Dead in Christ

Dear Victorious,

I heard a preacher talking the other day on television about how Christians are "dead in Christ." He also talked about being "dead to sin." Exactly how is this possible? What does it mean in practical terms?

Harley M. - Moline, IL

Dear Harley,

It sounds strange but it certainly does have a practical meaning. People who are "dead in Christ" have received the same eternal outcome as Christ Himself. He defeated human death, rising above it to live with God forever. When we become Christians and submit ourselves to Christ, we are heirs to the same future. Similarly, being "dead to sin" means that our desires for things of this world are the same as would be those of a dead person. In other words, our desires and focus become those of God - and the trappings of this world have no influence on us any longer. We are "dead" to them.