Reckon Ye Also Yourselves to Be Dead Indeed
We are called to live a resurrected life, reckoning ourselves dead to sin and alive to God, and to bear the burdens of others in the power of Christ's resurrection.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the transformative power of Christ's resurrection, urging believers to recognize themselves as dead to sin and alive to God. He highlights the importance of yielding to God, not as a daily act of dying, but as those who are alive from the dead, using their lives as instruments of righteousness. Simpson explains that the resurrection life equips us for fellowship in Christ's sufferings, enabling us to endure trials with joy and victory. He encourages believers to focus on the sufferings of Christ rather than their own, as they bear burdens for others and the Church. Ultimately, he calls for a life empowered by the resurrection to serve and uplift a suffering world.
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Our life from the dead is to be followed up by the habit and attitude which is the logical outcome of all this. Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ . . . but yield yourselves unto God, not to die over again every day, but as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God (Romans 6:11, 13). Further, Christ's resurrection life is given to fit us for the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:10). It is intended to enable us to toil and suffer with rejoicing and victory. We mount up with wings as eagles that we may run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).
But let us not mistake the sufferings.
They do not mean our sufferings, but His. They are not our struggles after holiness, our sicknesses and pains, but those higher sufferings which, with Him, we bear for others and for a suffering Church and a dying world. May God help us not to sorrow for ourselves, but put us at leisure, in the power of His resurrection, to bear His burdens and drink His cup.
Sermon Outline
- The Habit and Attitude of the Resurrected Life
- The Purpose of Christ's Resurrection Life
- The Result of Christ's Resurrection Life
- Victory over weariness and faintness
- Bearing the burdens of others
Key Quotes
“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.” — A.B. Simpson
“We mount up with wings as eagles that we may run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint.” — A.B. Simpson
“May God help us not to sorrow for ourselves, but put us at leisure, in the power of His resurrection, to bear His burdens and drink His cup.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We must surrender our lives to God and allow Him to use us for His purposes.
- We are called to bear the burdens of others in the power of Christ's resurrection.
- We must put the needs of others before our own and seek to alleviate their suffering.