Knowing to Believing

“The death [Jesus] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 6:10-11 (NIV)

What if you're already free from that sin you keep fighting, and the only problem is you don't believe it yet? 

I remember the first time I saw my dad cut the head off a chicken. Instead of falling over, that chicken ran around frantically, flapping and racing in circles. I stood there amazed. My dad looked at me and said, "Son, you know what's wrong with that chicken? He's dead, he just doesn't believe it."

That chicken was already free from life's struggles. I just didn't know it yet.

You might be like that chicken. You know the Bible says you're free from sin. You've heard the sermons, read the verses, and nodded in agreement. But when that old pattern resurfaces, and you fail again, you don't feel free. You feel trapped, and because you don't feel it, you don't believe it. So you keep running in circles.

In today’s verse, Paul says, "Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11, NIV). The word "count" is a bookkeeping term. It means to stake your life on a fact. Paul’s telling you to stake your life on a fact, not a feeling.

You can know you're free from sin but still live defeated. Why? Because you don't live by what you know; you live by what you truly believe. And belief means you'd stake your life on it, regardless of how you feel.

When you gave your life to Jesus, the old you died with Him. That's not a feeling. That's a fact. Feelings change, but facts don't. When you are tempted, instead of wondering whether you’re free, declare the facts, "The old me died with Christ. This temptation has no power over who I am now."

The chicken was already dead. It just kept running on old programming. But you don't have to. You're already free, and now you can live like you believe it.

Prayer: Father, I confess I've been living by feelings instead of facts. I don't always feel free, but Your Word says I am. Help me count myself dead to sin and to believe it so deeply I stake my life on it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.