Kill Them! Colossians 3:5. Who would have thought that someone for whom Christ has died and given eternal life would struggle with these issues? That is why we are commanded to walk in the light, so those sins of the flesh do not control us, drag us down, or turn us away from the Lord into the power of deceitful flesh. There is truly only one proven way to handle the sins of the flesh: to put each one to death. None of these have a place in the life or the body of anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our future is in heaven, so we must put to death the sinful actions and desires of our unholy flesh. This verse mentions five specific sins, starting with outward sins and progressing to unseen attitudes and heart sins. Participating in these evil acts indirectly is possible through watching TV, using the Internet, or reading books and magazines.
Some of these actions breed hatred that leads to conflict. Each one grieves the Holy Spirit. Some of these terrible sins are hidden within us and known only to ourselves, while others are outward. Every one of them brings feelings of guilt. These sins, which can only be overcome through death, are all around us in this world. If we do not stay close to the Lord, they can affect us inwardly.
Fornication is the illegal sexual entry into another person's body. Uncleanness refers to any impurity in words, actions, and sights driven by immoral intent. Inordinate affections are passions in a sinful sense with unholy purposes. Evil concupiscence signifies impurity in thoughts and desires, which are the root of evil deeds. Covetousness is desiring what is not rightfully ours. It is considered idolatry because it represents rebellion against God's will. All of these sins are forms of self-love that our sinful flesh desires for its own pleasure.
Idolatry involves self-love in the desire to satisfy the lusts of the flesh, while self-worship seeks to fulfill the lusts of the mind. This list highlights the idolatry present in today’s world. The warning is given that believers can be prone to letting their minds run wild if they focus their affection on themselves instead of on things above.
I must never allow my eyes or mind to consider, dwell on, or think about these things. There is only one tactic I can find that helps me handle the consequences of those things. It is death to the flesh; “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin…” because we are alive in Christ. I must “mortify the deeds of the flesh,” kill them! Before they kill me! Anyone who has the Spirit of God inside and Christ as their life has the power to mortify these enemies.
Our Lord is coming, and how terrible it would be to be found engaging in any of these actions when He gives the shout for us to come up and meet Him in the air. May we never let anything claim our attention that was part of our old life and under God's wrath. Such things do not have control over a child of God, but if they are not “mortified,” they can still negatively influence those who let our minds and emotions be attracted.