November 29, 2008

Reckon Yourselves Dead To Sin

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For [the death] that He died, He died to sin once for all; but [the life] that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God.” (Romans 6:8-13 NKJV)

Christ died to sin once and for all. However, He lives to God. This is how we are to live also. This is contrary to our flesh so Paul tells us what is required for success.

We must reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. It’s a command with a personal interest attached. We are to do this for our own good. Our condition is one of power and potential. We are dead to sin and alive to Christ if we are His. However, we also need to walk in that by faith.

We do that by not doubting God’s sincerity towards us, and by not allowing sin to reign in our bodies. We are to be holy, and we are to believe that we may be because of what Christ has done.

We are to present our members as instruments of righteousness to God and not to sin. Members literally refer to parts of the human body. Therefore, he is telling us to keep ourselves from fleshly sins. As Paul appeals to the new man, we are to put off the old man with its lusts and put on the new in holiness by faith.

Why wouldn’t we want to be free of that wickedness that kills? Surely, every true believer desires holiness. Without a hunger and thirst for righteousness, can a person say the Holy Spirit lives within their heart?

Who moves into a new house without their furniture? Every person moves into a new house and immediately begins to make it reflect their tastes and styles. Praise God that He does the same when He moves into our heart. He begins to arrange things in such a way that it has His mark of holiness.

Therefore, we must not resist Him with doubt or wayward living. Yield to Him and He will accomplish what He intends. Don’t yield and He will accomplish His will at your expense. He will chasten His children and judge outsiders.

When God saves, He infuses the power of His Spirit into your heart. Reckon that to be true and you will have good success. He does not wave a magic wand, but waits for you to yield to Him. Trust Jesus with your life for there is no other name by which we may be saved. Amen