As Christians, we not only have a As Christians, we not only have a new life, but we also have been new life, but we also have been freed from the bondage of sin. freed from the bondage of sin.

Jesus’ death made it possible for Jesus’ death made it possible for us to be free from sin’s control. us to be free from sin’s control.

It’s through Jesus that God sees us It’s through Jesus that God sees us now. In this way, we are “in” Jesus now. In this way, we are “in” Jesus Christ. We were also in Him when Christ. We were also in Him when He was crucified. Therefore, when He was crucified. Therefore, when we accepted Him as our Lord, we we accepted Him as our Lord, we

were liberated from our sinful were liberated from our sinful nature. We are now dead to sin nature. We are now dead to sin and able to enjoy the benefits of and able to enjoy the benefits of

our new life in Christ Jesus. our new life in Christ Jesus.

Rom. 6:1-3Rom. 6:1-3

““What shall we say then? Shall we continue in What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”death?”

We were all born into this We were all born into this world as sinners because of world as sinners because of

what Adam didwhat Adam did The only way out of our sin dilemma was The only way out of our sin dilemma was

through death.through death. ““And that he died for all, that they which live And that he died for all, that they which live

should not henceforth live unto themselves, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose but unto him which died for them, and rose again” again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).(2 Corinthians 5:15).

Now God deals with us through Jesus; Now God deals with us through Jesus; God God HimselfHimself has placed us in Jesus. has placed us in Jesus.

““But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).(1 Corinthians 1:30).

And as I may so say, Levi And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham”paid tithes in Abraham”

Heb. 7:9 Heb. 7:9 All of Israel and Levi All of Israel and Levi

were were in in Abraham (through his seed) Abraham (through his seed) at this time. In this context, at this time. In this context, whatever Abraham did, Israel and whatever Abraham did, Israel and Levi did also.Levi did also.

Likewise, in a similar manner, we were Likewise, in a similar manner, we were in Christ when He died. Therefore, in Christ when He died. Therefore, what He did, we have done. what He did, we have done. 

The “die-to-self” The “die-to-self” theology: theology:

The phrase “die-to-self” is not in the Bible!The phrase “die-to-self” is not in the Bible! This theology describes the notion that we are This theology describes the notion that we are

dirty, sinful people who must rid ourselves of sin dirty, sinful people who must rid ourselves of sin little by little.little by little.

However, we were crucified with Him. God never However, we were crucified with Him. God never requires us to crucify ourselves.requires us to crucify ourselves.

We have put off the old sinful nature (our old We have put off the old sinful nature (our old self).self).

““Lie not one another, seeing that ye have put off Lie not one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds”the old man with his deeds”(Col. 3:9). (Col. 3:9). 

Many Christians say they gave their life to Many Christians say they gave their life to Christ; however, we didn’t really have a life to ve. Christ; however, we didn’t really have a life to ve. Instead, Jesus gave us Instead, Jesus gave us His His life.life.

““I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”for me” (Gal. 2:20).  (Gal. 2:20). 

Many Christians don’t understand what Many Christians don’t understand what the phrase, “we are dead to sin” means. the phrase, “we are dead to sin” means.

We have been delivered from the We have been delivered from the bondage (or the prison) of sin (Rom. 6:6, bondage (or the prison) of sin (Rom. 6:6,

7) 7)

We no longer have to sin (or be involuntarily We no longer have to sin (or be involuntarily enslaved by sin). However, we can sin if we enslaved by sin). However, we can sin if we want to.want to.

We must reckon (give an absolute accounting We must reckon (give an absolute accounting of) the fact that we are dead to sin. This truth of) the fact that we are dead to sin. This truth must be real to us through our faith.must be real to us through our faith.

““Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord”Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). (Romans 6:11).

Faith is the substantiation of a past event; it’s Faith is the substantiation of a past event; it’s appropriating what has been made available to us appropriating what has been made available to us by His grace. by His grace. 

Why die (in Christ)? Why die (in Christ)?

We die to the Law of Moses so we can We die to the Law of Moses so we can live a new way (Gal. 2:19, Col. 2:20).live a new way (Gal. 2:19, Col. 2:20).

As born-again people, we have died to As born-again people, we have died to the power of sin so we can have a free the power of sin so we can have a free choice (Rom. 6:2-12).choice (Rom. 6:2-12).

We also died to be made new and to We also died to be made new and to have joint seating with Jesus Christ in have joint seating with Jesus Christ in the heavenly sphere. We have access the heavenly sphere. We have access to Heaven through Jesus (Eph. 2:5, to Heaven through Jesus (Eph. 2:5, 6, 6, AMPAMP).).