Consider Yourself Dead to Sin

We have already given too much of our lives doing things godless people do. It is time we consider ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:11). We were born in iniquity. Adam’s sin brought condemnation to us all (Romans 5:8), and before we complain that we should not be condemned for Adam’s transgression, let us be sure that we have done our part to fill our own lives with rebellion against God.

To prove humanity’s sinfulness, God gave us his law. He did not give it to save us. He gave it to show how sinful we are. The law came to increase the trespass (Romans 5:20). This means the law made us sin more. How did it do this? It worked all manner of covetousness within us (Romans 7:8). When God presents his law to sinful man, our sinful natures rise up in protest and revolt against it.

Here is a simple illustration of how this worked. There was once a beachfront hotel that was having trouble with people fishing off the balcony. The owners decided to put signs on every water-facing balcony telling people that fishing was prohibited. Did it fix the problem? No. Instead, more people started fishing. This increase in iniquity is what happened when the law was given. Along with showing us the standard of righteousness, God showed us how sinful we are.

However, when sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20), and God sent his Son, Jesus, so we could be saved through his death and resurrection. In the same way we can be condemned because of Adam’s sin, we can be declared righteous in Jesus’s perfect obedience (Romans 5:18). If we have been united with Christ in his death, we will be united with him in his resurrection (Romans 6:5).

Since we have died with him and have newness of life, we must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. (Romans 6:11). What was the fruit of all our sin anyway? All it produced was shame and death (Romans 6:21).

Therefore, no longer let sin reign in your mortal body. What does it mean for sin to reign in your body? It means you obey the sinful desires within you (Romans 6:12). Instead, present your body to God as an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:13).

If something controls us, we are slaves to it. We were once slaves of sin, but now we are to be slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18). Instead of the shame and death that accompanies sin, the fruit of righteousness is sanctification and eternal life (Romans 6:22). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, consider yourself dead to sin.

-D. Eaton