Key Verse: "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:11 KJV
Romans 5 ended with one of the most beautiful statements in Scripture: “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” But Paul knows that someone might misunderstand that truth. If God's grace is greater than our sin, does that mean we can simply continue living in sin? Paul's answer is immediate: “God forbid.”
Grace is not permission to remain enslaved to the very sin from which Christ came to save us. When we truly understand what Jesus has done, grace changes the direction of our lives.
Dead to Sin
Paul tells believers to: “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” To be dead to sin does not mean that a Christian will never again experience temptation or commit a sin. Rather, it means that sin is no longer supposed to be our master.
Before salvation, we were separated from God and under the dominion of sin. But through Christ, something fundamental has changed. Our old life has been crucified with Him. We have been given a new position and a new direction.
Paul describes it as being “alive unto God.” That is the great contrast: Dead to sin. Alive to God.
Newness of Life
Romans 6:4 says: “Even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Christianity is not simply receiving forgiveness for yesterday. It is beginning a new life with Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus is not only the foundation of our future hope, but it also points to the new life God wants to produce in us now.
- Our priorities begin to change.
- Our desires begin to change.
- Our attitudes begin to change.
- The things we once accepted without concern may now trouble our conscience.
- The things we once ignored may now matter deeply to us.
Why? Because Christ is changing us from the inside.
Sin Shall Not Have Dominion
Paul gives us an encouraging promise: “For sin shall not have dominion over you.” Notice that Paul doesn't say temptation will never come.He says sin will not have dominion.
There is a difference.
- A believer can still be tempted.
- A believer can still stumble.
- A believer can still fail.
But sin no longer has the unquestioned right to rule. Through Christ, we can say no.
- We can turn away.
- We can repent.
- We can seek God's help.
- We can choose obedience.
The Christian life is not one of instant perfection. It is a life of increasing surrender to Christ.
Whom Will You Serve?
Paul later asks: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?” — Romans 6:16
Everyone serves something. We can yield ourselves to sin, or we can yield ourselves to God. The question is not whether we will serve. The question is whom we will serve.
Paul encourages believers to present themselves to God: “Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead.” — Romans 6:13
That is a wonderful picture of Christian surrender.
- We belong to God.
- Our minds belong to Him.
- Our bodies belong to Him.
- Our time belongs to Him.
- Our abilities belong to Him.
- Our future belongs to Him.
The End of Sin Is Death
Paul gives a sobering contrast: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
A wage is something earned. A gift is something given. Sin earns death. God gives eternal life. The gospel therefore gives us the greatest contrast imaginable:
- What sin earns: death.
- What God gives: eternal life through Jesus Christ.
- We could never earn the gift.
That is why it is grace.
Life Application
Today, consider what you are yielding to. Are there areas of your life where you have allowed sin to regain control?
- Don't simply say, “That's just the way I am.” Christ has made you new.
- Don't say, “I can't change.” God's grace is at work in you.
- Don't say, “I've failed too many times.” Get back up, repent, and continue following Christ.
Being dead to sin does not mean that you never stumble. It means that when you do stumble, you don't make peace with sin. You return to Christ.
- You ask for forgiveness.
- You seek His strength.
- And you continue walking in newness of life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving me new life through Jesus Christ. Help me understand what it means to be dead to sin and alive to you.
When temptation comes, give me strength to resist it. When I fail, help me repent quickly and return to you instead of becoming discouraged.
Keep sin from becoming the master of my life. Help me surrender my thoughts, words, actions, time, and desires to you.
Thank you that I am not trapped in my old life. Through Christ, I can walk in newness of life. Help me live each day in a way that honors Jesus.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
