Wanted: Dead and Alive
Romans 6:1-13 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Intro: We are planning to have a baptism service in a few weeks, so I wanted to spend a little time looking at some Scripture that shows us the significance of water baptism. Let me just say that if you are a Christian, but you have never been baptized in water, you should make plans to be baptized. Does it save you? No. However, we find that it was practiced by Jesus and expected by Him for all new believers. Believing and being baptized generally went hand in hand. Now, what if someone was baptized as a baby? Well, because we do not believe that baptism saves you or erases your sins, we do not embrace infant baptism. Baptism is something that should accompany or follow a confession of faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. A baby is not able to make a confession of faith in Jesus; therefore, if someone was baptized as a baby, we believe they should be baptized in water when they confess Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
-One of the amazing things about baptism is the symbolism it gives us, regarding the old life and the new. Things should become different in our lives once we renounce our former life of sin and selfishness. Life should take on a whole new meaning, because we are given a new heart and a new nature. We will look at this contrast more in a few minutes, but here is what God is saying to us through His word today:
Prop: Our union with Christ enables us to live our lives completely for Him.
Interrogative: What is this union with Christ, and how does it affect our lives?
TS: Let’s take a look at Romans 6 and we will see a picture of water baptism, and how it symbolizes our new life with Christ, helping us give ourselves to Him.
I. United with Christ (5)
-Our union with Christ is the key to life! Verse 5 talks about being united with Christ. This word united means far from being divine, but growing up in the very midst of the divine; growing up together with Christ. “United” means being closely associated in a similar experience - 'to be like Christ, to be one with Him.’
-When someone hears about Jesus, and responds favorably to Him, something happens in their heart. When someone hears that Jesus loves them, regardless of what they have done in the past, I believe their heart begins to cry out to Him in some way. When someone hears that Jesus can and will forgive them for every bad thought, every bad word, and every bad deed they have done, hope comes alive in their hearts. “Could it be? Can I really find peace? Can I be forgiven for my past? Oh, if it were only true!” Well, as the truth of the good news finds its way into their hearts and minds, faith builds up in their hearts, compelling them to call on Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. When they do believe and ask God to forgive them, they experience the beginning of what it means to be united with Christ. From then on they begin to grow up in Christ, becoming more like Him. They begin to share in His life. As Peter says, they become partakers of the divine nature. That does not mean that they become divine, but they do share in the good nature of God – and it changes their life!
-Christians, we must stay united with Christ! We must keep pressing on, becoming more like Jesus each day, and becoming more like Him. The key to your success as a Christian is to get close to Jesus, and stay close to Him.
-Now water baptism symbolizes for us at least two things in relation to our union and close relationship with Jesus. The first is the second point of my message, which is this:
II. We Are Dead to Sin Because We Died with Christ (2-7)
-There were some people who were accusing Paul of preaching a free-for-all gospel. Paul showed that God’s grace was so awesome and powerful, that man could never earn it. It had to be completely free. God’s forgiveness and grace is only available through faith in Jesus and His work on the cross. No one could become worthy of it by good behavior or anything else. Paul even said that where there was a lot of sin, there was a lot of grace. But then he asks this question, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death….”
-Baptism gives us a picture of what happens to our old life when we believe on Jesus and are united with Him. The old person dies! Just as Jesus died on the cross, we die to our old life when we come to Him. This is what it means to be united with Him in His death, as Paul says in v.5. God wants the old “you” to die when you confess your sins and believe on Him. Picture the old “you” on an old western “Wanted” poster. “Mark Opperman- Wanted: Dead!” The difference is that you must turn yourself in and die. Nobody else can kill the old “you.” You must die the death of self, and surrender yourself to God.
-When we baptize someone, we put them under the water. In a sense, we are burying them under the water, as Paul says (buried with Him through baptism into death). The old “you” is dead and buried with Christ. The things you used to do are no longer as attractive. Why? Because the old “you” is dead.
-It is important to remember one thing here: Never resurrect the old “you!” Keep the old “you” dead and buried. If he tries to come back, make him lie back down and die. Paul said that he died daily. Why did he need to die daily? Because the old Paul kept trying to come back to life, leading Him away from Christ and back into His sin. This does not mean that we quit being who we are, or lose our identity. Rather, we find our identity in Christ. We find out who we really are. No longer are we defined by our circumstances or our background, or by the expectations other people have of us. We are defined by our relationship with Jesus. We belong to Him – not to this world – not to ourselves. We died with Christ, and who we used to be needs to stay dead.
