Contents

Preface | ix

Introduction |1

Part 1: Volunteering for Christ

1. Two Men and Two Questions: The Gospel of Jesus Christ | 7

2. The Young Volunteers | 11

Part 2: Reckoning Defined

3. Thinking God’s Thoughts | 17

4. A New Identity in Christ | 25

5. God’s Image Bearers | 32

Part 3: Reckoning Applied

6. Our Responsibility to Resist Sin and Walk by the Spirit | 39

7. Paul’s Evildoing “I” in Romans 7 | 50

8. Calling Things That Are Not as Though They Were | 56

9. Now Enforce the Word of God in Your life | 61

Part 4: Reckoning Illustrated: The Cody Chronicles

10. A Thief Gets Saved | 71

11. Cody Repents | 74

12. Cody Reckons Himself Dead to Sin | 80

13. Cody Reckons Himself Alive to God | 86

14. Lonny Explains Sexual Purity in the New Covenant | 92

15. Cody Aligns His Desire with God’s Desire | 98

Part 5: Lifelong Love and Surrender

16. The Divine Attraction | 107

17. Surrender to His Ways | 114

18. Chasing the God of love | 121

Summary: A Model for Reckoning | 129

Conclusion: The Book That Reads Me | 133

Appendix: Scriptural Declarations of Freedom in Christ | 137

Afterthought: The Father’s Smile and Blessing | 145

Bibliography | 147