Reckoning ourselves dead to sin means accepting God's verdict that our old Adamic nature was crucified with Christ, so it no longer has to rule our daily behavior.
In Romans 6, Paul grounds this reckoning in Christ's own death and resurrection — Christ died unto sin once and now lives unto God. The believer is told, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Les Feldick teaches that at the moment of believing God reckons old Adam dead, even though experientially the believer still must wrestle with his influence.
Romans 6:11 — This verse contains the explicit command to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God in Christ — the exact phrase in the question.
Romans 6:6 — Explains the ground of that reckoning: our old man is crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed and we no longer serve sin.
The Bible teaches that in Christ a believer's relationship to sin has been fundamentally changed. Romans 6:6 says, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Verse 7 adds, "For he that is dead is freed from sin." The ground for this is Christ's own death: "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 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" (Romans 6:9-11). Scripture also speaks of the present experience of this death. Paul writes, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." (Galatians 2:20). And Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
Les Feldick teaches that when Paul says believers are dead to old Adam, he is speaking of God's verdict: at the moment of believing, God reckoned the old Adam crucified with Christ. The power of old Adam over our daily behavior has been broken. Les emphasizes from Galatians 2:20 that Paul could say, "I have been crucified with Christ... and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faithfulness of Christ." At the same time, Les is clear that although God reckons old Adam dead, experientially he is still with us. The believer still finds himself wrestling against the influence of that old Adamic nature. But it has been defeated and placed under subjection to the new nature that came in by God's power. God doesn't take the believer out of the world; He leaves us here to deal with all its pressures — including old Adam. Les connects Romans 8:13 to this practical side: through the Spirit we are to "mortify," or put to death, the deeds of the body. He presents the Christian life as involving discipline and a change of appetites. As believers are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of God. The choice to live under the flesh or under the Spirit is real.
The Bible and Les both give the same shape of answer. Paul says that Christ died unto sin once and now lives unto God (Romans 6:10). The believer is then told, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11). The reckoning is based on a completed work, not something we produce. Les explains that the moment we believed, God reckoned the old Adam dead and crucified with Christ. That is why Paul asks, "How shall we that are dead to old Adam live any longer therein?" The believer is not asked to make himself dead; he is asked to act on what God has declared.
Les is explicit: God has declared old Adam crucified and dead, but in experience the old Adamic nature is still present. He says old Adam is still in force experientially. That is why Paul speaks of wrestling against its influence. But Les also says the old Adam has been defeated and placed under the subjection of the new nature that entered by the power of God. So the old nature is no longer the necessary ruler of the believer's behavior; its power has been broken at the cross.
Les points to Romans 8:13 — believers are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. If you live after the flesh you will die spiritually, but if through the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the body you shall live. He stresses that the Christian life involves discipline, and that it is the Holy Spirit's work in the believer. Les also notes this is not merely giving up things you love; it is a change of appetites — the things you once loved you begin to hate and vice versa.
Les teaches that God does not force the Spirit-filled, useful life upon a believer. The present-tense choice between living under the Adamic nature or being led by the Spirit is real. Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." The New Testament imperative assumes the believer can act on the burial and resurrection accomplished by Christ; the believer is not simply swept along. He must decide to live as someone who understands and believes what the gospel has accomplished.
Christ's Once-for-All Death Unto Sin
Les explains Christ died once to take care of the damning nature of mankind, and since He now lives unto God, death has no more dominion over Him — a foundation for the believer's reckoning.
Believers Are Dead to Old Adam
Les clarifies Paul's question "How shall we that are dead to old Adam live any longer therein?" — the old Adam died the moment we believed, because God reckoned him crucified with Christ.
Old Adam's Power Broken, Still Present Experientially
Les teaches that old Adam has been put to death and his power over daily behavior broken, but God leaves us in the world and the old Adam remains experientially, though defeated.
Mortify the Deeds of the Body Through the Spirit
Les draws on Romans 8:13: if you live after the flesh you die, but through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body; the Christian life involves a change of appetites.
God Crucified Old Adam and Quickened Us
Les emphasizes that God broke old Adam's power by crucifying him and reckoning him dead, and then made us alive with resurrection power — we were dead in trespasses and sins and could not help ourselves.
Led by the Spirit
Les shows that believers are debtors not to the flesh, and that through the Spirit they mortify the deeds of the old body; those led by the Spirit are the sons of God.
Crucifixion Puts Old Adam Out of Commission
Les explains that our old man was crucified with Christ, and crucifixion kills and puts him out of commission, so that we should not serve sin — he that is dead is freed from sin.
The Believer's Daily Wrestle With Old Adam
Les says God has reckoned and declared old Adam dead, but in experience the believer still wrestles against his influence; however, he is defeated and placed under the subjection of the new nature.
Romans 6:2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
This question frames Paul's explanation: those who are dead to sin cannot go on living in it.
Romans 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Declares God's action in Christ: the old man was crucified so the body of sin might be nullified.
Romans 6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.
The principle underneath the command to reckon: a dead man is freed from sin.
Romans 6:9-11: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 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.
The command itself that directly answers the question, built on Christ's death and resurrection.
Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul's testimony that personal crucifixion with Christ is the defining fact of the believer's life.
Romans 8:13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Shows the present experience of putting the body's deeds to death through the Spirit.
No. Les teaches that reckoning is grounded in God's declaration. At the moment we believed, God reckoned old Adam dead, crucified with Christ. The believer is told to live in light of that fact, even though feelings may not match.
Les says God has declared old Adam dead, but experientially he is still present and we still wrestle with his influence. The difference is that his power has been broken and he has been put under the subjection of the new nature. So sin is no longer what we must serve.
Through the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body. Les connects this to the change of appetites God brings about; what you once loved you begin to hate. It is not merely self-effort but the work of the Spirit in the believer.
Les says the believer is presented with a real choice — to be led by the Spirit or to live after the flesh. Romans 8:13 warns that living after the flesh brings death, while mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit brings life.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 6:7-12 — Can a Believer Still Sin After Being Set Free?