-TS: Now, that’s only part of the story. The rest of the story has to do with what God is able to do with our lives once we come to Him for forgiveness and new life.
III. We Are Alive to God Because We Were Raised with Christ (4,5,8,11)
-V.4 tells us that “just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”
-When we come to Jesus and believe on Him, we are united with Him in His death and in His resurrection. The old “you” dies, but the new “you” comes to life. You are the same person, but you are not the same person. God changes your heart and transforms your entire life.
-Perhaps this is what Paul meant in Philippians 3, when he said he wanted to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection life will result in a new powerful life. Paul also describes this life transformation in 2 Cor 5, when he says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.”
-Without meaning to offend anyone here today, let me just say that you’ve never really lived until you’ve met Jesus. If you have not accepted Jesus as your forgiver and leader, you are not really living! You are existing, but not really living. Jesus said in 1 John 5:12, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Jesus also said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” There is a temporary existence without Christ, but not full life. Your life can change and take on a whole new level of meaning when you come to Jesus.
-Again, water baptism symbolizes this life change well. While it doesn’t save you, it symbolizes that a new person emerges from the watery grave. When a person comes up out of the water, they come up alive, a new person with a future and a hope.
-In v. 11 of our text, Paul says, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Are you alive to God in Christ Jesus?
-TS: If we are united with Christ through faith in Him, we can identify with His death and resurrection, dying to our old self, and living the new life God has for us. Then v.13 tells us that God has a purpose for us. We are not just dead weight in the body of Christ and in the God’s kingdom. He has something for us to do.
IV. We Can Offer Ourselves to God for His Use (13)
-Instead of offering ourselves to sin, Paul says to “offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.”
-Sin should not be our master; God should be our Master. He is the One who saved us from death. He brought us from death to life. Out of gratitude, we should offer ourselves to Him, so He can use us to do good and not evil.
-Maybe you have heard of other cultures, where if someone saves your life, you become attached to that person until you are able to return the favor. We know we can never repay Jesus for the price He paid for our lives. However, the appropriate response is to offer ourselves to Him to use us as He sees fit. In a very real sense, when we repent and come to Christ, we are returning to our rightful owner. We tried to run our own lives for awhile, but found ourselves in slavery to sin. When Christ finds us, He reclaims what was rightfully His, and we submit ourselves to Him for the rest of our lives.
-Now, what are some practical ways we can offer ourselves to God? One way is by serving others. What kinds of things did Jesus do when He was here on earth? He helped people who were in need. He helped people who were sick, poor, lost, or looked down on. Jesus offered hope to people who didn’t think there was any hope. He offered life to those who only had an existence. When we offer ourselves to God, He wants to use us in this same way. He wants us to be willing to be His hand extended, reaching out to those in need. He wants us to be willing to share the good news of His love and forgiveness with others. He wants to use us to build up other people within the body of Christ with encouraging words, prayers, and helping meet other practical needs.
-When we offer ourselves to God, we are saying, “Lord, here I am. Use me any way You want to.” God won’t ask you to do anything that can’t be done with His help. Trust Him and let Him use your life to bless someone else’s life.
Conclusion: As we close today, you are wanted by God: Dead & Alive! If you are united with Christ, then you will die to yourself and to sin, and come alive to God. As you offer yourself to Him, He will use you to make a difference in the world around you.
-When is the last time you offered yourself to God? When is the last time you said, “God, You have my permission to do anything You want with my life? If you want me to pray for someone who is sick, I’ll do it. If you want me to tell someone that there is hope for them, I will do it. If you want me to spend a little more time with You, I will do it.”
-If you have never offered yourself to God, asking Him to forgive you and become the leader of your life, I hope that you will do that today. What good reason is there not to give your life to Jesus? What do you have to lose? Only your old way of life. Jesus said whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life (or gives it to God) will find it. If you are ready to find your life today, I want to pray for you. If you want to receive God’s forgiveness and the new life He offers you, will you raise your hand?
-Maybe today you are a Christian, but you need to offer yourself to God in a new way. You know somehow that there is more that God wants from you, and there is more that He has for you. Will you offer yourself to Him today? If so, will you lift your hand to Him, letting Him know that you are willing to do whatever He asks?
-Let’s sing the chorus, “Lord, I give You my heart,” and make it your prayer today.
-Before we leave, if you have not been water baptized, please see me and let’s plan on following through with it. It shows that you are united with Christ, the old you is dead, and the new you is alive in Christ. It is a way to honor Christ, showing that you belong only to Him.
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