(Romans 3:9) The power of sin.

Spiritual maturity is an inside-out process, not an outside-in process.

Too often, we think if we simply change our external behavior we will experience internal transformation, but we will not. As Romans 3:9 emphasizes, sin is not simply our wrong actions, it is an internal power.

In our fallen condition, we are internally dominated by the condition of sin.

The internal power of sin are passions, desires, and attractions that push (drive) us to live ungodly lives. Unless the power of sin within us is broken and overcome, then how we live will always go wrong.

The Bible is clear: Will-power and rules (trying to keep the law) can never break the power of sin dwelling within us. Because of the power of sin, the apostle Paul confessed that he did what he did not want to do. The Bible’s answer to the internal power of sin is the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we fully surrender ourselves and put our faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us (we are born-again), and his power breaks the distorted passions/desires of our hearts that were produced by the power of sin.

Once the Holy Spirit sets us free internally, our passions/desires begin to change. We now want to act and make decisions that will please God, not resist him. We begin to live in the freedom of the Holy Spirit. We are set free from quilt.

We are no longer trying to simply keep “Christian rules,” instead we want to obey God and please him. The key to growing in our faith is living daily in the freedom of the Holy Spirit.

As we walk freely in the Holy Spirit, the distorted sinful passions/desires in our lives that had become “habits of behavior” are broken and put to death. Christian maturity is a Holy Spirit inside-out process. If we focus on allowing the Holy Spirit to fully control our hearts, then our lifestyle will be transformed into the image of Christ.

Let’s open up our hearts every day to God’s presence, make it a lifestyle. Don’t try to overthink things, just tear up your list of rules and let the Holy Spirit do all the work.

This is what it means to allow the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.