Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

For the past several days we have been discussing the old man and the new man. Every born-again believer in Christ wants to be the new man. We want to please God and live Righteous lives. In order to do this we must offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1)

 

When we do this, we understand that we cannot bring about the needed changes in ourselves. We also understand that Jesus paid the price for all this on the Cross. There is not a sin He did not die for. In order to live for Christ, we must die to sin. Just as Jesus willingly went to the Cross, we must willingly lay ourselves on God’s Altar as a living sacrifice.

 

We can’t sacrifice one arm or one leg. Nor can we sacrifice one ear, one eye, or one hand. This is an all-or-nothing sacrifice on our part. God wants all of us. He has Gifted us and Called us into His Kingdom to be used in unique ways but we must be totally sold out to Him.

 

The Apostle Paul said it like this. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:11) The word reckon is the key word in this Passage of Scripture. It means to come to a conclusion about something and really believe it to be true. To reckon something to be true is to have considered all the facts and then come to a conclusion based on those facts.

 

In a court of law, the judge will hear all the evidence on both sides and then reckon the plaintiff to be guilty or not guilty. For a person to be Saved and born again, they must consider the evidence about the Life, Crucifixion, Burial, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ and deem it all to be true. When they do this they can then willingly reckon themselves dead to sin and alive to God and make Jesus their Lord and Savior.

 

He is our Lord and Savior because of what He did for us on the Cross of Calvary. He gave His Life so we can die to self and live in Him. But, we must willingly die to ourselves. God will not force us to do anything. He will continue to reach out to us and show us great and marvelous things but He will not force anyone to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. This is a personal decision everyone must make for themselves.

 

Lee Strobel wrote a wonderful book titled “A Case For Christ.” He was an atheist attorney who set out to prove everything about Jesus to be false. The more he studied and considered the evidence, the more he reckoned it all to be true and he got saved himself. In his book, he lays out all the evidence and an untold number of people who have read it have also given their hearts to the Lord.

 

Given the facts, what do you reckon to be true? Time is short. Consider the facts. When you do, you too will reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

 

Jesus Christ will……..….turn the tide...........in this world!

 

I reckon myself dead to sin and alive in Christ.         Doreen

 

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