Considering ourselves dead unto sin
and alive unto God
(During November 18-20, 2016, Ken Petty taught the above seminar.
The following are excerpts from this dynamic event)
◊ “We enter into God’s presence with boldness not on the basis of our performance but on the basis of Jesus
finished work.”
◊ For those who believe in Jesus Christ the day of reckoning is today. We are not awaiting the dreaded time of judgment. We have already been judged in Christ and thus will not come unto judgment.
John 5:24:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath eternal life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment); but is passed from death unto life.
The word “passed” means to go from one state (death) to another state (life). Jesus has already taken the penalty of sin upon himself. New rules now govern my behavior. Christ died for us so that we can now have a new life.
◊ Romans 6:11:
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The word “reckon” logizomai in the Greek, is in the imperative mood. This makes it the first command in the Book of Romans. Each day for us is the day of reckoning – reckoning ourselves dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Logizomai describes a process of reasoning rather than of being moved by our emotions.
I must conclude or reckon that I am acquitted from the guilt of sin and brought into right standing with God, not by my performance, but by having faith in Jesus Christ.
◊ Matthew 10:39:
He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sakes shall find it.
Only by losing my old life by reckoning myself dead unto sin can I really find my new life which is hid in
Christ at the right hand of God, by reckoning myself alive unto God.
On the basis of the testimony of God’s Word concerning the finished work of Jesus Christ and our identification with him, we reach the conclusion that we are once and for all dead to sin and forever out of any relationship with it. We are now living in unbroken relation to God in the same way that Jesus himself is. Today is our day of reckoning. We no longer seek the living among the dead. We cannot find our true life out in the world by going to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. That life is hid with Christ in God. We set our affection on things above rather than on the things of the world.
How Do You Reckon Yourself?
It Makes All The Difference In Your Walk in Christ
Man looks the world over to find himself. There are many books about his adventures to discover his destiny. Really, the only place man will truly find himself is in Christ Jesus.
God designed man to have a relationship with Him. That is why He started by creating man in His own image – spirit. Man having lost that spirit through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, needed redemption. Jesus Christ was the payment in full for bringing man back to the Heavenly Father. Man now has to respond to God’s direction in getting saved and coming to a knowledge of the truth.
In doing this he will reckon himself dead in Christ and alive in Christ. Now man can truly walk in the spirit with the love of God.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourself to be dead in deed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11).
“...much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift Of righteousness shall reign in life by One Jesus Christ.”
(Romans 5:17).