The first step in our growth in
holiness is to reckon or count as true what is
indeed, true. God has taken us out of Adam and has
joined us to Jesus Christ. We have been transferred
from the reign of death to the kingdom of God. The
apostle Paul has given us one easy to understand and
easy to apply principle that says, “Count yourselves
dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”
(Romans 6:11, NIV). “Even so consider yourselves to
be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus”
(Romans 6:11, NASB 1995).
The basic fact in the mind of
Paul is the believer having died to sin. It is the
identity of the believer; he has died to sin. He
cannot live in sin.
This is the first exhortation
in the book of Romans. We really are dead to sin and
alive to God. It refers to a past event; because we
have died to sin, we are to count, consider, reckon,
constantly be counting upon this fact. Since this is
true about us we are transformed by the renewing of
our mind (Rom. 12:1-2). What you focus your mind on
will determine in a great manner what you will
become as a Christian. Use your mind as an
instrument of righteousness instead of a carnal
mindset.
Paul is saying this is who you
are “in Christ.” Be what you are to the glory of
God. Don’t try being who you are not; that is
hypocritical. Go ahead and reckon, count on, or
calculate on the great fact of who you are “in
Christ.”
Paul applies the great truth to
our dealing with sin. “Reckon” is in the imperative
position. We are not commanded to become dead to sin
and live to God. We are to welcome the facts and
reckon on what was obtained by virtue of our vital
union with Christ. Being “dead to sin” is the result
of the once-for-all decisive event of having died to
sin by union with Christ in the efficacy of His
death.
The death and resurrection of
Christ has eternally changed our position with God
and we therefore should live in harmony with that
new position with Him.
The present tense in the Greek
and the context points to a continuing process. This
is a reality that goes on throughout the Christian
life. It is a fact and it changes not.
The apostle Paul is stressing
that the believer is to take seriously his death
with Christ (Rom. 6:8) and Christ’s death to sin
(Rom. 6:10). Since Christ died to sin and since the
believer is dead with Christ, the believer is dead
to sin and is to recognize the fact of that death.
Paul says the believer is to
count himself as dead to it. He feels temptation and
sometimes he sins. The sin of the believer is quite
out of character. He has been set free. He is like
dead person. Where sin is concerned he is among the
dead. Just like the dead person he has been
delivered from its dominion. Death is permanent.
Once united to Christ he must count himself as dead
to the sin forever.
The Christian is to reckon also
that he is alive to God. His life has now taken on a
different direction; it is directed to the service
of God.
The believer is “in Christ”
denoting a living relationship that unites him to
his Lord. We have an intimate relationship with our
Savior. It is only as we are “in Christ” that we can
live to God. God always sees the believer “in
Christ.”
Because of this great fact Paul
writes, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your
mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not
go on presenting the members of your body to sin as
instruments of unrighteousness; but present
yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and
your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are
not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:12-14, NASB
1995).
Every mature Christian
struggles with sin every day (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1-2).
The more serious you are about your spiritual life
the more sensitive you are to the presence of sin in
your life. We are in a spiritual war and will be
until we see Jesus face to face in heaven. It is our
responsibility as believers to fight against sin. It
is easy to yield our bodies to the sinful nature,
but we have a choice. We live in these bodies of
flesh, but we are also “in Christ.” The “new man” or
new person in Christ will always abhor sin and long
for righteousness.
Sin is still a force to be
dealt with in the Christian life. It has its hold on
us through our physical bodies. The struggle with
sin is from within. It can control our bodies if we
yield to it. I can become a slave to the desires of
the flesh. It is possible for us to offer our bodies
to sin as instruments of wickedness, but we do not
have to.
The Holy Spirit works to
produce the holy character of Christ in the
believer. “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body
so that you obey its evil desires” (Rom. 6:12). We
do not have to yield to the reign of sin in our
bodies. There is now a new principle at work in us
because we are joined to Christ. “Christ in you, the
hope of glory.” We have His life and power available
to us. Jesus told His disciples, “I in you, and you
in Me.” That is the secret and the principle for
living above sin. We do not have to yield our bodies
to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin.
When the apostle Paul said, “Do
not offer” (Rom. 6:13) he is pointing to an end of
an activity. “Do not keep on presenting your members
to sin.” “Let not sin reign” is the imperative (Rom.
6:12). Sin does not have dominion over the believer;
therefore do not let it reign.
Moreover, it is not all
negative with Paul. He places the stress on the new
life in Christ. We can now offer our bodies as
instruments of righteousness. “Once and for all
present yourselves to God” (v. 13).
Now that you know who you are
“in Christ,” go ahead and act accordingly.
The believer has “died to sin,”
but he is not dead; he is alive in Christ. Present
“your members” to God “as instruments of
righteousness.” Now that you belong to God use your
body for God’s purposes and glory.
Believers are not slaves to
sin, the flesh and the devil! Jesus Christ is your
Master. We are to present ourselves to God as people
who have risen from the dead. We are to present
ourselves and our members in a once for all
commitment to Him.
One of the things I have found
so beneficial in my personal growth and in helping
other believers is to make a once-for-all commitment
of your life to Christ and then to begin each day
with a renewed commitment of that day to Him. “Lord
Jesus I commit this day to you. Here is my life;
take it and live Your live in and through me. I make
myself available to You to do as you please in and
through me this day. In Jesus name I pray.”
Romans 6:1-25; 12:1-2;
1. What you focus your mind on
will determine in a great manner what you will
become as a Christian.
2. The believer has a new
identity. He has died to sin and can no longer live
in sin. He is alive in Christ.
3. Count yourselves dead to sin
but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
4. Use your mind and body as an
instrument of righteousness.
5. Realize your position in
Christ and act accordingly.
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
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