The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him.
2 Timothy 2:11 (ESV)
If we have died with him: To die with Christ means dying the same death he died; being united with him in a death like his (Romans 6:5). Paul later writes that the death Jesus died he died to sin (Romans 6:10). So, one aspect of dying with Christ is a dying to sin. We know that because of our union with Christ we are dead to sin, yet sin still dwells in us (Romans 7:23). So, our dying to sin does not refer to a state of perfection in this life, rather a state where we are no longer slaves to sin; sin is no longer a master over us (Romans 6:6).
R.C. Sproul said, “Sin is cosmic treason. Sin is treason against a perfectly pure Sovereign. It is an act of supreme ingratitude toward the One to whom we owe everything, to the One who has given us life itself.” God is all holy and all glorious, deserving of all glory and honor. Sin is a falling short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Thomas Watson wrote, “Sin is God’s would be murderer. Sin would not only unthrone God, it would un-God him.” When we sin we shake our fist in the face of God’s glory and demand to sit on the throne of our lives, making ourselves God.
If our confession is that we have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and we are still okay with our sin, we are in trouble. If we are flippant about our sin and not sickened that we have offended the God whom we say has saved us, we are in trouble. Should either of those be our condition it is time we checked to make sure that we are in the faith, that our calling and election are sure. The wages is sin is death (Romans 6:23). John Owen once said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”
We may say, “I sin everyday, either in word, thought or deed.” Well, #1—we don’t have to sin everyday. And #2—we should never make that sentiment an excuse that keeps us from fighting against sin. On the other hand, if we say we have no sin we are deceived liars. And what is more we make Christ a liar. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us . . . If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8, 10 ESV)
The good news is that Christ’s death to sin was a “once for all time” death. Meaning, Christ actually died, and his death so completely dealt with sin that he would not have to die again. He has taken care of the sin problem for all whom he has called by his grace.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2 ESV) So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11 ESV) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:4-5 ESV)
Are you enslaved to sin? Are you fighting against sin? Does sin have dominion over you?
Scriptures for meditation:
Romans 6:14
Galatians 2:20
Colossians 2:11-12