“…count yourselves dead to sin…” Romans 6:11a

Another way to say the above phrase is, “…reckon yourselves dead to sin…”. Paul had described how every Believer identifies with Christ’s death through baptism (vv. 3 – 4a), and likewise, every Believer identifies with Christ’s resurrection by living one’s life intentionally – having the power to make good decisions for living holy and righteous lives. Paul explained that our old self – the body of sin – was done away with through Christ’s death, and that by one’s baptism, identifying with Christ’s death, one is no longer a slave to sin (that is, caught in the pattern of sin, the uninterrupted cycle of bad decisions).

Once one has understood this dynamic of identifying with Christ’s death, the Faith-walker must then allow faith to empower holy living. Paul articulated it this way:

“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

Paul’s explanation showed death’s permanence and Christ’s power over it. The reason Christ cannot die again is because He defeated death! Death has no power over The One Who rose again from the dead! The death Jesus died was the singular sacrifice that met all the demands of the law. Jesus died for the sins of all, so we can now reckon ourselves dead to sin, for Christ not only rose victorious over death, but also over sin. The power that rose Him from the dead is the same power given to every Believer to say no, to resist sin’s power, to interrupt the cycle of sin – a cycle that makes one believe he/she is powerless to resist.

Believer’s, then, are directed to offer the parts of their body as instruments of righteousness. With apostolic authority, Paul commanded Christians to not offer the parts of their body to sin. The Roman Christians knew all too well what he was referring to:

Ø  Hands are for building, farming, comfort, healing… not for tearing down, stealing, killing or satisfying one’s lusts;

Ø  Feet are for carrying the good news of Christ to others, for taking supplies and care to those in need, not for going to clandestine meetings, running from the law, or walking in a stealthful way to commit some evil;

Ø  The mind is for developing ways to glorify God through one’s life, not for becoming addicted to behaviors or drugs, or for devising evil;

Ø  In the same way, the parts of one’s body which are kept hidden should be used for the holy purpose of marriage and family, not to be prostituted or used to satisfy the lusts of the flesh.

Paul asserted that sin could no longer master one born again, for the Believer is under a new paradigm for living – that of living under grace, compelled by love and goodness. The law was good to expose sin, but is not needed when sin has died, for the life of righteousness is lived much higher than the demands of the law.

I was raised in the South. Many of the townspeople where I grew up used the expression, “I reckon I’ll…”, and they would tell of what he/she was about to do. Sometimes, the expression was phrased like this, “I reckon I’m just too…”, and then state his/her condition, conviction, or belief for performing or avoiding some action. When one “reckoned” to do something, it was an assertion of intentionality, an action from one’s will. If we take Paul’s inspired words to heart, we reckon ourselves dead to sin… we consider ourselves unresponsive to the temptations that have trapped us for so long in the same pattern(s) of sin. To many, this seems impossible, to others, it may take almost a lifetime to understand; but to all, Christ offers the power to overcome sin’s trap and live victorious lives.

So, today, COUNT YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN… think, “I’ll reckon I’ll turn my back on the temptation.”

And alive to Christ!