Romans, Part 17
Romans 6:1-7
Introduction
- Continuing on in Chapter 6, we encounter specific instructions for our lives
- Paul begins to outline the way we should live; expounding on Rom 5:20-21
- It is in these principles … we (Gentiles) should pay very close attention too
- Read Romans 6:1-7 / Pray
Point 1 – What then? (1-4)
- What we now see Paul doing is turning the focus of his teaching to “what’s next”
- God declares the sinner righteous in His eyes once they have come to Christ
- But what we will see in Chapters 6-8 is that this is a process; not automatic
- The process Paul is going to define is called “sanctification”
-- Being transformed into the likeness of Christ; but not automatically
- 5:20 shows us that where sin increased; we also see (NEED) Grace to expound
- The deeper our sin is, the more we need to receive God’s Grace in our lives
-- Simply stated: The more we mess up – the more God needs to work on us
- We are a work in process; we’ve not automatically arrived, and we won’t either
- What we see Paul teaching from 6-8 is very important for the Gentile
- It is the baseline of how we grow in Christ; prayerfully we’ll heed his example
- V1 begins with a rhetorical question; not really expecting an answer
-- As if to say: Since we are now forgiven, we get to live like we want, right?
-- Of course not … and Paul clearly answers this for those who are thinking it
- However, there is something else going on; something that we see TODAY
Consider the worldly argument to this same logic: “If sin brings grace, and lots of sin brings lots more grace, shouldn’t we sin as much as possible in order to keep the Grace flowing from Heaven?”
- Then, it gets another twist: “We know that cannot be true, so then, the doctrine of Grace must be false and should be abandoned.”
- APP: With just a slight twist of the intention, we’ve created a logical argument against God’s Grace and why it was given to us
- This is what we must be on the lookout for; and it is why Paul doesn’t leave room
-- “May it never be” = “Absolutely not!”
- Then, he closes the door on interpretation by reminding us of what we’ve done
- V3 reminds us of the sacrament of Baptism; following Christ into death
- We are now identified with Christ; brought into a fellowship with Him
-- Baptism (Greek word baptizo) literally means “to submerge or to immerse”
-- When we are baptized we are completely immersed, no more holding onto us
- APP: It is a complete transformation that shows others we surrender all we have
- Identification allows you and I to have a part in everything that is God’s
-- It’s (if I may) – the ultimate back stage pass, it is the key to unlocking all doors
- APP: Without identification, we cannot be called Children of God
- TRANS: Once we are baptized with Him, we are then united with Him
Point 2 – United Eternally with Christ (5-7)
- Key Point:
-- IF we have been united with Him in death
-- THEN we will be united with Him in His resurrection (life)
Tierce Green song, “No Longer Mine but Yours”
Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Conclusion
- If we are dead, sin no longer has a hold on us
- We are no longer in charge to the bonds this world has on us
- This is incredibly comforting for those who are struggling right now with sin
- You can be freed, if you’d only turn away from the sin and flee to Christ
-- APP: It is what brings us sanctification -- we’ve been identified with Jesus!
- Pray
