In Christ - I am dead to sin

I am dead to sin...

Romans 6:1-4,17,18  What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 

Dr. R.C. Sproul once painted a fascinating picture of how "dead in sin" we are. He described the unbeliever as lying flat-dead-drowned on the bottom of a pool under six feet of water. The man is so dead he can't possibly hear the "good news" that a lifesaver is on the way. He can't respond. God is the Lifesaver who must reach down, pull the unbeliever out of the water, and breathe life into his dead body. Once quickened, the man happily recognizes his Savior, reaches up and embraces him. That's the Gospel.

SO – we were dead IN sin at our conversion – now it’s time to be dead TO sin.  Since Jesus has sacrificed His life so that we might live – REALLY live – “in Him” – our response should be that we live a life that is dead TO sin.  That’s a daily struggle – keeping our “old man” dead isn’t easy – even after over 35 years of walking with the Lord my flesh is still very much alive, and all too well.  I have to choose to crucify it daily – and I do so out of an act of obedient LOVE for all that my Savior has done for me!  How ‘bout you?  Are you dead TO sin – or dead IN sin?  If it’s the later that’s so easy to fix – Jesus died for you and wants you to spend eternity with Him!  Admit that you are a sinner by nature – incapable of living a righteous life – and ask Him to take over.  He will – and then He will continue the work of molding you into His image!  Sharon