DEAD TO SIN

MONDAY 08 AUGUST 2022

If you are born again, you are dead to sin and very much alive to God. This is because Jesus endured shame and suffering on the cross for our sakes and God judged Him for the sins of all mankind which He did not commit. Through His actions, sufferings, wounds and death on the cross, we as Christians, have been freed from the curses, punishment and effects of sinful nature. Now we can live a righteous life because we are spiritually alive to God on the basis of His own righteousness and grace, through our faith in Christ.

Reference: 1 Peter 2:24 New Living Translation (NLT) "He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed."

The main benefit of being dead to sin and living for righteousness is that we can live perfectly in divine health. However, our knowledge of divine health is derived not merely from just being born again, but from what Christ did for us on the cross. In other words, it's not enough to be born again, we must also know and receive for ourselves, what Christ personally did for us on the cross. And therefore, we must understand that we are dead to sin. Now, what do we live for? We exist for what is right, which means we live for righteousness.

Here's exactly what happened to us, which is our accurate description in Christ: Romans 6:2-11: "We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

When you count yourself dead to sin and alive to God, it means that you practically live as God's set apart person. Since Christ is the foundation of your existence on earth, you must therefore live to please God. Now watch this: Since your new life in Christ began by the supernatural birth, it denotes that you must not live a normal life on earth. This includes zero tolerance for sickness or disease in your body. By the virtue of your supernatural birth, which sets the seal of Christ's finished work upon your life, you are not allowed to entertain any sickness or disease because Christ had personally carried your sins in His body on the cross so that you can be dead to sickness and live in perfect health, bearing in mind that you were completely healed by his wounds on the cross, even ahead of your existence on earth. Got it?

Therefore the starting point of the glorious Gospel in our lives is grasping the knowledge of what Christ actually did for us on the cross. Then also we must be determined to live according to the dictates of the Christ's finished work, which is demonstrating a heavenly mindset and expressing the realities on earth. So the solid knowledge of God's Word held firmly in our hearts and lives is of paramount importance because for instance, if you don't know that you are dead to sickness and disease, you'll continually accommodate them when they attack or challenge your body. Beloved, by the stripes of Christ Jesus, you are healed. This is a solid truth without controversy. Once there is a full assurance of understanding of this truth and you personalize it in your own life, you'll live above sickness and disease and affirm your right to perfect health with certainty. But it's entirely up to you.

When sickness or disease attacks your body, firstly, acknowledge in your heart that Christ already did something about it on the cross. Secondly, affirm that you were already healed by what He did for you over 2000 years ago, meaning that the devil is simply trying to manipulate this truth in your life, so you can see it as falsehood and live without experiencing it. Being in such situation, you could be full of strangely mingled feelings, but remember that the Bible says, "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (Ephesians 6:10 ESV). Therefore, no matter how severe or harsh the sickness is, refuse to be doubtful of your healing already perfected in Christ, but rather demonstrate the perfect healing with your words of power, as a divine principle at work in your body. Yes, be strong in the Lord and by the strength of His might, resist the sickness or disease with the consciousness of this knowledge and it will flee from your body. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Romans 6:6-11; Colossians 3:3-5; Romans 7:4; Galatians 2:20.

Exuberant Declaration: Dear Father in heaven, your Word is a sure guide to divine healing, perfect health and eternal life. As I live in accordance with the wisdom it conveys, I find the benefits being demonstrated in and through my life and I derive the full joy of salvation accomplished by the grace that is in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the main author and finisher of my faith. Thank you Father for the full assurance of my divine health and life by my faith in Christ, in Jesus' Name, Amen!