What is the meaning of Romans 6:11? So - “So” connects this verse to the flow of Romans 6. Because “the death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God” (Romans 6:10), everything that follows is grounded in Christ’s finished work. - Paul is not offering a suggestion; he is drawing a settled conclusion from the facts he has just presented (see Romans 6:3–9). - Earlier, he laid out that grace does not excuse sin but liberates from it (Romans 6:1–2). Therefore, “So” anchors verse 11 in a logical, unbreakable chain of truth that starts with the cross and the empty tomb (Romans 5:18–19; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15). you too - The phrase points directly to every believer. What is true of Christ is, by union, true of us (Galatians 2:20). - It is inclusive: new converts and seasoned saints alike share this identity (Ephesians 2:4–6). - Because salvation is a gift, not an achievement, all who trust Christ are addressed with the same certainty (John 1:12–13). must count yourselves - “Must” shows obligation and privilege rolled into one. God states a fact; we are to embrace it. - “Count” (or reckon) calls for conscious, continual agreement with what God says, even when feelings waver (Colossians 3:1–3; 2 Corinthians 5:7). - Practical steps: • Remind yourself daily of scriptural truth rather than circumstances. • Speak God’s verdict over your life when temptation whispers otherwise (James 1:22–25). • Align choices with this reckoning—thoughts, media, relationships, habits. dead to sin - The old self was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6–7). Death means separation; sin’s reign over us ended at the cross. - We are no longer obligated to obey its dictates (Romans 6:14). - This death is positional and practical: • Positional—settled reality before God (Romans 6:2). • Practical—daily refusal to let sin dominate (1 Peter 2:24; Galatians 5:24). - Temptation still knocks, but its authority is broken; we do not have to open the door. but alive to God - God didn’t leave us in a neutral state; He breathed new life into us (Ephesians 2:4–5). - Being “alive” means vibrant fellowship, eager obedience, and the capacity to bear fruit (John 15:5; John 10:10). - Marks of this life: • Desire for God’s presence (Psalm 42:1–2). • Growth in righteousness (Colossians 2:13). • Joyful service powered by the Spirit (Romans 7:6). in Christ Jesus - Union with Christ is the source of both death to sin and life to God (2 Corinthians 5:17). - Outside Him, none of this identity shift is possible; in Him, it is already accomplished (Romans 8:1). - Practical outworking: • Abide—stay relationally close through Word and Spirit (John 15:4). • Depend—draw strength from His sufficiency, not self-effort (Philippians 4:13). • Represent—live as His ambassador, showing the world what new life looks like (2 Corinthians 5:20). summary Romans 6:11 commands believers to embrace God’s verdict: because we are united with Christ, we are as truly dead to sin’s mastery as He is, and as truly alive to God’s fellowship as He is. Reckoning on this truth reorients thinking, stimulates holy living, and fuels joyful communion. Sin has lost its claim; Christ has secured our life. Count it so—and live free. |
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