Have You Died To Sin..?

At one point early in Julius Caesar's political career, feelings ran so high against him that he thought it best to leave Rome. He sailed for the Aegean island of Rhodes, but en route the ship was attacked by pirates and Caesar was captured. The pirates demanded a ransom of 12,000 gold pieces, and Caesar's staff was sent away to arrange the payment.

Caesar spent almost 40 days with his captors, jokingly telling the pirates on several occasions that he would someday capture and crucify them to a man. The kidnappers were greatly amused, but when the ransom was paid and Caesar was freed, the first thing he did was gather a fleet and pursue the pirates. They were captured and crucified ... to a man!

Such was the Romans' attitude toward crucifixion. It was to be reserved for the worst of criminals, a means of showing extreme contempt for the condemned. The suffering and humiliation of a Roman crucifixion were unequaled.
-Today in the Word, November 23, 1992

Movies like Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of The Christ" generate much controversy in regards to possible anti-Semitism, and graphic depiction of scourging and crucifixion. Sometimes the controversy centers around the reason Jesus died. Was His death accidental, an unintended consequence of His teachings? Or, was it God's will, recognized and accepted by Jesus in advance?

The gospel message is quite clear as to why Jesus died for us, yet there is a reason that is often overlooked. So let's review the Biblical answer to the question, "Why did Jesus die on the cross?"

He died to atone for our sins! This is the fundamental theme of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). His suffering for our sins was foretold (Isaiah 53:4-6,10-12). He was the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). In love, God offered Him as the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:9-10).

Through such suffering, Jesus died to reconcile us back to God (1 Peter 3:18). Thus providing redemption from sin through His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). His death was no accident, but part of God's predetermined plan (Acts 2:22-23).

Jesus died that we might die to sin! This reason for His death is often overlooked, yet it is clearly stated by Peter (1 Peter 2:24). He died for our sins that we might die to sin. He died for our sins that we might live for righteousness. He died that we might die!

And so we read such statements as:

a. "if we died with Him..." - 2 Timothy 2:11
b. "If with Christ you died..." - Colossians 2:20
c. "For you have died..." - Colossians 3:3
d. "I have been crucified with Christ..." - Galatians 2:20

Jesus died, not only to atone for sin, but to provide a means whereby we can die with Him to sin, and thereby live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).

Unless we also 'die to sin', has Jesus' death on the cross fully accomplished its purpose? He died for our sins, but have we died to sin? In other words, "Has Jesus died for you in vain?"

Think about it. Have you died to sin? When does God view you as...

a. Dying with Christ?
b. Being crucified with Christ?
c. Being united with Christ in His death?
d. Dead to sin?

Paul makes it very clear: when we are baptized! This was exemplified in his writing to Christians who had died to sin (Romans 6:1-2). Paul also reminded them concerning their baptism into Christ...

1) They were baptized into His death - Romans 6:3
2) They were buried with Him through baptism into death - Romans 6:4
3) Their old man was crucified with Him - Romans 6:6
4) Their death freed them from sin, enabling them to live with Christ - Romans 6:7-8
5) They should therefore consider themselves dead to sin - Romans 6:11

If we have not yet been baptized into Christ, then we have not yet died to sin!

Here is another question for you. Are you living for righteousness? That is why you died to sin (cf. 1 Peter 2:24). You died to sin...

a. That you might be alive to God - Romans 6:11
b. That you might not let sin reign anymore - Romans 6:12
c. That you might present your members as instruments of righteousness - Romans 6:13
d. That you might become slaves of righteousness - Romans 6:16-18

Having died to sin, we are to mortify (kill) the flesh. We are aided in this by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:13; cf. Ephesians 3:16). Having died to sin, we are to live for righteousness by putting on the new man, renewed in the image of Christ (Colossians 3:10-14; Ephesians 4:22-32), and by growing in the true knowledge of Christ (cf. 2 Peter 1:5-9).

How serious are we in this effort? This can be evidenced by our willingness to learn and grow in the knowledge of Christ? (2 Peter 3:18), and our efforts to put off sin and put on Christ in our lives? (Romans 13:13-14). If we are not diligent in putting off sin and putting on Christ, then His death for us was in vain!

In summary, when we consider the death of Jesus on the cross, we should not just think of His death as an atonement for our sins. We should think of it as also providing the means whereby we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

The grace of God in Jesus is not complete until we are living as we should; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly (Titus 2:11-12), and redeemed from every lawless deed, purified and zealous for good works (Titus 2:13-14).

Remember this... Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh (Galatians 5:24; cf. Romans 6:6). Are you Christ's...?

Prayer:

May the light of Jesus shine continually to drive away all darkness. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find his light ever burning in our hearts—he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Athene