“For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:10-12.

A sinner is called to believe that Jesus Christ paid our sin debt to be saved.  A Saint is called to fight the good fight of faith that Jesus also died to give us victory over our sin nature.  We are given this victory over our sin nature at Salvation but it is maintaining this victory that requires fighting the good fight of faith.  We know Jesus gave us this power over sin but we find we cannot live the holy and righteous life we are called to live.  We have no victory in our Christian walk.  The TV preachers will motivate us for a couple of days until we can get to church on Sunday morning where we are given the method to “deny ourselves” as the scripture says but we struggle everyday with the lusts thereof.  We must die to self, we must crucify ourselves to be holy.

Well, I have some good news for you.  I’m here to tell you that you do not have to “die to self”.  Before you run get your sack cloth and ashes, please allow me to explain.  “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24.  Denying one’s self is not dying to one’s self but denying our self efforts or self will.  We have no power in our own self efforts or self will to deny sin.  If we could deny sin, Jesus’ death was in vain.  We must deny our self sufficiency and (here it goes) YIELD to God.  Stay with me here….

Before our Salvation, before we are born again by the shed Blood of Jesus Christ, we were unable to yield to God because we were not yet “alive unto God”.  “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11.  It is not until we are born again that we are spiritually alive.

Knowing that we are unable to deny the sin nature on our own, hence the Cross of Jesus would not have been necessary, and that we are now alive unto God, we are now given the ability to yield our mortal bodies unto Him instead of satan.  Regardless of satan’s power, he has no power over a child of God who is yielded to the Lord.   Realizing that satan has no power of over one’s self is a peace that can only come from on high.  Will he try? Absolutely.  Will he tempt you? Sure.  Will God test you to build your faith? Yes. But, knowing that you know that you know that Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross was not only for Salvation but for dominion over sin as well and now that you are a born again Believer you are alive unto God and now have the ability to yield to God’s power instead of satan’s…that is enough to make you shout Hallelujah!!! Quit fighting the battle of trying to “die to self” and instead begin yielding to God.  Be ALIVE unto God through Jesus Christ.  It is there we find the Resurrected life He has given us.  The finished work of Jesus was to give us this ability to be born again and alive unto God, yet we are choosing to be born again and alive unto flesh when we continually fight the flesh.  Yield to God, that is where our faith is built and our victory given and it is all because of Jesus Christ.- Donna Clark Warren