Dead to Sin

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Theologically speaking, we are dead to sin. Practically speaking, it seems alive and well among us. Thinking through the areas of disobedience that you plan to address, how are we supposed to put those sins to death?

Putting sin to death is essential for the Christian life. We must war against the things that attempt to disarm our Christian integrity and vitality. While we know we cannot be perfect, we cannot be lazy in confronting sin. We do not continue to sin so that we can experience grace more.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:1-2

We don’t keep sinning carelessly because we know of God’s grace. We must work hard to fight sin because of His lavish grace. Our identification with Christ’s death on the cross means that the sin he paid for should remain dead to us. The world has been crucified to us, and we to the world.

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

Galatians 6:14

We don’t have to go on living by the things of the world. We have died to them. Sin should no longer have commanding control over us.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6:12-14

Paul provided both things to do and not to do. What are they?

  1. Do make your bodies do righteous things. Do present your lives to God.
  2. Don’t let sin reign. Don’t let sin have dominion over you.

While you will continue to struggle with sin, you should not surrender to sin. It no longer has dominion over you (Rom. 6:14). Stop obeying its passions.

Pray about your distinct areas of disobedience that you need to combat. Pray that God would give you the strength to confront your sin. Ask God to show you how to use your life to replace unrighteous deeds with righteous opportunities.