Living in the Reality of Christ's Resurrection

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Definitive Break from Sin

Christ's death and resurrection signify a complete and final break from the realm of sin and death. His resurrection is God's affirmation of the fulfillment of the law and the completion of the work of salvation. This truth is foundational for understanding our own relationship to sin. Christ's resurrection is not merely a historical event but a spiritual reality that impacts our lives as believers. It signifies God's satisfaction with Christ's redemptive work, affirming that the law has been fulfilled. As the last Adam, Christ completed the work of salvation once and for all. His current existence is entirely in the realm of God, living unto God, which signifies a life of unbroken communion and glory with the Father. This is the state we are called to reckon ourselves into, as Paul urges us in Romans 6:11. [02:10]

"For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God." (Romans 6:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel trapped by sin? How can you invite the truth of Christ's definitive break from sin into that area today?

Day 2: Our Union with Christ's Victory

Our union with Christ means that His victory over sin and death is also ours. We are called to reckon ourselves dead to sin, not as a psychological exercise, but as a recognition of a spiritual reality that has been accomplished through Christ. This union signifies that what is true of Christ is true of us. We are no longer in the realm of sin and death but have been transferred into the realm of God's glory and life. This understanding is foundational for living a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. It is not about striving to achieve this state but about accepting and living out the truth of what has already been accomplished. As we grasp this reality, it transforms our perspective and empowers us to live in the freedom and victory that Christ has secured. [26:19]

"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." (Romans 6:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively live out your union with Christ's victory over sin today? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of this truth?

Day 3: Reckoning Ourselves Dead to Sin

The call to "reckon" is about understanding our position in Christ, not about our experience or feelings. It is a call to live in the truth of what has already been accomplished for us, transforming our perspective and empowering us to live in freedom. This reckoning is not about eradicating sin from our lives but about recognizing that we are no longer under its dominion. Our identity is now rooted in the realm of God's glory and life. This teaching challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of our faith and to embrace the depth of what it means to be in Christ. It calls us to live out the implications of our union with Him, experiencing the transformative power of His resurrection in our daily lives. [29:46]

"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you remind yourself today that you are dead to sin and alive to God? What specific actions can you take to live out this truth in your daily routine?

Day 4: Alive Unto God

The distinction between being "dead to sin" and "alive to God" is crucial. It is not about eradicating sin from our lives but about recognizing that we are no longer under its dominion. Our identity is now rooted in the realm of God's glory and life. This understanding is foundational for living a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. It is not about striving to achieve this state but about accepting and living out the truth of what has already been accomplished. As we grasp this reality, it transforms our perspective and empowers us to live in the freedom and victory that Christ has secured. [39:04]

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3, ESV)

Reflection: What does being "alive to God" mean for you personally? How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of this reality in your daily walk with Christ?

Day 5: Embracing the Depth of Our Union with Christ

This teaching challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of our faith and to embrace the depth of what it means to be in Christ. It calls us to live out the implications of our union with Him, experiencing the transformative power of His resurrection in our daily lives. This understanding is foundational for living a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. It is not about striving to achieve this state but about accepting and living out the truth of what has already been accomplished. As we grasp this reality, it transforms our perspective and empowers us to live in the freedom and victory that Christ has secured. [46:33]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you move beyond a superficial understanding of your faith today? What steps can you take to embrace the depth of your union with Christ and experience His transformative power in your life?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Romans 6:10-11, we delve into the profound truth of Christ's relationship to sin and how it applies to us. Christ's death was a singular, definitive act that severed His temporary connection to sin. He entered the realm of sin and death to redeem us, but His resurrection signifies His permanent return to the realm of God, free from sin's dominion. This transition is not just a historical event but a spiritual reality that impacts our lives as believers.

Christ's resurrection is God's declaration of satisfaction with His redemptive work, affirming that the law has been fulfilled. He is the last Adam, having completed the work of salvation once and for all. His current existence is entirely in the realm of God, living unto God, which signifies a life of unbroken communion and glory with the Father. This is the state we are called to reckon ourselves into, as Paul urges us in Romans 6:11.

The call to "reckon" ourselves dead to sin and alive to God is not about our experience or feelings but about recognizing a spiritual reality. It is a call to understand our position in Christ, who has already accomplished this for us. Our union with Christ means that what is true of Him is true of us. We are no longer in the realm of sin and death but have been transferred into the realm of God's glory and life.

