You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
12 Let [basileuo] not [me] sin [hamartia] therefore [oun] reign [basileuo] in [en] your [humon] mortal [thnetos] body [soma], that [eis] ye should obey [hupakouo] it [autos] in [en] the lusts [epithumia] thereof [autos]. KJV-Interlinear
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ESV
The foundation of sin, exists within your mortal body, as stated here. That is the basis for the sin nature, that we all inherited from Adam’s original sin, when we were formed in the womb.
Remember the soul, is a separate entity, which houses your human life, which comes directly from God.
The physical body, houses your biological life, which is perpetuated by the human reproductive activities.
Because the body and soul are so obviously closely interconnected, the functions of the body can influence the functions of the soul.
This is a concept that is fundamentally obvious, but a lot of people don’t think of this interactive relationship, per se.
Of course the third component of your essence, comes into existence when you are saved, and that is your human spirit, which houses eternal life, which likewise comes directly from God.
But what is in view here in this verse, is the function of your body, or rather the function of the sin nature within your body, and its influence upon your soul.
The sin nature is in your physical self, and you cannot get away from it, or remove it.
When you have Bible doctrine in your soul, then you have a resource with which to combat the sin nature. However, if you do not have Bible doctrine in your soul, then the sin nature will reign in your life and rule over you.
The word for reign, basileuo, means to have dominion or to rule over you.
Without any other resource or ruler to the contrary, you are in effect a slave to the sin nature within your own body.
Salvation gives you a way out of that control, and fellowship, which is obtained by confession, separates you and isolates you from that sin nature control. And when you are in fellowship then the Holy Spirit assumes control rather than the sin nature.
Both of these spheres of control, are in effect spheres of influence.
The sin nature controls from sin, while the Holy Spirit controls from truth.
Your soul, which is the living you, will follow the sphere that has a greater influence. And the greater influence, of course, is the one you pay attention to.
Therefore the command, is to not let sin run your life. But rather let the spiritual side of your life be in control of your life.
And of course, that is the easiest thing to do, by simply confessing to God the Father on a regular basis, and pursuing your spiritual life through a daily Bible study.
These studies, are a part of the massive daily study web site at DailyBibeStudy.Org, that is easily accessible, and are written, so that you can come to Christ if you have not done so already, and therefore not be lost forever.
And if you have already believed in Christ, then these studies are written so you can learn and understand and grow in your spiritual life, so that you can come to the full knowledge of Christ, so that you can fulfill your meaning and purpose in life as God intended for you, and so you can qualify for a phenomenal eternal reward which you will have forever.
To ignore this opportunity to pursue a daily study means you will be incomplete, unfulfilled and you will lose out, big time.
The Daily Bible Study is online, making it possible as never before in all of human history, to advance in ones relationship with God, through Christ, and to complete yourself beyond your imagination.
But you have to decide to make that commitment. No one else can study for you. You have to do that yourself.
