The Newness Of Life

Romans 6:1-4

The Newness of Life

March 22, 2026

Up until this point, the Apostle Paul has been building a case for the necessity of salvation. We have been told that we are all sinners. We have been shown that there is one means of salvation: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been told that by placing our faith in Jesus for salvation, we are given the gift of eternal life in Him. Paul has let us know that the human race is doomed because of the sin of Adam! However, those humans who come to Jesus for salvation are saved from that doom and are given a new life in Christ! In this passage, we are given our first set of instructions pertaining to the new life. In this passage, we will learn how to Walk in the Newness of Life. There are three realities that we must accept.

I. V. 1-2 OUR PASSING – YOU HAVE DIED TO SIN! V. 1 An Argument - Paul anticipates the arguments of his readers and deals with them up front. The argument is based upon 5:20 Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. In that passage, we are told that in the presence of much sin, there is much more grace. The argument in verse one says, "Well, if grace comes as the result of sin, then shouldn't we just sin more so we can enjoy more grace?" Sadly, this is the philosophy of life that far too many Christians live by! Many know that they are saved, and that their salvation is eternal. They know they are eternally secure, so they live far below God's standard, knowing they can repent at any time. My family, this is a dangerous way to live your life! God will not be mocked! Be sure that you do not live under such a faulty ideal of life.

V. 2 An Answer - Paul's answer to their argument is brief and clear. If we are indeed dead to sin, how can we continue to live in sin? We can’t! In this passage, Paul uses death as an analogy of the Christian life. While we who are in Christ are more alive than we have ever been, at the same, we are dead! When death touches these physical bodies, there are certain changes that take place immediately. As soon as a person dies, they lose all need for the things they used to be in submission to. If a man were an alcoholic, as soon as he dies, he is no longer plagued by the need to drink. If someone is a drug addict, at the moment of death, they are free from their need for drugs. Death brings with it certain limitations for the person affected by it. The same is true for the Christian! When we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation, we died to sin. Now, I know that the old nature still yearns for sinful expression. It still wants everything it ever did. The old nature will not change until it dies at the end of these physical lives. But, when we were saved, we are made a new creature in Jesus Christ! There is a new man living in these physical bodies and he is dead to sin! He doesn't care about it. He doesn't want it. It does not appeal to him in the least! Now, some may have a hard time grasping that because it seems to you that you still want to sin as much, or more, than you ever have. The secret to accepting the reality of our passing away to sin is found in verse 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Here, Paul tells us that we must "Reckon" ourselves dead to sin. This word is an accounting term that means "to calculate." Paul is telling us to add up the evidence and then declare ourselves dead to sin! In other words, God isn't going to do it for you! You have to be actively involved in accepting the fact that you have died to sin, and therefore, you are no longer in bondage to sin, Romans 6:14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

II. V. 3-4a OUR POSITION – YOU ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST! - Verse 3 tells us that when we received Jesus, we were baptized into Him, and as a result, we were baptized into His death. Paul is not referring to water baptism here, but to the Baptism of the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. However, believer's baptism by immersion pictures this event. What do I say when baptizing? I am going to put my hand over your mouth to symbolize His death, I am going to put you under the water to symbolize His burial, I am going to raise you up to symbolize His resurrection. If we believe that Christ rose from the dead then you also shall rise with Him. What Paul is telling us is that when we got saved, we were placed into the body of Christ. We must accept that we are in Him! Placed there by the power of the Holy Ghost! Paul goes on to tell us that when we were placed in Jesus, we were also placed into His death! Colossians 3:2-3 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. We must accept the reality of our position in God! When I was a child I loved to swim. But when I became a father my priorities changed. Even though I still loved the water, I stayed out of the water to get a better view of my children as they swam. One hot summer day I invited the neighbors to swim with my children. Now though I have taught my children how to swim I had no idea if the other children could swim. So every time I saw a child get near the water I asked, “Can you Swim?” One child did not answer me with confidence, so I kept my eye on him. He did well in 3 feet, but when he wondered on into 4 feet and his feet could no longer touch the ground, I saw the panic! I was not planning on getting in the water, but when you are a swimmer, you can detect when someone is in trouble. When you recognize the reality of your position, you can detect when someone is drowning! You have a new position, family, and your new duty is to keep watch.