The phrase “dead to sin” comes from Romans 6:11: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Here, the contrast is made that to be “dead to sin” is to be “alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Those who have come to faith in Jesus are no longer to allow sin to control their lives. Instead, we offer ourselves to God to serve His purposes.
Thus, as Christians, we are dead to sin through our union with Christ.
What does “dead to sin” means? It means to be in a state where one can no longer struggle with things that matter to the flesh; where things that are capable of luring, enticing and attracting one to go into sin become meaningless, and where those things have no impact and dominion over one’s life. Dead to sin also means that we should regard our old sinful nature as dead and unresponsive to sin. Because of our union and identification with Christ, we are no longer obligated to carry out those old motives, desires, and goals. Whatever is said to be dead means a lifeless being. Nothing matters or makes sense to the dead. The dead feels neither pain nor sorrow; he is not ashamed of anything – even his nakedness.
Nothing interests, attracts or entices the dead. Only the living (who is yet to be crucified with Christ) is mindful of material and carnal things; and such is the one that are easily lured and enticed to sin through them. To be dead to sin means we no longer need to be controlled by our sin nature. Romans 6:17 teaches that “though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.” Before Christ, we are “slaves” to sin. Now we have a new Master. Sin continues to exist, but we are no longer dominated by it. So it is good and profitable to let us consider ourselves to be what God has in fact made us.
Of course, it is one thing to be “dead in sin” and it is another to be “dead to sin”. It is true that left to our own devices we are all doomed to struggle unsuccessfully against our sinful tendencies. That’s because before we can ever hope to be “dead to sin,” all of us are born “dead in sin.” Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1 that before we become Christians, we are all “dead in (our) transgressions and sins.” Of course he does not mean that we are physically dead. Rather, the life of a person who has not experienced new life in Christ is characterized by spiritual death. This means that person is separated from God’s salvation. But it also means that it is impossible for that person to produce spiritual fruit, to show signs of life. Imagine such a person as a dead branch broken from a tree in a storm. Where it lies on the ground, separated from its source of nourishment, it will never again produce tender buds or green leaves or sweet fruit.
Beloved, as every man is born dead in sin, let us make all efforts consciously not to remain dead in sin, but to be dead to sin, so that nothing here on earth, be it position, wealth, power, food, clothing etc matters to us, but Jesus Christ alone. Again, to be “dead to sin” is to be “alive to God in Christ Jesus; let us therefore put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles..(Rom. 13:12; Heb. 12:1).
Have a fruitful week ahead where only Jesus Christ the crucified and eternal God makes meaning to you.