Dead to Sin
"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 law, but under grace." Romans 6:11-14
When Paul wrote these verses under the power of the Holy Spirit, he tells us that we should be dead to sin. What does that mean? He elaborates on this as he tells us not to let sin reign (or rule) in our bodies. To let sin reign, would mean to let it have control over you so that you are walking in the flesh as opposed to walking in the Spirit. My friend, you and I are still human, so we are going to sin, however, this should not be habitual or rather, it should not be a daily practice that we do. God has freed us from everything that once held us captive by the precious blood of Christ. He has also given us His Spirit which He placed within us the day we were saved to give us the power to live a godly life. Friend, we cannot do this on our own, in our own strength. Paul even said. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18) He is basically telling us that he knows he cannot do this without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Our flesh wants to do evil and it even tries to pull us back into the sin that once held us in bondage. The world with its influence, will try to pull you away from God, to entice you into the temporary pleasure of the here and now whether it is the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. satan will do anything he can to take your eyes off of Jesus. He seeks to kill, steal and destroy your family, your marriage, your relationships and your testimony. It is important for you to always remember who you are in Christ. You are righteous, you are holy, you are dearly loved and you are set apart. We can now be a slave to righteousness. Remember how you used to "offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness-which reaped no benefit at the time only to make you ashamed, but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:19-22)
Being a slave to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, means that we are free to carry out His desires and His will. We are free from all condemnation. We are free to be the man or woman that God created us to be. Being slave to a master is defined as "a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another- bondservant;a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person." God has bought us with a price and we are no longer our own. The very least you and I can do for all our Lord has done for us is to honor Him with our bodies. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body." (1Corinthians 6:19-20)
Now, I am not saying that this is easy, or that it will come naturally for us. It is in our human nature to seek after things that please us; we are selfish beings. That is why we must stay in God's word daily and spend time with other believers so that we can be encouraged and strengthened. God's word will bring truth and revelation into our hearts and minds so that we can continue to fight the good fight of faith. Remember, my friend, this world we live in is not our home. It is only temporary. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body." (Philippians 3:20-21) We must keep that truth in the forefront of our minds and know that everything we do for our Lord is not in vain. "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm (because God has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ). Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
God has put His seal of ownership on you and me and has anointed us, guaranteeing what is to come. He is the One who makes you and me stand firm in Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:21)
Thank God today for what He has done in your life and also what He is going to do. I pray "God fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:9-14)
When Paul wrote these verses under the power of the Holy Spirit, he tells us that we should be dead to sin. What does that mean? He elaborates on this as he tells us not to let sin reign (or rule) in our bodies. To let sin reign, would mean to let it have control over you so that you are walking in the flesh as opposed to walking in the Spirit. My friend, you and I are still human, so we are going to sin, however, this should not be habitual or rather, it should not be a daily practice that we do. God has freed us from everything that once held us captive by the precious blood of Christ. He has also given us His Spirit which He placed within us the day we were saved to give us the power to live a godly life. Friend, we cannot do this on our own, in our own strength. Paul even said. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18) He is basically telling us that he knows he cannot do this without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Our flesh wants to do evil and it even tries to pull us back into the sin that once held us in bondage. The world with its influence, will try to pull you away from God, to entice you into the temporary pleasure of the here and now whether it is the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. satan will do anything he can to take your eyes off of Jesus. He seeks to kill, steal and destroy your family, your marriage, your relationships and your testimony. It is important for you to always remember who you are in Christ. You are righteous, you are holy, you are dearly loved and you are set apart. We can now be a slave to righteousness. Remember how you used to "offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness-which reaped no benefit at the time only to make you ashamed, but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:19-22)
Being a slave to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, means that we are free to carry out His desires and His will. We are free from all condemnation. We are free to be the man or woman that God created us to be. Being slave to a master is defined as "a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another- bondservant;a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person." God has bought us with a price and we are no longer our own. The very least you and I can do for all our Lord has done for us is to honor Him with our bodies. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body." (1Corinthians 6:19-20)
Now, I am not saying that this is easy, or that it will come naturally for us. It is in our human nature to seek after things that please us; we are selfish beings. That is why we must stay in God's word daily and spend time with other believers so that we can be encouraged and strengthened. God's word will bring truth and revelation into our hearts and minds so that we can continue to fight the good fight of faith. Remember, my friend, this world we live in is not our home. It is only temporary. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body." (Philippians 3:20-21) We must keep that truth in the forefront of our minds and know that everything we do for our Lord is not in vain. "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm (because God has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ). Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
God has put His seal of ownership on you and me and has anointed us, guaranteeing what is to come. He is the One who makes you and me stand firm in Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:21)
Thank God today for what He has done in your life and also what He is going to do. I pray "God fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:9-14)
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