Through God's grace, we have been set free from the power of sin and given a new life in Jesus, and we are called to live in righteousness.
Good morning, my brothers and sisters in Christ! I am thrilled to be here with you today to embark on a journey through a passage in the book of Romans.
As we delve into this topic, I want to tell you of a quote by C.S. Lewis, "The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us." Let that truth sink in as we ponder the reality of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Now, let's read our passage for today, Romans 6:1-11:
Let’s first consider the context in which the apostle Paul wrote these words. The Roman church was struggling with the concept of grace and the implications it had for their lives. Some were arguing that if God's grace abounded all the more when sin was present, then perhaps they should continue sinning to experience even more of God's grace. Paul vehemently refutes this idea, stating that as believers, we have died to sin and therefore cannot continue living in it.
The power of sin is broken in the life of a believer because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. When Jesus died, He took upon Himself the sins of the world, paying the penalty that we deserved. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death, breaking their power over us. As believers, we are no longer under the dominion of sin but have been set free to live in the freedom and righteousness that Christ offers.
In verse 6, Paul writes, "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." Before coming to Christ, we were all slaves to sin, unable to break free from its grasp. However, through the work of Jesus on the cross, we have been set free from this bondage and are now free to live in obedience to God.
This freedom from sin's power is not just a theoretical concept, but a practical reality that we can experience in our daily lives. As believers, we are no longer bound to the sinful desires and habits that once controlled us. Instead, we have the Holy Spirit living within us, empowering us to resist temptation and live in righteousness. This does not mean that we will never sin again, but it does mean that sin no longer has the same hold on us as it once did.
In verse 8, Paul writes, "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." This is a promise for all believers. Because Jesus conquered sin and death, we can have confidence that we too will experience eternal life with Him. This assurance gives us hope and motivation to live our lives in a way that honors God, knowing that our ultimate destination is secure.
Furthermore, the broken power of sin also means that we are no longer under the condemnation of the law. In Romans 8:1, Paul writes, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." The law, which once condemned us because of our sin, has been fulfilled in Christ. As believers, we are no longer under the weight of the law's condemnation but are instead under the grace of God.
This truth should lead us to a life of gratitude and worship. When we truly grasp the magnitude of what Jesus has done for us, our hearts should overflow with thankfulness and praise. We should be compelled to live our lives in a way that honors and glorifies God, not out of obligation or fear, but out of love and gratitude for the incredible gift of grace that He has given us.
As we consider the broken power of sin in our lives, it is important to recognize that this is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, is a lifelong journey that requires our active participation. We must continually submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to work in our hearts and lives to transform us into the image of Christ.
This process of sanctification involves both putting off our old sinful nature and putting on the new nature that we have in Christ. In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul writes, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." As we actively engage in this process, we will experience the broken power of sin in our lives and grow in our relationship with Christ.
As believers, we are not only forgiven of our sins, but we are also given a new life in Jesus – a life marked by freedom, purpose, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
Sermon Central
