Holiness and Sanctification- Part 4

RECKONING OURSELVES DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD

“What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptised into His death? ... Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin ... Likewise you also, reckon yourself to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. ... For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:1-3,6,11,14)

This passage contains many important revelations and some important instructions. The truth is, Jesus has already paid for our total deliverance on the cross. We belong 100% to Him. Let us believe that.

The sinful nature which still resists God has been legally dealt with. God has no program for this sinful nature exceptcrucifixion. He does not want to educate it, to heal it, to accept it or to love it. It must be killed. It has been killed, legally, at the cross. Our old man was crucified with him.

Faith takes the Word of God and accepts it, even when the reason can’t fully grasp it. It is a revelation of major importance for our sanctification that Jesus has already provided the execution of our sinful nature. All we need to do is to consider it so.Reckon yourself to be dead indeed to sin.

What you think about yourself in relation to this determines the way you will be. Romans 6 is about overcoming sin and living for God through identification with Christ.

If I believe that through the cross I am dead to sin, that I am now a child of God, a child of love and that old things have passed away then all this will be increasingly manifested in my life.

If I don’t believe these things - if I look to my own reasoning, based on my past experiences and on Satan’s doubts, then I will fall into line with what I am believing about myself. God says that in Christ I have power over the evil one (1 John 4:4) and over temptation (1 Cor 10:13). If I believe that I have no power left to resist Satan or temptation, disregarding God’s word and looking to the negative things I feel or think, then I will fall into sin.

Let the thought that you are dead to sin grow in your mind and your thinking. All those temptations that come - think of them as coming to a dead man who cannot respond. You are in Christ and through faith in Him His resurrection power is keeping you safe (1 Peter 1:5).

We act according to what we think. If you think you are dead to sin you will act like you are dead to sin. It takes faith in God’s Word. We must consider that God’s word changes us NOW!

Remain blessed