Dr. Cecil A. Fayard - 2001 Sermons
Sunday, May 27, 2001   

INTRODUCTION: To fully understand what Paul is saying in verses 11-14, we must go back and read verses 1-10. The first ten verses are doctrinal. They remind believers that they have died to sin and have been raised to new life in Christ (Verses 6-9). We go now from doctrine to exhortation; exhortation to live out what have been taught.

It is not enough to know what is right. We are to live right. For years I have said it, and I still believe it. Right doctrine equals right living.

1. VERSE 11, KNOWING AND RECKONING
   1. Verse 11 a, " Likewise"
      
      1. "Likewise" is a word of transition pointing us back to the first ten verses of this chapter and pointing us forward to a practical application of truth.
         
      2. "Likewise" carries with it the idea of knowing what has been aid and living what has been said.
         
         1. In verses 1-10, Paul emphasizes knowing and believing the truth of new life in Christ (verses 3, 6, 8, 9).
            
         2. "Likewise" live what you know doctrinally.
            
            1. Be holy in your living for God who has called you is holy (I Peter 1: 15-16).
               
            2. Believers are to think on and act on those things that are right (Philippians 4:8-9).
               
            3. We are reminded with the Colossian believers to put on the new man (Colossians 3:9-1 0).

   2. Verse 11 b, "Reckon"
      
      1. "Reckon." Southerner's sometimes say, "I reckon" meaning "I suppose." That's not how the word is used here. "Reckon" is "to count, to compute, to take into account, consider."
         
         1. Take into account, believer, that Christ has paid our sin debt, that adequate provision has been made for our salvation (II Corinthians 5:21).
            
         2. Not only has adequate provision been made for our salvation, victory for daily life has been provided.
            
            1. I Corinthians 15:57: "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
               
            2. Romans 8:37: "Nay, in all these thing we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We have victory in the war for our souls and lives.
               
            3. II Corinthians 2:14: "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ......"

   3. Verse 1lc, Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin..."
      
      1. We are to consider ourselves to be dead to sin because of our relationship to Christ. We are "in Christ."
         
         1. Ephesians 1:4, "Chosen in him."
            
         2. Ephesians 1:7, Redeemed "through his blood."
            
         3. Galatians 2:20, living in Him, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us."
            
      2. Christ has broken the power of sin over our lives. What we do, we do willfully and in rebellion to a thrice-holy God. You cannot and will not live victoriously until you see yourselves as "dead indeed unto sin."

   4. Verse 11 d, "Alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
      
      1. We who were dead in trespasses and sin, God has made alive.
         
         1. We were headed to hell, but God allowed us to hear the Gospel and be saved (II Corinthians 4:6).
            
         2. When we receive Christ, we pass from death unto life (John 5:24-25).
            
      2. The words of Colossians 3:1-4 some up the meaning of Romans 6:11 very well.

2. VSS 12-14, VICTORY OVER SIN
   1. Verse 12, As long as we live in these old bodies, as long as we live on this sin cursed earth, sin will be out to get us , to defeat us, to depress us.
      
      1. Child of God, salvation means a change of Master's. Sin is no longer master; sin is no longer Lord. Christ is Master and Lord. We can, and we must resist sin.
         
      2. Sin is a defeated ruler. Sin has been dethroned by the blood of Jesus.
         
         1. Sin will try to reign and ruin.
            
         2. "Let not sin reign..."
            
      3. There is a war that goes on in the believer's life. Yes, heaven is sure, but the battle goes on. We are His and are citizens of heaven at salvation. Peter reminds us of our position and of our struggle (I Peter 2:9, 11).

   2. Verse 13, Here Paul uses an important word; a word we need to take notice of. The word is yield.
      
      1. We are told not to "yield" to sin. We are not to let:
         
         1. Our eyes read wrong materials or to look in lust.
            
         2. Our feet to go to places where God is not glorified.
            
         3. Our ears hear bad words.
            
         4. Our lips speak gossip.
            
      2. "But yield yourselves unto God...."
         
         1. We are to be good soldiers for the Lord; we are to obey our Lord and Master, our Captain.
            
         2. We are to be devoted and consecrated to our leader.
            
         3. We are to put on the whole armor of God to resist Satan (Ephesians 6:10-18).
            
         4. James 4:7: "'Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you."
            
      3. You are alive from the dead, believer; act like it!

   3. Verse 14, Paul's words are strong. They are powerful: "Sin shall not have dominion over you..."
      
      1. Sin shall not have dominion because we "are not under the law, but under grace."
         
         1. Our only hope is grace. For law can do many things such as rebuke, demand, condemn, make guilty, restrain, etc. Yet, there is one thing that the law can never do! The law cannot save anyone (Galatians 2:16).
            
         2. . We are to live right because we are saved, not to get saved.
            
      2. Romans 8:3 tells us that god sent Jesus to do what the law could not do.
         
         1. Romans 5:8, "God commendeth his love toward us..." That's grace.
            
         2. The sending of His Son is Grace. This grace does more than pardon and cleanse:
            
            1. It dethrones sin.
               
            2. It gives victory.
               
            3. It allows the child of God to offer himself a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).