce the sinful habits we have already developed and allow them to gain greater strength in our souls. – Bridges, Jerry; The Disciplined of Grace:God’s Role and Our Role in [...]
This Involves a Series of Choices
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Christlike Character, Sin on January 26, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
In other words, the practice of putting off sinful attitudes and actions and putting on Christlike character involves a constant series of choices. We choose in every situation which direction we will go. It is through these choices that we develop Christlike habits of living. Habits are developed by repetition, and it is in the [...]
If We Truly Desire to Live by Grace…
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Convictions, God's Mercy, Grace, Holy, Romans 12, Sacrifice on January 26, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
We also need to keep in mind that the imperative in Romans 12:2 to be transformed immediately follows the imperative of verse 1, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him. The second exhortation, like the first, is based on the mercy of God. The discipline of developing Bible based convictions, [...]
What Happens When We Practice Spiritual Disciplines?
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Blood of Christ, God's Grace, God's Love, Righteousness, Sins on January 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
What does happen if we stumble or fall in the practice of these disciplines? First of all, God does not love us any less. His love for us is based solely on the fact that we are in union with His Son Jesus Christ. That is what the gospel is all about. Christ’s righteousness has [...]
The 1, 2, 3 of Developing Bible Based Convictions
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Convictions, Holy Spirit, Knowledge, Meditation on January 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
So it is through knowledge, plus meditation, plus application of the Scruptures to concrete situations in our daily lives that we develop Bible-based convictions. And, as we develop those convictions, we will be transformed by the Holy Spirit more and more into the likeness of Christ. – Bridges, Jerry; The Disciplined of Grace:God’s Role and [...]
Rather Ask the Holy Spirit to Teach You
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Doctrine, Holy Spirit, Knowledge, Mind of God, Scripture, Understanding on January 24, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
However knowledgeable about Scripture we may be, we need to approach it each day as little children, asking the Holy Spirit to teach us. Regardless of how much we already know and understand, there is still an infinite storehouse of understanding of the mind of God waiting for us in Scripture. My own experience, based [...]
The Mind is Renewed When…
Posted in Brown, John, tagged Holy Spirit, Transform, Truth on January 23, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
The mind is renewed when, under the influence of the Spirit, the truth is understood and believed, so as to displace the ignorance and error that previously prevailed. It is the truth, understood and believed, that purifies the heart from the love of the world; and, just in proportion as that truth is understood and [...]
The One Thing We Can Be Sure of…
Posted in Bridges, Jerry, tagged Culture, God's Word, Gratification, Influence, Materialism, Society on January 23, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
One thing we can be sure of: If we do not actively seek to come under the influence of God’s Word, we will come under the influence of sinful society around us. The impact of our culture with its heavy emphasis on materialism, living for one’s self, and instant gratification is simply too strong and [...]
