A look at how Pastor Chris explains the biblical meaning of being dead to sin and alive through Christ’s eternal life.
Understanding what the Bible means when it speaks of being dead is not always simple for new readers of Scripture. In many of his teachings, Pastor Chris explains that the concept goes beyond physical death. It refers to a spiritual change that takes place when a person believes in Jesus Christ. This idea appears often in his messages, where he shows how the Gospel moves people from spiritual death into a life filled with God’s nature.
In the first chapter of this teaching, we look at what the Bible records about the ministry of Jesus and how believing in Him brings believers into a new form of life. The Gospel of John says Jesus performed many signs so that people might believe He is the Son of God. And that belief, according to Scripture, brings life, life described as eternal and victorious, far beyond fear of being dead spiritually.
The Biblical Foundation of Life and Death
When the New Testament writers spoke about eternal life, they were not referring only to living forever. They were describing a new consciousness, an awakening to God’s presence and power. Chris Oyakhilome often emphasizes this distinction. He explains that eternal life gives clarity, strength and spiritual awareness. It changes how a person lives and thinks.
John 20:30–31 states that the miracles of Jesus were recorded so that people might believe He is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief, they may have life in His name. The purpose of the Gospel is therefore not just storytelling but transformation.
Jesus Himself declared, “He who believes in Me has everlasting life.” This is the foundation of Pastor Chris’ teaching on life and death. He explains that before salvation, humanity lived in a state the Bible calls death, a separation from God caused by sin. Romans 5:12 notes that through Adam’s disobedience, death came to all humans and began to influence every part of life. It brought fear, sickness, decay and spiritual darkness.
But according to the Christian message, Jesus changed that story. Pastor Chris highlights this victory whenever he teaches on spiritual life. Hebrews 2:14–15 describes how Jesus entered the very domain of death, defeated the one who held its power and set people free from lifelong fear. Anyone who believes in Him no longer lives under the rule of spiritual death.
Dead to Sin: A New Identity for Believers
One of the key Bible verses Pastor Chris often references on this topic is Romans 6:11, which says: “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
For him, this verse is not symbolic language, it describes a real shift in identity. In his teachings, being “dead to sin” means a believer is no longer under sin’s mastery. Sin loses its authority because the believer receives a new nature. Oyakhilome explains that spiritual death is removed, and spiritual life begins.
This idea appears again in 2 Timothy 1:10, where the Bible states that Jesus brought “life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” Pastor Chris points out that this is not only a promise of a future resurrection, but a present reality of living above fear and spiritual defeat.
To explain this transformation, he often uses passages such as John 5:24, where Jesus says that those who believe in Him have already passed from death into life. This is a central message of Christianity: believers are not waiting for eternal life. They have it now.
Teachings to Daily Christian Living
In many of his sermons, he encourages Christians to develop a consciousness of this new life. He argues that spiritual growth begins with understanding who you are in Christ. If a believer still sees himself as spiritually weak or tied to old failures, he cannot fully live out the new identity God has given him.
The teaching goes beyond theology. It influences how believers behave, make decisions and respond to challenges. Oyakhilome often remarks that someone who understands they are alive with the life of Christ will speak differently, act differently and approach problems with confidence.
He also explains that this life is not based on feelings. It is based on faith in what Christ has done. That is why he stresses meditation on Scripture, prayer and speaking the Word as essential habits for Christians.
Who Is Pastor Chris and Why His Teachings Reach So Many
For readers unfamiliar with Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, he is a Nigerian Christian minister and founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy. Over several decades, he has built a global ministry that includes churches on multiple continents, television networks, educational institutions and a publishing arm.
One of his most influential works is Rhapsody of Realities, a daily devotional co-authored with Pastor Anita Oyakhilome. It is distributed around the world in thousands of languages and has shaped the spiritual understanding of millions of readers.
He became widely known for his teaching style, which focuses heavily on faith, the Holy Spirit, healing and the believer’s identity in Christ. Many people follow his teachings because he explains complex biblical themes in simple, practical ways. His messages on spiritual life, victory and divine purpose remain central to his global influence.
This background helps explain why his teaching on being “dead to sin” receives much attention. It is consistent with his wider emphasis on empowerment, spiritual identity and the transformative power of the Gospel.
The Meaning of Victory Over Death in the Christian Message
Jesus’ resurrection is not only a historical event but a defining truth for believers. Romans 6:9 says Jesus, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Oyakhilome interprets this to mean that death, both spiritual and physical, has lost its authority.
He teaches that when the Bible refers to “Christ,” it often speaks not only of Jesus but of Jesus and His body: the Church. Because the head and the body are one, the victory of the head becomes the victory of the body. In this view, believers participate in Christ’s triumph over death and sin.
This theme appears in 1 Corinthians 15:54–57, where Paul exclaims that death is swallowed up in victory. Pastor Chris uses this passage to illustrate how completely the resurrection changes the believer’s standing. In his interpretation, Christians are not meant to live in fear of judgment or spiritual defeat. Their life is anchored in Christ’s victory.
How Pastor Chris Encourages Believers to Respond
Pastor Chris frequently ends such teachings by inviting believers to act on what they have learned. He emphasizes the importance of confession: speaking out the truths revealed in Scripture. This practice, he says, strengthens spiritual consciousness and helps believers walk in the reality of being alive in Christ.
He often leads prayers that affirm the believer’s identity, such as being filled with divine life, living in victory and walking in righteousness. These confessions, he explains, are not merely rituals but declarations that shape the believer’s mindset and expectations.
The message is consistent: spiritual life is not passive. It is meant to be lived boldly, joyfully and with awareness of the divine nature.
Pastor Chris’ Ongoing Influence Through Teaching and Ministry
Across Christ Embassy and LoveWorld’s many platforms, these teachings continue to reach millions. Television broadcasts, digital apps, books and global events extend Pastor Chris’ influence far beyond Nigeria. The message of life in Christ, victory over spiritual death and the believer’s identity remains central to his work.
His teaching invites readers and listeners to see Christianity not as a tradition but as a transformative experience. It centers on understanding what Christ has done and living in the fullness of that reality. Being “dead to sin and alive to God” is not abstract, it is the foundation of Christian life.
