Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:11
Paul’s use of “likewise” is to show that what has been presented is now what is expected. Let’s take a moment to go back and read 6:8 through 6:10 to understand our “likewise” and thus what is now anticipated for us –
“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.”
Because of this beautiful train of thought which reveals what occurred in Christ, and because it occurred in us when we received Him, then the instruction is to “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin.”
Here it is in a simple-to-follow format:
1) We died with Christ; (6:8)
2) Death no longer has dominion over Him; (6:9)
3) His death that He died was “to sin once for all”; (6:10)
4) Therefore, we died to sin; now let us reckon that it is so. (6:11)
This is the logical progression that Paul is showing us. The law, by which sin is known to be sin, is fulfilled in Christ. It was nailed to the tree in His body. Therefore, because the law has no power over us, we are free from the law and can now “live to God” just as Christ lives to God.
But more specifically, we are alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We have moved from being “in Adam” to being “in Christ.” The move is complete and therefore we are no longer bound to the sin-nature.
The amazing beauty of what God has done in Christ is not to be underestimated. This plan which was conceived in the mind of God before the foundation of the world, is revealed in the Person of Jesus. Nothing is missed, nothing has been forgotten or overlooked. It is perfect in how it deals with our sin, both inherited and committed, and it is complete in and of itself. There is nothing we can add to it and there is nothing that can cause us to lose what transpires.
Life application: God has sent His Son into the world to accomplish for us the victory over sin that we need to be reconciled to Him. How could we add to what He has done? How could we presume that His work is somehow deficient or insufficient to either save us or keep us saved? Have faith that God is fully capable of accomplishing your salvation, from beginning to end.
Heavenly Father, Your word shows that You have done all that is necessary to bring about salvation for Your people through Your Son. I know that I can add nothing to this and so I receive His work, by faith. Strengthen me in my times of weakness and remind me that I stand justified, free, and forgiven of all my failings. Thank You for the full and unmerited pardon which came at such a high cost. Amen.