1 Canon B. Wilberforce. 8 W. G. Stooke.
ROMANS vi. ii 341
2. But, more biblically and more accurately, it is an exercise of Faith. It will be observed that the starting-point in these verses is not something at which we are to aim, but a fact which has already happened, and which is stated to us on authority. Over and over again it is repeated that we have died ; that we are dead ; that we died when Christ died ; and that we died with Him. This is a matter of revelation and oifact for every Christian Upon this is built a primary duty — the duty of believing it, because Scripture says that it is true. It is a subject for faith. Why is it that we do not get the better of our sins ? Why do the best of us make so little progress in practical obedience ? Why are some living in a constant succession of failures, so that they seem never to improve ? Why are others living to the present world, or living in sin? There is one cause of this common to every case alike — want of faith. We do not advance because we want faith; we lead careless, ungodly, sinful lives, because we want faith. We do not believe in Christ's work. We languidly believe in what He once did for us — that He died for our sins upon the Cross, and rose again ; and we believe in what He is ready and willing to do for us — that He is ready to help us now if we seek Him ; but we do not believe in what He has done in us — in that great and real work which He did once actually accomplish upon our individual nature ; we do not believe that we are now, or ever were, truly dead to sin ; we have not faith in this great fact; and this is what St. Paul bids us believe — believe now, and believe at all times. Let us reckon by faith that in Christ Jesus we are both dead to sin and alive to God.
(1) Let us reckon on the fact. For in that He died to sin we died to sin. Notice the use of the word with by St. Paul. In verse 6, " Crucified with him " ; in verse 8, " Dead with him " ; in verse 4, " Buried with him " ; in verse 8, " Live with him." Crucified with Him, dead with Him, buried with Him, living with Him ; identification in crucifixion, in death, in burial, in resurrec- tion. And if we are to rest our faith unwaveringly, without any hesitancy, upon this great fact, we must remind ourselves once again that it is gloriously true that " our old man," that is, our fallen, unregenerate nature, not as God created it, but as sin defaced and defiled it, " our old man " was crucified with Christ, that the " body of sin " — so called because every part of our
342 A GOOD RECKONING
being has been corrupted by sin — might be done away or abolished.
(2) Let us reckon on the fellowship. Notice how the Apostle insists upon that, in this chapter. He says, " Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death ; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." " If we be dead with Christ " (verse 8), " we believe that we shall also live with him : knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more ; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once ; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead." What a wonderful argument that is at the close of chapter v., that magnificent contrast between the first Adam and the last Adam ! Every living soul is identified either with the first Adam or with the last Adam.
(3) Let us reckon on the continuity of the death and life. " In that he died, he died unto sin once for all " (notice the addition of these two words, " for all," in the margin of the Eevised Version), " but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." Is there not need to emphasize the continuity of this resurrection life ?
IT I have been disheartened, at times, when I have gone back to some place where there has been a gracious visitation of the Spirit of God, and many men and women have, by faith, identified themselves with Christ, in His death and risen life. It has been a great discouragement to me to find that they have gone back ; and that, when I have gone to the place again, they have had to renew this great act of identification with Him.1
IT An old divine says : " A sheep and a sow may each fall into the same quagmire; but the sow will wallow in it, whilst the sheep will bleat piteously, until she is extricated and cleansed." Such is the difference between the ungodly and the children of God. " Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not " ; that is, sin can never become his normal and habitual state.2