Reckon the Old Man Dead
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 6:11 NKJV - Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
OBSERVATION:
Paul asks two rhetorical questions in Romans Chapter Six. Both begin with the phrase “What then?” The first question follows the important truth of super-abounding grace:
Romans 6:1-2, NKJV - What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
The second question appears in verse 15:
Romans 6:15 NKJV - What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
These questions are still asked today. When people hear about super-abounding grace, many wonder whether it gives us license to sin. Paul’s answer is emphatic: Certainly not!
Paul responds by introducing another foundational doctrinal truth—we are to reckon the old man dead. Since our old self—the flesh and its sinful nature—was crucified with Christ, we are called to walk in the new man, in newness of life, no longer compelled to sin. Our nature is to change, not to continue on the path of the old man.
Romans 6:6-11 NKJV - Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, 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 from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul uses past-tense language to affirm this truth further.
Romans 6:17-18 NKJV - But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
We used to be slaves to sin, but now, having been set free, we are no longer bound to return to it. Instead, we are to become slaves of righteousness, living as the new man and growing more like Jesus.
APPLICATION:
Living this out doesn’t mean returning to the works of the flesh or the works of the law. Paul closes this chapter with a clear warning and a hopeful promise.
Romans 6:23 NKJV - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only thing we ever earned was death. It’s what we deserved—and still do. But thanks be to God for the gift of eternal life and for the forgiveness of sins!
So today, and every day, we must reckon the old man dead.
To reckon means two things:
To establish by counting or calculation – The debt of sin was reckoned and paid by Jesus Christ on the cross.
To consider or regard in a specific way – We must make a conscious choice each day to live not in the old man but in the new.
Live each day knowing your sins have been paid for and that the old man is dead. We no longer need to yield to sin—we are no longer its slaves.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus, for balancing the books of my life. Even though it was a debt I could never pay—and still can’t—it was not too great for You. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, which I truly don’t deserve. May I live each day, reckoning the old man dead, and walk moment by moment as the new man.
Romans 6:11 NKJV - Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
OBSERVATION:
Paul asks two rhetorical questions in Romans Chapter Six. Both begin with the phrase “What then?” The first question follows the important truth of super-abounding grace:
Romans 6:1-2, NKJV - What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
The second question appears in verse 15:
Romans 6:15 NKJV - What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
These questions are still asked today. When people hear about super-abounding grace, many wonder whether it gives us license to sin. Paul’s answer is emphatic: Certainly not!
Paul responds by introducing another foundational doctrinal truth—we are to reckon the old man dead. Since our old self—the flesh and its sinful nature—was crucified with Christ, we are called to walk in the new man, in newness of life, no longer compelled to sin. Our nature is to change, not to continue on the path of the old man.
Romans 6:6-11 NKJV - Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, 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 from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul uses past-tense language to affirm this truth further.
Romans 6:17-18 NKJV - But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
We used to be slaves to sin, but now, having been set free, we are no longer bound to return to it. Instead, we are to become slaves of righteousness, living as the new man and growing more like Jesus.
APPLICATION:
Living this out doesn’t mean returning to the works of the flesh or the works of the law. Paul closes this chapter with a clear warning and a hopeful promise.
Romans 6:23 NKJV - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only thing we ever earned was death. It’s what we deserved—and still do. But thanks be to God for the gift of eternal life and for the forgiveness of sins!
So today, and every day, we must reckon the old man dead.
To reckon means two things:
To establish by counting or calculation – The debt of sin was reckoned and paid by Jesus Christ on the cross.
To consider or regard in a specific way – We must make a conscious choice each day to live not in the old man but in the new.
Live each day knowing your sins have been paid for and that the old man is dead. We no longer need to yield to sin—we are no longer its slaves.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus, for balancing the books of my life. Even though it was a debt I could never pay—and still can’t—it was not too great for You. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, which I truly don’t deserve. May I live each day, reckoning the old man dead, and walk moment by moment as the new man.
Reckon your old self dead to sin and live fully in the new life Christ has given, walking as a slave of righteousness, not of sin.
Posted in 06 - Romans
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