Putting Sin to Death | The RAM Blog

Today, I am trying something a little different. This is the first ever RAM Blog. Its purpose is for me to share some personal thoughts I have on the subject of Christianity, Biblical studies, and culture in general. Whether this series will continue or not is yet to be determined.

What I wanted to talk about today is something that has come up in my personal Bible study. It comes from Romans 13:14 which says “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” I have been pondering on the phrase “make no provision”. I have been asking myself, “What does this mean and how do I live this out?”

The Greek word is “pronoia.” It is used one other time in Scripture (Acts 24:2), and it is translated as foresight in the ESV and NASB20. So when the passage says to make no provision or foresight to gratify the desires of the flesh, Paul is saying we should not actionably take part, whether mentally or physically, in any amount of our sinful desires. (Note: The flesh in this case is referring to our sinful nature rather than our earthly body.) 

We see in other places in Scripture this radical and extreme casting away of sin. 

Romans 8:13 says “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.” 

Matthew 5:29-30 says “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

Now, Jesus is not suggesting bodily mutilation in the Matthew passage, but both Paul and Jesus are making the point that we must take extreme measures against sinful desires. Of course, we are not saved through our good works as Titus 3:5-7 testifies:

“5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

But, as a result of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to starve the flesh and live in the Spirit. However, the problem is we fall into the trap that Romans 6 addresses.

Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

Instead of fleeing our sinful desires, we let them hang around, just more discreetly. They are not always visible, but deep down inside, we hold onto them. Sometimes we are surprised by our sinful actions, whether it be pride, anger, bitterness, lust, deceit, etc. Yet these sins don’t just “happen.” They are the result of premeditated sinful desires that were never completely discarded. 

At the end of the day, we will always be fighting against the flesh while in this world. But don’t be discouraged! The war has already been won on the cross! The debt has already been paid! The victory is already won! All we must do now is choose to live in the victory we already possess! And even though we may fall, we can immediately repent and cast our gaze back on Christ, and once again live this newness of life!

Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”

I hope this blog was an encouragement for you! If you want, I would appreciate feedback on if this series is something that you would like to continue. I really appreciate all of you who have supported Ram Productions Ministries, and I am looking forward to the new content coming out here soon! Soli Deo Gloria!