YOU ARE DEAD TO SIN

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Tunisia, in Northern Africa, where the once famous powerful city of Carthage (home of Hannibal and the elephants who attacked Rome) once ruled is home to 11 1/2 million people 99% of which are Muslim with less than 1% Christian, most of which are Roman Catholic, with less than 2,000 evangelical believers. Pray for this small church and its leaders in Tunisia.

MAP OF TUNISIA

 I have been spending many hours studying and reading on Romans 6. Understanding the teaching in this chapter is essential to the Christian's progress in holiness. Romans 6 is a powerful argument based on the truth of our union with the death and resurrection of Christ and the results of that union in our redeemed lives in relation to sin. I have found that the key to understanding this chapter is the realization that verses 1 to 11 are not declarations of our spiritual experience but declare our position before God in Christ. Verse 11 is the summary truth of our position before God, "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." This is a fact and upon the acceptance of this fact the experience of our response to sin begins as outlined in verses 12 to 23.
I once thought Romans 6.11 was a truth I had to force myself to reckon as true in my experience by concentrated faith and continued positive thinking. I had to make it true in my life in order to live a holy life. Now I know that verse 11 is who I am in Christ. I am dead to sin and alive to God as an irrevocable fact in the sight of God. Knowing who I am before God in Christ, I no longer need to allow sin to reign in my body and can offer my body in holy obedience to God which leads to righteousness, holiness and eternal life.
I would highly recommend Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones commentary on Romans 6 and 7 as essential reading for Christian growth.

As Christians we know very little about the teaching of our union with Christ and reflect very little on this wonderful truth which in turn minimizes our spiritual growth.
What fullness of life we have received by grace from our loving God in Christ.

Good Articles This Week:
Getting Unhitched from the Old Testament
What Christians and Pastors Can Learn From Jordan Peterson
Our Persecuted Brothers in India