What Killing Sin Is

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16 (KJV)

So what does it actually look like to kill a sin? Owen says it has three parts.

The first is weakening it. Every sinful habit is like a strong pull in a certain direction. Owen describes sinful habits as impelling the heart “with violence”. Killing sin means that pull gets weaker over time, so that the sin doesn’t rise up as often, as strongly or as suddenly as it used to.

Owen also notices that some sins are stronger in some people than others. A sin can grow especially powerful when it fits our natural temperament, our way of life, or the situations we are often in. That is why your hardest battles may be different from your friend’s. That’s normal.

The second part is constant fighting. Owen says this includes knowing your enemy: understanding how a particular sin works in you, what triggers it, what excuses it uses. It also includes really wanting it gone, and loading it with the guilt it deserves instead of making excuses for it.

The third part is success. Owen says that with the Spirit’s help we can have frequent victories. Each time sin rises up and is stopped, it is weakened a bit more. Over time, he says, you can see real change, a sin that once controlled you losing its grip.

Notice that this is a process, not a single moment. It’s more like getting fit than flicking a switch. Some days you win, some days you lose, but over months and years, if you keep walking with the Spirit, you change.

And remember who is doing the work. Paul says: walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh. The more you are filled with the Spirit, praying, reading Scripture, worshipping, spending time with other Christians, the less room there is for sin.

One thing to do this week: pick the sin you want to fight. This week, write down three things: what usually triggers it, what excuse it usually gives you, and one way you can “walk in the Spirit” at that moment instead.