Count Yourselves Dead To Sin Series

Do you have a strategy for your struggle against sin? There are FOUR Key Verbs in Romans 6:11-13 that describe for us the manner in which we are to overcome temptation. These four keys will unlock your potential to experience the victory Christ promised in overcoming sin.

Paul introduces a MILITARY concept. In Romans 6:13 we see the words, “instruments of wickedness.” This word “instruments” is better translated weapons.

In Romans 7:23 "but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members."

We are at war and we need spiritual weapons! We need a strategy to win the battle of temptation. Do you have a strategy for your struggle against sin?

The strategy is outlined in FOUR Key Verbs in Romans 6:11-13

The FIRST ver is found in Romans 6:11. Recognize Your New Life in Christ.

The Verb is “logidzomai.” In the NIV it is translated, “count yourself.” In the KJV it is “reckon.” It means that we are to have a change in THINKING.

Logidzomia is used 41 x in NT, 19 x in Romans. It means “To count something or take it into account.” One of those usages is found in Romans 4:3 "What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” The word “credited” is the same word. Abraham’s disposition toward God was changed because of Abraham’s faith.

Have you ACCEPTED the CHANGE God accomplished in you?

Illus - “The LION KING.” Simba turns away from his BIRTHRIGHT. He returns to Pride Rock and ASSERTS the Rights that belonged to Him

We must “take into account” the FACT that we are dead to sin.

Christ’s Victory over Death is our Example/ Pattern. The way that we “reckon” our death to sin is “In the same way” that Christ conquered death!” (Rom 6:8-10).

Paul doesn’t just tell us to have faith without describing the content of that faith.

The only way that we can do this is through FAITH. In Romans 6:8, Paul writes, “now if we believe. . .”

Romans 6:9 = KNOWLEDGE (for we know. . .)

Romans 6:11= ACTION (In the same way. . .)

PRACTICALLY, We must live in accordance to the status that we have been given.

Illus - Before days of airline travel. . . Man saves for many years to purchase his passage to America. . . . He packs his few possessions and some biscuits and jerky for the long voyage to America. . . He is HAPPY to be on board. . . He looks with envy at the fancy meals that the other, more wealthy passengers eat, but he contents himself with his biscuits and jerky. A day before reaching port, a steward notices this man eating his biscuits while the other passengers are enjoying their dining room meal. “But sir, when you purchased your passage, all was included. You’ve been eating biscuits when you could have been eating wonderfully prepared meals!”

Now we come to the SECOND VERB in our strategy against sin. Present Your Life to God in Complete Surrender. Rom 6:13b

This is the MAIN verb of the text. It is the Greek word paristhami. It is used 41 x in NT. 8x in Romans. It means to place beside. “Put yourself at God’s disposal” (BAGD)

This is in the POSITIVE

This is in the SECOND PERSON PLURAL (a command)

This is in the AORIST (a one time action) and means to SURRENDER your life COMPLETELY to God

Here we are talking about something theologians call progressive sanctification. As believers, God intends and has provided that we are growing closer to him. We are destined for this (Romans 8:28-30). But what happens when this is not our experience? This is a theological difficulty: Christians whose growth is stunted.

For MOST OF US, there comes a time of DECISION. A time in our lives when we unlock allo of the doors of our life to the Lord. NO ROOMS are left unopened.

In the short booklet “My heart, Christ’s Home,” Robert Boyd Munger describes our lives as a home, and Christ as our special guest. We are eager to allow Christ to see the Living Room, and Kitchen, but he longs to go to the closed in the basement. We want to keep certain parts of our lives hidden from the Lord, but he is not truly Lord of the house until he has complete and unfettered access. It is then that we know that our lives are completely his.

The BARRIERS can be

An unyielded spirit

An unrecognized weakness

An unrepented sin

An uncontrolled habit

An unforgiving attitude

An unhealed wound

A fear that COMPLETE surrender will limit your happiness.