Chico Alliance Church
October 7, 2001
Pastor David Welch
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“The Other Side of the Grave”
Romans 6:1-14
Review
Death has been on many minds over the past three weeks.
Thousands of funerals have been conducted in every available place of worship.
Death is an enemy.
Death stings.
The death experience has ripped its unwelcome way into every family since Adam and Eve.
It applies its craft through every conceivable means and manner.
The one stinging characteristic of death has to do with the severing of relationship.
In some ways, that can be considered a good thing.
Those struggling with the pain and agony of an illness often welcome death.
Others, struggling with the emotional pain of life, embrace death through suicide to escape.
The death of Christ paved the way to untold blessing for the one who believes in Jesus.
Paul wrote to the people of Rome to highlight God’s plan to conquer the devastating effects of death on the human race.
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After introducing his theme of righteousness in chapter one, Paul demonstrates the total inadequacy and inability of all men to measure up to God’s standard thus incurring the just penalty for rebellion – death.
Paul made it clear that no one, not even one person has ever or ever will live a life or righteousness necessary to relate to the Holy God.
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In light of such a dismal condition, Paul announces a most wonderful gift of God to all those who will embrace Christ.
God promises to justify every sinner who comes to Him in faith.
Biblical Justification goes beyond a declaration of innocence.
Justification credits perfect character, namely the character of Jesus to every believer.
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Paul enumerates many of the benefits of this special gift spanning the past , present and future.
In verses 12-21 he contrasts the consequences of connection with Adam and the blessing of identification with Christ.
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Entrance of sin/death came through Adam
Entrance of righteousness/life came through Christ 12-14
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12
Many died in Adam
Many receive grace through Christ 15
But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. Romans 5:15
Judgment and condemnation came to those in Adam
Righteousness and justification came to those in Christ 16
The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. Romans 5:16
Those in Adam are ruled by death
Those in Christ rule in life. 17
For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
One transgression brought condemnation to all associated with Adam
One act of righteousness brought justification of life to all associated with Christ
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. Romans 5:18
One man’s disobedience made many sinners
One man’s obedience will make many righteous 19
For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19
The Law augments and intensifies sinfulness
Grace always outdistances sin
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Romans 5:20
Sin ruled in death through Adam’s sin
Grace rules to eternal life through Christ’s righteousness 21
so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21
Grace outruns sin so that those doomed to condemnation might enjoy eternal life.
Having presented the means God used to deal with the penalty of sin, Paul begins this section in chapter six exploring the principles related to overcoming the power of sin.
Up till now Paul focused our peace with God.
Starting in this chapter he addresses our practice of godliness.
He shifts from our legal status before God to our living style under God.
God’s work related to eradicating the penalty of sin is often labeled salvation.
God’s work related to conquering the power of sin is often labeled sanctification.
So far we have explored the results of Christ’s death FOR us.
Paul now introduces some of the truths related to our death WITH Christ.
The next three chapters easily divide into sections based on the raising and answer issues.
The triggers to a new divisions appear in the form of questions.
“What shall we say?”
The first group of issues could be arranged under the heading “Understand you new identity with Christ.
How does all these truths about salvation help me overcome the power of sin in my everyday walk?
Paul tackles three issues here.
First, from 6:1-14 Paul raises and answers the issue –since the flow of grace exceeds the flow of sin, why not keep sinning in order to generate more grace.
Second, from 6:15-7:6 Paul raises and answers the issue – since we are no longer law bound why not keep sinning?
Third, from 7:8-13 Paul raises and answers the issue – since God had to break our relationship with the law through death is there something wrong with the law? Did the law kill me? Is the Law sin
In chapter 7:14-25 Paul deals with our new struggle with the old identity
In chapter 8:1-30 Paul deals with the application of these truths to a new way of thinking.
Finally in 8:31-39 Paul most succinctly yet eloquently asks and answers a number of applicational questions related to the God work in the believer and our security in his love.
Today I want to deal with the first issue raised in 6:1-14 regarding sin and grace / death and life.
There are seven thoughts in these fourteen verses to consider.
Reason the issue
Paul begins this section by dealing with a question anticipated from the previous statement regarding grace and sin.
Paul asserted in the last part of chapter five that wherever sin increases, grace increases all the more.
Paul then anticipates a logical, although lame, question.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? Romans 6:1
Since more sin generates more grace why not sin more in order to stimulate more grace?
Shall we remain in a state of sin so we can remain in a state of accelerated grace?
Jude abruptly altered the original subject of his letter in order to address those who would espouse such deviant thinking as Paul resoundingly refutes here.
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4
Jude did not view this crowd very kindly.
History records others espousing a similar heresy.
The Russian monk Rasputin during the time of Nicolas II proposed, “The more a person sins, the more grace he will received. So sin with gusto.”
Paul wasted no time categorically contesting this line of reasoning.
May it never be!
By no means! Never!
In addition to a flat
How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:2
Paul expresses a bit differently in his letter to the Colossian believers.
He takes a positive track.
Since we have been reconciled with God by our death and resurrection with Christ keep seeking the things above. Set your minds on things above not on the things that are on the earth for you have died and you life is hidden with Christ in God.
