In reading Romans 6 in my NKJV I reflected on some notes in the margin that I had written down years ago relating to the fact that we are dead to sin and alive to God. The notes related to three key verses in the chapter and I pass them along for all of us to contemplate as we reflect on Jesus death and resurrection as they impact each of us.
Appreciation
Rom 6:6 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. NKJV
Alongside this verse I had drawn a sketch of three men walking in single file on a balance beam. The man leading was identified as Facts; the man in the middle was identified as Faith; and at the end was Feelings. Here is what I wrote: As long as Faith keeps his eye on Facts He won’t fall, but if Faith turns and looks at Feelings he is sure to fall.
It’s our Faith that knows that our old man, our flesh, was crucified with Christ and the body of sin has been done away with [katargeo – destroyed, rendered inactive, paralyzed]. As long as we Appreciate that Fact we know that we are no longer slaves to sin.
Appropriation
Rom 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV
It is up to us to Appropriate [take exclusive possession of] and reckon [logizomai – add up] by Faith the Fact that we are dead to sin. One way of looking at that Fact is to think about communion. The cup reminds us that we are free from the penalty of sin and the bread reminds us that we are free from the power of sin. But we also need to Appropriate by Faith the Fact that we are alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Application
Rom 6:13 and do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. NKJV
We are to Appreciate and Appropriate the Fact that we are dead to sin and alive to Christ; understand it and we take possession of it. However, it doesn’t end there. As we walk along that beam [our spiritual journey] we need to ensure that we don’t allow our Feelings to cause us to lose sight of that Fact. And the way that we ensure that is to present [parastesate – yield] ourselves to God as being alive and to present our members as instruments [hopla – weapons] of righteousness to God.
As the bride of Christ we are to yield and apply [devote] all of our members to His service. That means keeping our eyes of Faith on the Facts and not on our Feelings, yielding our will to following the leading of the Holy Spirit. And that entails Appreciation, Appropriation, and Application by keeping our Faith focused on Facts and not Feelings!