God's Grace Not A License To Sin

CHAPTER 6 - GOD'S GRACE: NOT A LICENSE TO SIN BUT FREEDOM TO LIVE A NEW LIFE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AND MOTIVATION FOR HOLY LIVING -- FREEDOM FROM THE DOMINION OF SIN

(6:1-11) IS GRACE A LICENSE TO SIN SINCE GRACE TRIUMPHS OVER SIN?

OUR UNION WITH CHRIST HAS FREED US FROM THE DOMINION OF SIN TO LIVE A NEW LIFE

(looking at remaining in the state of sin in all that we were in our solidarity with Adam)

1. Our Union with Christ in Baptism Proves that We Have Died to the Dominion of Sin in order to Live a New Life (:1-4)

a. Our Baptism into Christ's Death

b. Our Baptism into Christ's Burial

c. Our Baptism into Christ's Resurrection

What is involved in having "died to sin":

1) Immunization -- sin can't touch us anymore; our experience refutes this; no need for Romans to teach us to resist sin

2) Justification only -- (Haldane's position) -- must be more experiential than this because of v.18

3) Emancipation -- Yes, but in what sense? Sin is personified throughout this section (chap.5ff) as reigning as a tyranical power that commands us absolutely; we have been delivered once for all from the penalty of sin and from its authority to dominate our life and command us

John Owens used to say a pastor has only 2 problems:

persuading unbelievers they are under the dominion of sin

persuading believers they are not under the domin. of sin

2. Our Union with Christ in His Death Guarantees our New Life (:5-10)

a. Because we have been Freed from the Dominion of Sin (:5-7)

b. Because there is no possibility of Double Jeopardy (:8-10)

when Christ died, He died to the dominion of sin once for all, and His sacrifice for our sins was accepted by God the Father who raised Him from the dead so that He now lives forevermore in new resurrection life

3. Application: Believe it! (:11)

Right Thinking is the Theological Fouundation and Motivation for Holy Living

not trying to persuade yourself that it is true; it IS true!

a. Dead to the Dominion of Sin (especially its penalty of death)

b. Living a New Life to God (culminating in eternal resurr. life)

c. All accomplished thru our Union with Christ