Dead to Sin. Alive to God.
Thinking about Romans 6:10-11.
For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:10-11)
Paul points us to the death and life of Jesus Christ to emphasize that Christians must not continue in sin that grace may abound (Romans 6:1-2).
The Death and Life of Christ.
The death and life of our Lord Jesus Christ paint a powerful picture for the child of God.
What is the logical consequence of the teachings of Paul? It is that saints should wallow in sin in order to give grace a chance to “show off” to God’s glory? Certainly not! The saints had entered into Christ’s death. And what kind of death was that death? 1) It was a sin-destroying death, and 2) It was a once-for-all severing-from-sin death. - McGuiggan, Romans, 193
The death of Jesus Christ was “once for all.”
His sacrifice was a one-time sacrifice that accomplished everything it needed to accomplish. His sacrifice is far superior to the sacrifices offered under the old covenant.
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. (Hebrews 7:26-27)
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:24-28)
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:11-14)
As a result of Christ’s sacrifice, the animal sacrifices under the Law of Moses are no longer necessary - because now His sacrifice takes away sin (Hebrews 10:1-4). That first covenant has been taken away, and the new covenant put in its place (Hebrews 10:5-10).
Not only did Christ die a “once-for-all” death to sin (not His sin, but our sin), but He lives His life to God.
Those who died with Christ share the life Christ lives. That is the logical end of their dying with him. Therefore, their lives must be lived continually unto God. - McGuiggan, Romans, 193
So, having been immersed into the death of Christ and raised up to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4) - how should Christians live?
The Death and Life of Christians.
The life which Christ “lives” (active voice, not passive) is energy directed toward God and not something (simply) received. So it is with the believer. He/she lives unto God rather than just enjoying life from God. - McGuiggan, Romans, 194
As those who have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised up to walk in newness of life - it’s not that we have merely received life from God (although we certainly have). We also have an obligation to live our new life “unto” God.
We don’t merely receive the blessings of God and then sit back and do nothing in return.
We must follow Christ’s example of dying to sin and living to God.
The logical conclusion then is, saints have died a death which aimed at destroying sin and severing the one who died from sin. If that be the case, how can they live in sin? - McGuiggan, Romans, 193
I'd like to ask a few questions as they 'come to me' for other's consideration and perhaps response?
To get 'a grip' on this topic, I'd like to begin by asking what PERSONAL SYNONYM would YOU give for
the word 'sin'? What OTHER word describes it, or says it 'for you'?
It certainly doesn't have to be, nor I'd say 'should it be' the same as mine at all. It depends on how
this word 'impacts' or 'resonates' with you.
Because I've been just so SAVED, in just SO very many WAYS, literally more than once, and in
many ways, and because it was 'do or die' for me upon conversion: do it, or don't ever do it,
and so, 'do it' meant AIM to go for it, to reach for it. Thus, this word 'sin' was a most vile,
filthy bloody, used up rag that smelled bad, and I wanted GONE, OUT of my life, whether it
was bad habits, bad ways.
I don't know how many of the 'sins' that the apostle Paul outlines are common for Christians:
they aren't common for me at all. But whatever would keep me from 'walking in the light',
from obeying the commands of the Lord, were 'sin' also, and those I had, those were
'filth within'. 'Rot within'.
If I'm DEAD to sin, then I am ALIVE to God. To that DEGREE I am really dead to sin, I am
REALLY Alive to God. And then God can reach me, have me be part of His team.
However He wants, in whatever way is best.
I have never, (to my knowledge) LIKED ...Sin. Porn, gambling, sex perversions, 'looking',
'money', 'things'....yes, I have SOME sin there because I bought too many things I couldn't
use, was in 'fantasy' about how I might use them, without realizing how much WORK they
were. I continue in 'godly sorrow' about this type of 'lust' where these things were on
'a big sale'. So what? I've been coming now for years to 'so what'.
So, then, what are other words for 'sin' to you? To get an idea of what they mean?
I happen to think that regularly overindulging in anything that CAN be bad for a person
is also SIN, but others may not see it this way.
I tend to see 'sin' as a 'curse' because doesn't it end up cursing us?
Nothing sinful can be part of the body of Christ.
I'm quite excited about that.
I remember a Christian friend of mine who looked forward to 'heaven' (she called
it that), when she said she wouldn't have 'another sinful thought'.
That is a very lovely picture, is it not?