“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 6:11 NKJV)
God acted, perhaps christian understanding is this simple. God is acting, perhaps Christian theology is this simple. That which I could not do for myself, undo my sin; He did for me (God acted). That which I cannot do for myself, be a good man: He is working in me (God is acting). What a wonder it is to be alive in His grace!
Reckon yourselves dead indeed to sin… Jesus has conquered the penalty of sin: death. Here death can take a new meaning, death to our sin or death to our past. God acted by forgiving us. Reckon yourselves… alive to God. He has shown Himself to be faithful and He gives us the Spirit as a guide. Joyfully and painfully we are made His.
Here is the BUT. No one tell you what this all looks like. No one tell you what feelings you should have. No one can offer you a Facebook article or journaling plan or a 6 week series that will move this mountain. While often useful, I fear these things often become the tether which prevents our leap of faith.
We know very well that the desire to sin must be battled daily and we know that the Bible gives us direction for the work we must be about. Still there is an unknowableness to who we, as new creations in Christ, will be. There is a profound, I would say Grand, mystery of how being alive to God will be articulated in each of us. Ultimately we must reckon that God is faithful and free to work His clay. Ultimately we must reckon that His glory is the only good and He will demonstrate it.
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