Meaning of Romans 6:11

This verse from Romans 6:11 is a pivotal declaration of the believer's new identity in Christ, urging a practical outworking of this spiritual reality. Paul is not suggesting a passive acknowledgement of a past event, but an active, ongoing orientation of one's life and understanding. The imperative "count yourselves" (logizesthe) implies a deliberate reckoning, a mental and volitional act of considering something as true and real, even if its full experiential impact is still developing. This "counting" is based on the objective reality of Christ's death and resurrection, which has fundamentally altered the believer's relationship with sin and God. To be "dead to sin" means that sin no longer has dominion or ultimate authority over the believer; its power to condemn and enslave has been broken through Christ's sacrifice. Conversely, to be "alive to God" signifies a new existence, a vibrant spiritual life empowered by God's Spirit, dedicated to His purposes and responsive to His will. This transformation is not self-achieved but is a direct result of being "in Christ Jesus," signifying union and identification with Him.

Context and Background

Romans 6 follows Paul's argument in chapters 1-5 regarding God's righteousness revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, culminating in the assurance of salvation and peace with God (Romans 5:1-11). The question that arises is whether this abundance of grace, which forgives sin, might lead to further sinning (Romans 6:1). Paul vehemently rejects this notion, explaining that baptism signifies a spiritual death to sin and a resurrection to new life with Christ. Therefore, believers are no longer slaves to sin but are freed to live righteously. Romans 6:11 serves as a summary and a call to action based on this theological foundation.

Key Themes and Messages

• New Identity in Christ: The core message is that believers have a new identity, fundamentally different from their pre-conversion state. This identity is rooted in their union with Christ.
• Death to Sin's Dominion: Sin, while still a temptation, no longer holds its former power of condemnation and authority over the believer. The legal and spiritual penalty for sin has been dealt with.
• Life for God: Believers are now alive to God, possessing spiritual life and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life pleasing to Him.
• Volitional Reckoning: The verse emphasizes the importance of consciously counting this new reality as true, actively aligning one's thoughts and actions with this spiritual truth.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance lies in the radical redefinition of the believer's standing before God and their relationship with sin. This is not a partial or temporary change, but a complete reorientation. The application is practical: believers are called to live as if this truth is fully real in every aspect of their lives. This means resisting the temptation to yield to sinful desires, recognizing that such yielding is inconsistent with their new nature. It also means actively pursuing righteousness, offering their bodies and faculties as instruments of God's service, knowing they are empowered by His Spirit.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Romans 6:11 is a cornerstone in the New Testament's exposition of salvation. It connects to the Old Testament concept of atonement and sacrifice, which foreshadowed Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The promise of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) where God's law is written on the heart, enabling obedience, finds its fulfillment in the new life in Christ described here. Furthermore, it aligns with Jesus' teachings on discipleship, which involves self-denial and following Him (e.g., Matthew 16:24-26).

Analogies

• A Released Prisoner: Imagine a prisoner who has served their sentence and is officially released. While the prison walls are physically behind them, they must actively count themselves free, no longer living under the rules and restrictions of the prison, but embracing the freedom of the outside world.
• A Newly Married Couple: Upon marriage, two individuals become one. They are no longer solely individuals but are united in a new covenant. They must actively count themselves as a married unit, making decisions and living in light of their new marital status, rather than continuing to live as if they were single.
• A Deceased Person's Estate: When a person dies, their legal and financial affairs are settled. Their assets are distributed, and their former obligations are extinguished. A beneficiary receiving an inheritance must count themselves as the new owner of those assets and not continue to act as if they still belong to the deceased.

Relation to Other Verses

• Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This verse powerfully echoes the idea of dying to one's old self and living a new life in Christ.
• Colossians 3:1-3: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." This passage directly instructs believers to consider themselves as having died and been raised with Christ, and to orient their thinking accordingly.
• 1 Peter 4:2: "so that you may no longer live for human desires, but for the will of God during the rest of your earthly life." This verse speaks to the practical outworking of the new life, directing believers to live according to God's will rather than their former sinful desires.