“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 6:11)

The great apostle, writing his most profound and significant letter, has come all the way to (what we call) chapter 6 before he has given any instruction to his readers. 

Beginning with the glorious declaration in Romans 1:17-18 that concludes with the life changing words, “The just shall live by faith“, he has reasoned the truth, sufficiency and power of justification by faith alone. 

Faith, rightly understood, is the end of all works.  What then does he require of us?

Paul has explained that in the death of the Lord Jesus, everyone who belives in Him also died, and that being so, in His resurrection, they also rose.  He then shows that having died to sin and having left this world with all its sorrrows and temptations to return in glory to His Father, the Lord Jesus lives now “alive unto God” (verse 10), utterly victorious.  

What does Paul require of us?  Astonishing though it may seem, that we also count ourselves to be seated with Him in that same separation and victory!  That is the scale and magnitude of justification by faith!   That is what His death has accomplished!

Having settled that, the apostle then gives his second instruction, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” (Romans 1:12)  Woe unto us if we do not take very careful note of that “Therefore…“