11/7/26 Resistance in IAM

Romans 6:11: In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

This first starts off with this statement of counting ourselves dead to sin. Can you imagine such a notion? For those of you that have been clinging to us in this series, which is now in its 19th week, you may recognize that I brought up Romans 6 last week. Is it a coincidence that that’s where I am this week and will be next week? Not at all. The reason being is to once again, as every Saturday sermon means to do, dig deep. We are literally, every week, digging deep into just what it means to be in Christ. Here, Paul mentions counting yourself dead to sin.

Let’s be honest, the perpetual urge that we have goes beyond common temptations anymore. We are in a pressure pod, or a pressure cooker, of temptation all around us, and we have been indoctrinated through the media to engage in things that are an affront to God but are culturally acceptable. Many denominations have fallen into this trap to become culturally relevant to members of a societal movement that continually walks further and further away from the Word of God, giving credence to the institutions that drive these forces, and still claiming with a smile on their face that they are children of God, but are wholly deceived. I would even go so far as to say that the urge to be culturally acceptable is actually anti-biblical because the Word tells us not to conform to the world’s system.

Last week we spoke on death as we were urged to deal with this subject because we were told last week to die, or at least consider ourselves dead, because we are hidden with Christ. Through deduction and reasoning, we were able to denote that this is a spiritual death. Paul’s command here in Romans 6 was the basis for this statement last week that we covered, and so we are digging further this week and are going to wrestle with this Scripture to put to rest an understanding. Can we truly count ourselves dead to engaging in sinful activity entirely?

This means no more activity or words that in any way, shape, or form resemble pride, lust, greed, gluttony, hatred, etcetera. Many of us have become so accustomed to our mindsets and our habits that we believe that this is just part of life. Some of us have a problem with gossip; others of us have a problem with judging others eternally because that’s what that verse actually means; and others of us have addictions that we have kept to ourselves. Can you imagine a day where we do not engage in sinful activity? Can you imagine being in a high-pressure situation, beaten down, tired, hungry, struggling to make ends meet, and not selling ourselves short because of the power of our flesh? Everyone has a pet sin. Don’t let anybody tell you any different. And sometimes we lie to ourselves and tell ourselves we are clear.

This is something we have to consider because Paul has brought it up. Obviously, we have to take into account that there is a contrast here, and we’re going to get to that contrast next week, noting that we have to deal with being dead to sin.

How about this? It’s an uncommon thought in this day and age because it involves willpower and discipline, something that we have strayed far away from in a culture that markets indulgence and instant gratification. But nonetheless, let’s start by asking the question: Have you come to faith in Jesus? If you have, do you allow sin to control your life? It’s a legitimate question because you can’t serve two masters. You either serve Jesus, or you give in to every whim, desire, and urge that may come your way. If you say sin has control over your life, then there’s something to address here now, isn’t there?

We covered earlier in the series how finite the strength of the flesh is. Everything material has limitations. Limitations in endurance, stamina, temperament, and even discipline. So let’s ask: Does this mean that Paul is saying we can actually inhabit this earth, this country, the very community in which we dwell, and the very culture that we exist in, and not have sin? No, it does not. Romans 7:19-20, Paul himself declares, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me that does it.”

If we are dead to sin, that means we are no longer controlled by the sin nature. Romans 6:17 teaches, “Though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.”

The real question is, who is the master you are serving? Because when we submit to Jesus for the redemptive quality in His blood, to be in Christ, then we also must submit to the Holy Spirit to do His job and guide us, counsel us, and provide us direction in accordance with the manifest will and agenda of God to fulfill His purposes over our own.

Dead to sin? Is that possible? Paul declares it is, and as I stated, it does not mean that we will never ever sin again. It means that we are no longer dominated by the sin nature. Our will combines with the power of our spirit that is in submission to the Holy Spirit, and we can rise above the junk that has weighed us down, sent us astray, and gotten us off the path that the Lord would have for us each and every day. I’m not asking you to deny your humanity. I’m asking you to truly bow to one Master, and His name is Jesus Christ.

My message to you today is that you no longer are fighting this out of the limitations of your willpower. You are no longer fighting this out of the limitations of your ability to self-discipline. No, you have something inside of you now that goes beyond that. It is the infinite reserve of the power of being in Christ and being indwelt by God’s Spirit within to empower us. You’re going to face temptation. You’re going to face urges. You’re going to face situations where the very thing that you’re trying to avoid is going to be waved in front of your face. But you are no longer a slave to sin. You are no longer a slave to the power of your flesh.

It’s time to take a stand!

Take a stand against the sin that has marked your trail and denotes that you are weak against your own flesh, and stand on the empowerment of the Holy Ghost within you and tear down that which has built up a monument inside of you.

The Holy Ghost is inside of you to break the chains of your captivity.

The Holy Ghost is inside of you to break the chains that hold you down.

I’m asking, in the name of Jesus, let yourself be filled with fire!