This understanding is foundational for living a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. It is not about striving to achieve this state but about accepting and living out the truth of what has already been accomplished. As we grasp this reality, it transforms our perspective and empowers us to live in the freedom and victory that Christ has secured.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ's death and resurrection signify a complete and final break from the realm of sin and death. His resurrection is God's affirmation of the fulfillment of the law and the completion of the work of salvation. This truth is foundational for understanding our own relationship to sin. [02:10]
2. Our union with Christ means that His victory over sin and death is also ours. We are called to reckon ourselves dead to sin, not as a psychological exercise, but as a recognition of a spiritual reality that has been accomplished through Christ. [26:19]
3. The call to "reckon" is about understanding our position in Christ, not about our experience or feelings. It is a call to live in the truth of what has already been accomplished for us, transforming our perspective and empowering us to live in freedom. [29:46]
4. The distinction between being "dead to sin" and "alive to God" is crucial. It is not about eradicating sin from our lives but about recognizing that we are no longer under its dominion. Our identity is now rooted in the realm of God's glory and life. [39:04]
5. This teaching challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of our faith and to embrace the depth of what it means to be in Christ. It calls us to live out the implications of our union with Him, experiencing the transformative power of His resurrection in our daily lives. [46:33]
** [46:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Romans 6:10-11
[01:18] - Christ's Relationship to Sin
[02:10] - Resurrection as Fulfillment
[03:28] - Christ's First and Second Coming
[05:20] - Living Unto God
[07:26] - Contrast of Realms
[09:15] - Christ's Voluntary Humiliation
[12:17] - The Agony of the Cross
[14:26] - Restoration to Glory
[16:07] - Christ's Eternal Life
[18:49] - Application to Believers
[21:17] - Exhortation in Romans
[26:19] - Union with Christ
[29:46] - Reckoning Ourselves Dead to Sin
[39:04] - Alive Unto God
[46:33] - Conclusion and Prayer

Sermon Clips

"Christ's death was a singular, definitive act that severed His temporary connection to sin. He entered the realm of sin and death to redeem us, but His resurrection signifies His permanent return to the realm of God, free from sin's dominion. This transition is not just a historical event but a spiritual reality that impacts our lives as believers." [00:01:18]

"His resurrection is the great standing proof of that. God, in the resurrection of Christ, is announcing that He is satisfied with His work, that His law has been fulfilled. It is a great pronouncement, I say, to that effect. Very well, says Paul, when He died, He died unto sin once, once and forever." [00:02:10]

"Our union with Christ means that His victory over sin and death is also ours. We are called to reckon ourselves dead to sin, not as a psychological exercise, but as a recognition of a spiritual reality that has been accomplished through Christ." [00:26:19]

"The call to 'reckon' is about understanding our position in Christ, not about our experience or feelings. It is a call to live in the truth of what has already been accomplished for us, transforming our perspective and empowering us to live in freedom." [00:29:46]

"The distinction between being 'dead to sin' and 'alive to God' is crucial. It is not about eradicating sin from our lives but about recognizing that we are no longer under its dominion. Our identity is now rooted in the realm of God's glory and life." [00:39:04]

"This teaching challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of our faith and to embrace the depth of what it means to be in Christ. It calls us to live out the implications of our union with Him, experiencing the transformative power of His resurrection in our daily lives." [00:46:33]

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now we come to a real turning point in this verse. Now at long last, we are coming to the realm of application." [00:21:17]

"Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ. What's it mean? Let me try and put it to you like this: there are three principles which we must bear in mind before we come to the details of the statement." [00:29:46]

"The Apostle is asserting that what is true of the Lord Jesus Christ is also in this respect true of us because we are joined to Him. Now we've seen how at length he's been proving that we are joined to Him." [00:26:19]

"Consider yourself to be what you are. That would be quite a good translation or a better one perhaps would be this: consider and keep before you that that idea is in it. You've got to go on Reckoning, consider and keep constantly before you this truth about yourself." [00:29:46]

"Reckon not something that we want to be true about ourselves but something that is true of ourselves. Reckon yourselves, he says, because of your union with Christ to be dead. Realize, he said, has concluded that you are already dead un sin because Christ is dead un sin." [00:46:33]

"I am to reckon something that is already a fact, and the fact is that because I am united to Christ and from the moment I became united to Him, I am already dead to sin, to the law, to death itself." [00:46:33]

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