“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11 ESV).
The apostle Paul turns from teaching to exhortation in this verse. After explaining that we have died with Christ and been raised with Him, Paul calls us to consider this spiritual reality to be true of ourselves. This word, “consider” (logizomai), means to count it as fact, something already done. We don’t make ourselves dead to sin, nor do we raise ourselves to new life. God has already done this for us in Christ. Our part is to believe and walk in that truth. We’re no longer defined by our past, by our sins, or by our struggles. We are in Christ, dead to sin and alive to God.
We often struggle because we forget who we are. Sin calls to us like an old master, but we are no longer under its rule. The grave clothes of our old life may call to us, but they don’t cling to us anymore. In Christ, we have been raised to walk in newness of life. Let us not strive to earn what Christ has already secured. Instead, let us daily reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. When temptation comes, let us say: “I am dead to that. That is no longer who I am.” And when we feel weak, let us answer Christ’s call to take off the grave clothes of our old life. Like Lazarus, let us arise and come forth! And put on our new clothes of righteousness in Christ Jesus and truly live!
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for uniting us with Christ in His death and resurrection. Help us to truly consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to You. By the power of Your Spirit, strip off the grave clothes of our old life and clothe us in the righteousness of Jesus. Teach us to live each day as those who belong to You. May we walk in freedom, in holiness, and in joyful obedience, because we are alive in Christ. In His Name we pray, amen.