25. Romans Chapter 6 Verses 1–5 - Messages In Romans – Dead To Sin So Why Continue In Sin – The Great Truth Of Water Baptism Series

25. ROMANS CHAPTER 6 VERSES 1–5 - MESSAGES IN ROMANS – DEAD TO SIN SO WHY CONTINUE IN SIN – THE GREAT TRUTH OF WATER BAPTISM

[1]. PART 1 – CONTINUING IN SIN – HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

{{Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Are we to CONTINUE IN SIN that GRACE might increase?

Romans 6:2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it,”}}

Chapter 6 stands between the development of the great doctrines of the faith in the first five chapters and the struggle of a devoted man under the Law in chapter 7 and straight after, the victorious living in the Christian life starting at 8:1.

[A]. LET US SIN SO THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND – IS THAT WHAT IT IS?

{{Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase?

This chapter begins with the question that is based on the previous thought of Christian liberty that maybe is not properly resolved because Paul resorts to two questions to counteract any residual impression that we can keep sinning because God’s grace will cover all that. Here is the relevant verse from Chapter 5 – {{Romans 5:20 “The Law came in that the transgression might increase but WHERE SIN INCREASED, GRACE ABOUNDED ALL THE MORE”}}

The superficial reading of that verse is that the Law increased sin but the more the sin, so greater will be the grace of God to cover that. In other words, we have the liberty of sin because grace will cover that sin for us. The conclusion is that we can keep on sinning because grace will cover it all, as God is so gracious. It is a bit like the Catholic practice that one can keep sinning as long as one goes to the priest for absolution with a few “Hail Marys”.

We have discovered one magnificent operation of grace working like this - there was a principle at work that when law was established, so sin increased, because law stimulates sin through the inherited disobedience of the human race passed on from Adam. Where sin increased, so too did transgression and penalty. However God matched that with grace so that where sin increased, grace abounded even more. What conclusion might we draw from those facts?

One might, at this point, raise an objection. God’s grace is good, AND if our sinning promotes grace, then is it not a good thing to keep on sinning that grace may also be increased and keep abounding? By that habitual sinning we are promoting God’s grace among us; is that not so? Is the old sinful nature not augmenting the grace of God so that we should keep yielded to it?

“What shall we say then?” means, “What are we to conclude from what I (Paul) have been saying?” The next follow on question addresses the thought that may be in people’s minds and that is, “Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase?” but what it means is, “Can I continue in sin (for I love my sin), because there is increased grace for me?”

One great danger faced by some is that they know their sins are forgiven in a genuine conversion, but as time goes on, some get careless about their sin, and fall back into it, all the time thinking God has forgiven them, so it is not too bad a thing. That is absolutely wrong.

The converted man/woman ought to have a real consciousness of sin that stabs away at him/her when they have sinned, and not condone what they are doing. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, who when He came, now convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. (John 16:8-11). That truth is not just for the unsaved person but applies to the Christian.

When a Christian sins, the indwelling Holy Spirit convicts of that sin and the person can either harden his ears to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, or turn around and repent. Sin can get such a hold of a person, even the Christian, so that it can be difficult to turn around. This is especially so with sexual sin. A man may leave his wife to go live with another woman and the Holy Spirit strongly pleads with that man but he is resolute in opposing the Holy Spirit, and in time the Spirit’s pleadings falls on deaf ears. Be tender to the Holy Spirit’s voice.

The conviction of the Holy Spirit in the life of a sinning Christian, will point to righteousness and holiness. We know we have failed the Lord and it is like tarnishing the righteousness of God. We feel unholy. The reason for the Spirit’s conviction is to turn us back to the Lord in repentance. The third aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to convict of judgement. Of course this is essential for the unsaved person, but for the Christian, he too has a judgement waiting. That is our appearance before the judgement seat of Christ, a judgement not for sin but for faithfulness in the Christian life and for rewards. The Lord will never wring out a Christian at the Bema judgement for all sin is forgiven, but what effect has that had on rewards? I would say, “Much”.