This fact, that the true Christian believer is, through God’s grace, dead to sin, is stated repeatedly throughout the New Testament.
“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him [Christ], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed [or justified] from sin.” (Rom. 6:6-7)
The meaning here is plain: for each person who has accepted the atoning death of Christ on his behalf, the old man – the corrupt, sinful nature – is crucified; the body of sin has been done away with; through death, that person has been freed (or justified) from sin. There is no longer any need to be the slave of sin.
A little later in the same chapter Paul repeats this teaching with renewed emphasis.
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts... For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Rom. 6:11-12,14)
Again, the meaning is plain: As Christians we are to reckon ourselves as dead to sin through the grace of God in Jesus Christ. As a result, there is no reason why sin should continue to exercise any control or dominion over us. Later in Romans Paul again states the same truth in the clearest and most emphatic way.
“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Rom. 8:10)
The words Paul uses, “if Christ is in you,” indicate that this truth applies to every true Christian believer in whose heart Christ dwells by faith. The double consequence of Christ’s indwelling the believer is:
- A death of the old carnal nature; “the body,” that is, the body of sin, is dead.
- A new life to righteousness through the operation of God’s Spirit – the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Thank You Lord that in Christ Jesus and through the truth of His substitute death on the cross I can legally be, and remain free from sin, and also from sickness, in Jesus' name! Amen.
