How To Check Your Vital Signs

(Elab) = Elaborate

(Trans) = Transition

* = Strong Emphasis

Romans 6:11-14 (NKJV)

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Intro – The obvious craze in America during the past decade or so has been the Fitness Movement. If one were to base an assessment of Americans and physical exercise on our media reports and retail trends, one would perhaps draw the conclusion that the number of Americans exercising regularly is on the rise. Yet we might be surprised to know that according to the Centers for Disease Control, 60% of Americans still do not exercise regularly, while 25% do not exercise at all. (Elab – Looks can be deceiving- more of us are becoming obese and out of shape)

Tragically, deception based on appearance is not confined to the world of physical fitness, but is also found in the family of God. For example, if one were to base a judgment on media reports and our sight, then one might conclude that with more “mega-churches” than the world has ever known, the family of God is not only healthy but also thriving. (Elab – We have more TV, radio and print media ministry than ever before)

Yet upon closer examination, much like the health of our citizens, the Church, or the Family of God, is not as healthy as we appear. (Elab – In urban areas we still see rising crime rates, especially violent crimes among our children)

Furthermore, in order to have a healthy church, we must have spiritually healthy Christians. (Elab – Many Christians pay more attention to their physical health than their spiritual health)

(Trans) For this reason, among others, it is imperative that we know what good spiritual health really is, and not just assume that because we are believers we are in the best shape available. (Elab – Some people believe because they have no visible symptoms that they are as healthy as they could be)

This text teaches us three of the many vitals signs of a healthy Christian. To be spiritually healthy:

I. We Must Have The Right View

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A. A spiritually healthy person has a proper view of self. In this text, the words “to reckon” mean to consider or to view. (Elab – How we view ourselves has much to do with how we behave)

B. Our spiritual sight must be based on our faith in God and not any trust in self. It is impossible for us to consider ourselves “dead to sin” without our relationship with Jesus Christ as our savior. (Elab – It is because of Him that we are able to have victory over death and sin)

C. Therefore, since we now consider ourselves dead to sin, the door is opened for us to view ourselves in the context of a new and spiritually healthy condition. This is known as being “alive unto God”. (Elab – Just as physical life is demonstrated by certain signs, so must spiritual life show some sign of its existence)

II. We Must Have The Right Authority

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

A. As the result of viewing ourselves properly, we now have the opportunity to live under the proper authority. (Elab – Everyone, whether saved or seeker, lives under some authority. We live under the control or authority of self or God)

B. Perhaps the most difficult problem we face is that many of us are attempting to live under both authorities. (Elab – This is unhealthy for us both physically and spiritually – “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways) (“No one can serve two masters”)

C. Yet when we are in good spiritual shape, we recognize that there is only one legitimate authority in this universe. That authority not only rests with God, but it is God. His authority is His very essence; He is authority. (Elab – Knowing this we can be assured that obedience to Him places us under rightful and legitimate authority)

III. We Must Have the Right Action

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.