11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here we have two parts of our sanctification described, namely, mortification and vivification, dying unto sin, and living unto God.
1. Mortification, or dying unto sin, Reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin; that is, look upon the death of Christ, as a strong argument against the reign and power of sin; account yourselves dead unto sin.
Now deadness argues three things:
1. Disability. Those that are dead are disabled from working. Proportionable to the measure of our death to sin, will be our disability to fulfil the lusts of it. Sin in a regenerated man is no more able to do all its will than a crucified man is able to do what he will; He that is born of God cannot commit sin 1Jo 3:9; not as others do, and as himself formerly has done.
2. Deadness to sin argues disaffection towards sin, as well as disability: when we die to sin, our love to sin dieth.
3. Deadness argues liberty and unsubjection: he that is dead is freed from sin, as the woman by death is freed from her husband; and the Christian that is dead with Christ to sin stands fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free.
Observe, 2. The other part of our sanctification here declared: and that is, living unto God.
This likewise consists of three things:
1. In having our sensitive appetites in subjection, and under the subjection and dominion of reason; when we are governed like men, by reason and conscience, not like beasts, by sense and sensual inclination.
2. In having reason illuminated by faith, guided and directed by divine revelation. And,
3. When this faith inclines and enables us to live unto God; when faith begets in us a resolution to obey God, and to persevere in our duty to him. This is to be dead to sin, and alive to God.
Observe lastly, Christians are said to be dead to sin, and alive to God, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Which phrase imports, that Christ is the root and principle of our spiritual life by faith in whom we are enabled to live to God: as the scion ingrafted into the stock, lives by the juice and nourishment it receives from the stock; so Christians are alive to God, in, by, and through Jesus Christ, receiving from him that virtue whereby their spiritual life is begun, carried on, and maintained, and shall in due time be perfected and completed.
From whence we learn, that Christ is not only a head of authority, but a head of influence to his church and members; He strengthening them, they can do all things, but without him, they can do nothing: that is, without an interest in him, and an influence of grace derived from him.