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Ten verses at the beginning of Romans 6 draw the reader into a position where he/she must consider his/her relationship to God. The drawing card of the text is what Jesus Christ did to save our souls from hell. Death is addressed at least twelve times in these ten verses. There is the death of Jesus, the death of the penitent believer, death to sin, and other variations of this somber reality. Bringing the reader’s mind to a crescendo in these ten verses, Paul then says, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6.11; emphasis mine, jb). Some thoughts are offered in regards to this mandate.

The believer is the antecedent of the pronoun you in this text. The believer is to reckon himself. No one else can perform what the believer himself is called upon to do. In attempting to understand the import of this command, we will explore the meaning of the key word, reckon. But, before we look at the meaning of the word, it is worthy of note that the Greek word [logizomai] translated reckon is used forty times in the New Testament, nineteen of these usages occurring in the book of Romans. As another bit of Scripture trivia, Paul used this Greek word eleven times in Romans four, a chapter of only twenty five verses. One could surmise correctly that this word is of tremendous importance to Paul’s purpose in writing the book.

Now, indulge me by looking back in the previous paragraph at the English spelling of the Greek word upon which we are focusing our attention. Logizomai begins with letters which belie its true origin and meaning, i.e. logos. Logic, reason, and thought are at the heart of the word; the admonition to “reckon yourselves” is an admonition which demands careful reason and reflection. It demands introspection as well as perspective. It cries for the believer to examine him/her self to get a grasp of who he/she really is. Whomever we as believers are, we are not who we used to be. We are different; we have a different destiny; we have a different purpose; we have a different view of life; we have a different mission; we have different affections; we belong to a different family. Indeed, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5.17).

Reasoned thought is not anti-God; it is totally consistent with God! Though the believer is at times carried on waves of emotions, he/she must always be irrevocably connected to reason! Faith is about reason and contrary to popular misguided opinion, is totally consistent with reasoned thought. God has not called us to believe a story that makes no sense; rather, he has called us to hear, consider, and totally embrace a story that makes more sense than all the world combined. God is the origin of truth, logic, right thoughts, and everything else that defines who we are, where we came from, what our purpose here really is!

To “reckon oneself” is to look at where we have been, where we are currently, and where we are going. Reckoning oneself is essential to improvement and to the realities of self and others. Reckoning oneself also forces the believer to conclude that apart from the finished work of Jesus Christ, we have not a prayer! We are who we are because Christ is who He is. There is almost a dichotomy of perceptions; on the one hand we are nothing, but on the other hand we are a child of the King! This reckoning is what ensures that humility and submission are eternally a part of the believer’s life. Never, ever stop reckoning yourself and growing toward greater service and love!

Questions:

1. Why did we conclude that the concept of reckoning was extremely important to Paul’s purpose in writing the book of Romans?

2. Why is reasoned thought not opposed to God? Why is faith dependent upon reasoned thought?

3. Why is it important to remember who we were and where we are going?

4. To what do we reckon ourselves dead? To whom/what do we reckon ourselves alive?

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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