Re: [TruthTalk] Dead to Sin

[Terry Clifton]

First off, I would say, "Who is Bob Dylan., cause I don't know.  Second, I would say that the Holy Spirit put those things in there because He knows that we are not sinless, as much as we would desire that to be true.  To me, the word "serve" means to serve, with all my heart, to the best of my ability, with loyalty, doing the best that I can possibly do, but as with any area of my life that I can think of, even my best will not often be perfect.  My desire is to serve the Lord.  My desire is to live a life that pleases Him.  I am sure that was the desire of Abraham and King David and Peter, but we have all blown it, and we have done so since deciding to serve the Lord, just as you have.  I would say that the word "Reckon"  means to count on or assume something to be so.  I reckon myself dead to sin.  It is no longer an every day occurance, but sometimes it happens.  Example: We have a filter to block porn, but once in a while a picture pops up that meets the definition.  The proper response would be to immediately delete the picture.  The proper thought would be to think 'This is someone's daughter, trapped in sin.  She needs prayer."  My response would more than likely be, "Wow!  Incredable jugs!  I wonder if they are real or if they have been surgically enhanced!"  Within microseconds, the Holy Spirit comes along side and convicts me of what I am doing, and with a sense of shame I delete the picture of this well endowed but unfortunate woman, but in the meantime, I have had a sinful thought.  I did not look for sin.  It found me. I hate sin.Still, it was, in my opinion, a sin, and I needed to ask forgiveness. That brings us to the word "Reign".  It means to be in control, be the boss, top dog, a monarch. Sin does not have that place in my life.  It once did.  I planned on sinning.  I planned on enjoying that sin.  My flesh was in control.  I looked forward to it.  That is not the case now.  I am a follower of my Lord Jesus Christ. So tell me.  Do I qualify as a Christian or does sin reign in my life?  Terry ShieldsFamily wrote: I believe that is because v6 refers to the fact that we either “serve” God or serve sin.  John 8:3-4 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.   V11 “reckoning” ourselves dead to sin is how we walk in faith.  Not by sight;; not by evaluating our past failures, or those around us who tells us “everybody sins—you can’t help sinning everyday”.  I can choose to believe the world and accept the “normal” fatalistic Christian attitude or I can choose to believe the Word, reckon my flesh dead to sin, and experience the freedom and joy of actually walking free of the flesh.   V12 Bob Dylan said “You gotta serve somebody”—either the flesh or the Spirit.  Whichever one we choose is the one we allow to “reign” in our lives.  If we want to live in God’s Kingdom, we must let His Spirit rule and reign in our hearts.  If we sin, God does not reign, and He is not our Lord.  We have allowed sin to dethrone Him.   What do you say, Terry?  Izzy   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Terry Clifton Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 5:22 PM To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Dead to Sin   Since this is scripture, God's word to us, there is no arguement as to it being true as written, Iz.   Now, looking at it as written,  would you tell me why the Holy Spirit used the word "serve" in verse six, or "reckon" in verse eleven, or "reign" in verse twelve? Terry ShieldsFamily wrote: I am changing the Subject "Apocrypha" to "Dead to Sin"      Romans 6   1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?    2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?    3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?    4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.    5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:    6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.    7For he that is dead is freed from sin.    8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:    9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.    10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.    11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.    12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.    13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.    14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.    15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.    16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?    17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.    18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.    19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.    20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.    21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.