The Living Dead

Romans 5

    As sin and death reigns in the unregenerate, grace reigns in those who live in Christ. Not to minimize the importance of the believer’s conversation in this world which honors Christ and his Gospel, the text and context of the verses before us speak of the effectual work of God the Spirit in his persevering, preserving presence in his people. We do not reign over our sin, it is the grace of God by the righteousness of Christ in us that reigns over sin. Although we are very much aware of our sin, we are dead to sin because we are alive in Christ.

    We do not live in sin, we live in Christ—For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Col 3:3). The Holy Spirit is confirming to us the impossibility of living in Christ and living in sin at the same time—How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Paul is also answering the sarcastic argument many make against the grace of God—Shall we sin more that the grace of God will abound more? He says, God forbid! The life of a child of God is a mystery to the world, and somewhat a mystery to ourselves, because we still live in this body of death.

    The difference is, we simply believe what God says and we reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:11). We reckon that’s the way it is because that’s the way God says it is. The child of God is alive and dead at the same time. Some day soon we shall lose the dead and there will only remain the life, that eternal life which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I speak to the dead because it is only the dead that can hear. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live (Jn 5:25).