Likewise reckon ye also yourselves
Two things the apostle would have believers consider of
themselves, and reckon themselves, to be, in consequence of their
relation to Christ, who was dead, but is alive, and as agreeable
thereunto: the one is, that they would look upon themselves
to be dead indeed unto sin:
believe their discharge from it, and not fear condemnation and
death on account of it; and that it shall not be imputed to them,
or have any damning power over them, since Christ has died unto
it, or for it; and therefore should have no fellowship with it,
nothing to do with it, as being dead unto it, and that to them:
the other is, that they would consider themselves
alive unto God, through, Jesus Christ our Lord;
and that either in a legal sense, as justified persons; men in a
state of nature, or of "Pharisaism", think themselves alive, when
they are not; but when they come under a work of the Spirit of
God, they see themselves otherwise, and are convinced both of the
exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the insufficiency of their own
righteousness to justify from it; and when they have the
righteousness of Christ revealed unto them, and faith is wrought
in them to look unto it, and lay hold upon it, they are in
themselves, and in their own apprehensions, alive, and that "unto
God", in the sight of God; and their life of faith on the
righteousness of Christ, is unto the glory of God, and will be
followed with an eternal life with God, to which the justifying
righteousness of Christ gives them a title; and this is all
through Christ, and his righteousness: or this is to be
considered by them of themselves as sanctified persons, who are
quickened by the Spirit of Christ, and can feel the burden of
sin, see the corruption of their nature, hear the voice both of
law and Gospel, breathe after spiritual things, speak the
language of Canaan, walk by faith on Christ, and work and act for
him; which life of faith and holiness is "unto God", to his glory
and honour, and is "through Christ", and is maintained and
supported by him: or they should consider themselves not only as
being justified before God, and made alive by his Spirit, but as
such who shall live to and with God, through Christ, for
evermore; for as Christ died and rose again, and lives unto and
with God for ever, so they being dead to sin through him, and
being quickened together with him and by his Spirit, shall never
die the second death, but shall have everlasting life.