Read: Romans 6:1-11
In the movie “Weekend at Bernie’s”, Larry and Richard are overjoyed to be invited to their boss Bernie’s luxurious getaway. However, upon arrival, to their horror, they discover Bernie’s dead body. Before they can call the authorities, guests arrive for Bernie’s weekend bash. To the pair’s amazement, the guests are too busy partying to notice Bernie is dead. Large sunglasses conceal his lifeless face. Fearing being implicated in Bernie’s death and wanting to enjoy the holiday, Larry and Richard maintain the illusion that Bernie is still alive. The guests respond to Bernie as if he were alive, but in reality, he is dead.
NO LONGER ME!
Did you know we are also dead? In Christ, believers are “those who have died to sin. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with.” Romans teaches that we have been made dead to our previous master: sin. Yet we often still live as if sin is our overlord. Instead of running from our previous master, we invite sin in. It requires courage to live the reality of not being ruled by sin.
TYRANNY HAS BEEN BROKEN
There is the story of the early church leader Augustine being accosted by a woman who had been his mistress before his conversion. When he turned and walked away quickly, she called after him, “Augustine, it’s me! It’s me!” Quickening his pace, he called back over his shoulder, “Yes, I know, but it’s no longer me!”
Who are you in Christ? Do you daily choose to live as a child of God or do you hold tight to the old patterns of your life before Christ? The Apostle Paul wrote that he was “dead to sin and alive to God”.
William McDonald explains: “A dead man has nothing to do with immorality, lying, cheating, gossiping, or any other sin. The crucifixion of the old man at Calvary means that the body of sin has been put out of commission. The body of sin does not refer to the physical body. Rather, it means indwelling sin which is personified as a tyrant, ruling the person. This body of sin is done away with, that is, annulled or rendered inoperative as a controlling power. The last clause shows that this is the meaning: that we should no longer be slaves of sin. The tyranny of sin over us has been broken.” In Christ, for the first time in our lives, we have the choice to live totally alive to God.
AN HOURLY CHOICE
We do not have to let sin reign. This is a daily, hourly, and sometimes minute-by-minute decision for a believer. Who do I choose to make Lord over my life? It is often uncomfortable and difficult as my old master sin entices me into old patterns, old behaviors, and doing what comes naturally. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”
LIVE FOR LIFE INSTEAD OF DEATH
Romans 6 uses the word “death” thirteen times. What is dead is dead. Bernie was dead, but his acquaintances refused to accept it. They enjoyed Bernie. Are you like Bernie with sunglasses concealing your choice to habitually live in the death Christ freed you from? Augustine would say, “RUN!!!!” Run to Jesus and make Him the Lord of your life. Live for life instead of death.
Click to read more on breaking the tyranny of sin.