Reckoning by Believing
Reckoning by Believing
Based upon our seeing of the fact revealed in Romans 6, we must do our accounting work. We must reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (6:11). On the one hand, we must reckon ourselves dead to sin; on the other hand, we must reckon ourselves alive to God. This reckoning is based upon our seeing. I have seen that I have died with Christ and that I am growing with Christ in His resurrection. Therefore, automat ically and continually, I reckon myself dead to sin and alive to God. This is a matter of account ing. Under our account we have a great credit item—dead to sin and alive to God.
Reckoning is a matter of believing produced by seeing. Having seen the facts, we reckon our selves dead to sin and alive to God by believing that we have been crucified and resurrected with Christ. Once we have seen the fact, we believe that we are such. Then we reckon by believing what we have seen.
Many Christians have practiced the technique of reckoning themselves dead. Eventually, as all can prove, this technique does not work. It is not a matter of technique; it is a matter of seeing the fact that results in reckoning with a spontaneous