Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Paul juxtaposes the consequences of two paths: the path of the flesh leads to death (not merely physical but spiritual), while Spirit-led mortification yields life. “Mortify the deeds of the body” means putting to death sinful practices—things that align with the old self and enslave the believer. It requires intentional spiritual discipline and dependence on the Spirit.
Mortification marks sanctification’s active dimension. It’s not passive safety; it is the Spirit’s power enabling believers to resist sin’s allure and to cultivate righteousness. The verse demonstrates the synergy between God’s grace and human responsibility: God provides the Spirit; believers cooperate by killing sin.
Concrete steps: identify recurring sins or habits you know God hates, confess, seek accountability, and replace those patterns with Spirit-empowered alternatives—careful speech, patient temper, generous living. Practice “mortification” through small, consistent choices: choosing truth-telling over gossip, stepping back from anger to cool down, or choosing rest instead of overwork that fosters pride.
Cross-References: Colossians 3:5-10; Galatians 5:16-24; Romans 13:12-14; Ephesians 4:22-24