Recovered By Grace: BREAKING LOOSE
Romans 6
Introduction
There is a power at work within you that will make it impossible to live for the Lord unless you break loose of it. Follow the train of thought in the book of Romans. The Good News is God’s Power to Save Everyone
Everyone needs saving - all have sinned. We cannot overcome on our own. Salvation is a matter of God’s grace, accessed by faith/trust. When we trust, God credits us with righteousness.
Paul recalls with the Romans their expression of faith when they broke loose from the power of sin by the power of the Gospel!
First, he addresses an abuse of grace: Believing that sin is not an issue because of grace! When sin increases, grace increases all the more. Good news - but not a loophole!
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
In this section of Romans Paul gives us a picture of the Gospel Power at work in our lives, the power of sin, and the recovery we experience when we break loose with the power of Christ.
1. The Power of Sin
Sin is mentioned 48 times in 39 verses in Romans in the NIV.
The power of sin is our common enemy.
Romans 3:9 “...All under the power of sin”
This enemy has roots in the beginning of the human race.
Romans 5:12 “…Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned…”
Paul says we have been slaves to sin (6:20 “you were slaves of sin”)
The power of sin is the power of death.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…”
Sin is powerful enough that we cannot defeat it on our own.
We’ve all tried…
-Trying to break old habits, develop new habits.
-Trying to just be good when tempted.
-Trying to avoid situations where we are weak
-All of our efforts ultimately failed because sin is the one power we cannot overcome on our own strength.
-We have three incredible realities to help.
2. The Power of the Gospel
Romans 6:3-5 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
We emphasize baptism a lot - but I want to note a few things:
-There are no discussions in the NT about whether or not baptism is important or essential. It is presented as such.
-No one is ever given the choice to be baptized or not. The decision is not baptism, the decision is discipleship.
-Disciples will be baptized, because, they are disciples!
-This passage isn’t to get them to be baptized, it is a reminder of their baptism and what it meant.
Baptism has everything to do with following Jesus.
-Baptized into HIS death. Buried with HIM
-He was Raised, so shall we also.
-Baptism re-centers our life around the life of Jesus.
-It is rightly described as a “New Life”.
Stegall: “There must be some point at which our sins are forgiven…some point at which we are transferred into Christ. The Bible teaches that the point is baptism. If you would like to study this further, see Acts 2:37-41; Galatians 3:27; Mark 16:16; Colossians 2:12.”
Merida: “Everything else flows from our union with Christ. The chief benefit that comes from Christ’s salvation is Christ himself. Much of what is true of him is true of us. His death was our death; his resurrection was assurance of our resurrection; his appearance in glory will mean our arrival in glory. Union with Christ means we have a new identity, new security, new power, and a new destiny (cf. Col. 3:1-4)."
3. The Power of Grace
Overcomes the power of sin
Romans 5:20-21 “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Releases us from being the Slaves of sin!
Romans 6:6-7 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”
Makes us alive to God and dead to sin.
Romans 6:11 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Reigns in the place of sin.
Romans 6:12 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”
Defuses sin, weapon of mass destruction for your spiritual life.
Romans 6:14 “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
4. The Power of Choice (6:17)
Romans 6:17 “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.”
-The Pattern is always Jesus: Death, Burial Resurrection
-This is something that can be obeyed.
-This is something that comes from the heart.
-This claims our allegiance.
-The power of Sin can only be defeated by the power of Gospel and Grace.
Five Power Choices to Make for the Christian life:
Powerful Prayer
Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." Are we praying about the choices we are making in life or are we letting sin take over?
Powerful Repentance
Romans 2:4 "...God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" Not just the words, but determination and action.
Powerful Confession
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Be aware of sin, the results of it, and bring it to God and to another person if you need to.
Powerful Submission.
Romans 12:1 “…Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Your life is an offering to God, by submitting to Him you release the power of sin over your life.
Powerful Faith
Romans 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
Grace Reigns even over our own inabilities and trip-ups.
Conclusion
Paul reminds the Roman Disciples that they were linked with Christ in their baptism and that calls them to live a life under the power of the gospel and grace!
Merida: “Putting away sin is not an automatic process… We must exercise our will so that the desires of sin do not reign over us. This is a call not to make peace with sin but to declare war on it. Do not let it reign!”
Are we still trying to win this battle by sheer willpower?
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Questions For Discussion
1. The power of sin is evident in this chapter and the next. What does this chapter say to the Christian
who says, “I just cannot help sinning; it is just the way I am”?
2. Why are we unable to break the power of sin on our own?
3. Discuss the idea that there are no discussions in the NT about whether or not baptism is important or
essential. It is presented as such. No one is ever given the choice to be baptized or not. The decision is not baptism, the decision is discipleship. How do you understand this?
4. How do you understand Romans 5:20: “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more”?
5. What are some of the ways Jesus is the pattern for our life? Can you name some examples from
Scripture that points us in the right direction?
6. Which of the five power choices is one you would like to know more about?
7. How would you tell someone how to declare war on sin in their life?
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Resources
Merida, Tony. Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Romans. Holman, 2021.
Sermon by Wilkerson: Sin Shall Not Have Dominion Over You!
http://www.tscpulpitseries.org/english/1990s/ts920504.html
Stegall, Ken. Two Roads to Heaven: A Study of Romans 1-8. 2023.
