ROMANS:ROAD TO
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Free At Last
Romans 6:1-14
Jerry
A Collins
SCC
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Do we have
the power to overcome sin?
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How are we
now dead to sin in our lives?
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How does
baptism relate to our new life in Christ?
When God declared me righteous, justification, a brand new position before God that translated me from a state of condemnation to a state of righteousness—it also anticipated a new kind of life for me. A new kind of life that brings freedom from sin’s domination in my daily life here on earth. Jesus provided that for me too. (1) It begins a process of sanctification, the process of becoming progressively more righteous in my life experience. (2) This process is not automatic but involves growth toward maturity. (3) It requires my cooperation with God to produce holiness in my daily life. While God enables me to do so, I must also choose to follow making use of God’s resources for sanctification. (4) This progress will eventually conclude either upon death or the rapture to glorification. Here my sin nature will be removed. The reality is that sin has no further claim on Christ because He paid the penalty for sin. Sin no longer has a claim on me because He died as my representative and because of my union with Christ I am free from sin’s domination in my life! In our passage we learn of our freedom from sin’s domination over us.
1. OUR
A. We are dead to sin 1-7
1 The question is asked: The question is not whether we will continue to sin but whether it is morally acceptable to continue to sin. The fact that God has justified us in Christ when we believe mite lead one to suggest that since grace increases ‘all the more’ when there is sin, why not sin more so we could experience even more grace?
2a The answer: Of course not! In no way is
the abundant grace of God designed to encourage even more sin. That would be a
major misunderstanding! But why is this
so?
2b Because the believer has died to sin: The death suggests a specific point when the death occurred—at salvation! This death brot a separation from sin in my life—namely a separation from it’s power not it’s presence. This death has completely changed sin’s relationship to me. I am no longer in it’s bondage. However, even though I have died to sin, it does not say that sin has died! But because of this separation from sin’s power, it now is unnecessary for me to live in sin any longer.
3-11 Because believer baptized into Christ’s
death
3 Historical fact of it: Our baptism into Jesus Christ resulted in our death to sin when we believed. This spiritual reality is graphically pictured by believer’s baptism in water.
4 Statement of believer’s death and new life: Believers burial with Christ shows he in fact died with Him to his former way of living. The purpose of this identification with Christ’s death is that we might also identify with His resurrection from the dead bringing to us a new kind of life! This newness speaks of a brand new quality of life. Jesus resurrection was a new form of life. So, this work of God at salvation Id’s us with Jesus death, burial and resurrection—separating us from sin’s domination in our lives and in exchange giving us a new kind of life.
5 Confirmation of our new status: Our union with Christ in His death and resurrection is the basis and guarantee of our future resurrection. United in His death means we are also united in His resurrection!
6a Result is that our old self is crucified: The person we were before justification (powerless, ungodly, lost, enemy, sinner) is crucified with Christ. That person is now dead! It has not been eradicated but crucified. It’s power has been broken over you but it’s presence has not been removed. Not until heaven.
6b Purpose is to break sin’s power: We express our sinfulness through our bodies. Our crucifixion with Christ means our body no longer needs to be an instrument used to sin since we are no longer enslaved to sin. At salvation the power of controlling sin is broken, rendered powerless, nullified.
7 Result is freedom from sin: Our freedom from sin remains in force and it’s effects continue throughout the life of a believer. This status never changes. Sin no longer has the legal right to force its mastery and control upon a believer for he has died with Christ.
8 Statement: Because we died with Christ because this is true we will
also live with Him9 Statement: Death could not hold JC, our representative—it
cannot hold us either. Neither will die again
10 Statement: Jesus in His physical death died to sin once—not perpetually and His life is eternal. Resurrection life is eternal in quality and everlasting in duration. God is its source and goal!
11 Consider all of this to be true: We should definitely and constantly view ourselves dead to sin, free to live my new life in Christ! To count on this to be true. He gives us a command here but up to this point he only gave facts. Reckoning does not make it true—it is true anyway. Considering it to be true for yourself and keep on doing so!
2. MY LIFE MUST NOW BE DOMINATED BY GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS 12-14
12 Believer is not to let sin reign in his body: Since sin is no longer the master, we must stop carrying out its orders. Difficult to do this when controlled by something for so long like a job have to retire from, a relationship no longer have, a privilege you now have or have lost. Things have changed and time to reckon that to be true no matter the emotions or habits otherwise. There is a sense of urgency here. Sin wants to be king—it wants to take command. Stop letting sin reign! When temptation comes we do not have to yield or succumb to it! Free at last!
13 Believer is not to be an instrument of sin but of God: Negatively, do not offer your natural capacities to commit sin. Stop presenting the parts of your body for sinful use. Positively, offer once and for all yourself to God as a tool for His will. You have a choice either to present self to sin or to God. The stress here is to begin to act this way! Step up to the plate. To be a lifestyle. God is the rightful ruler now!
14 Believer is under the rule of grace: The Law only points out our sin but we have been delivered by grace freeing us from obligation to that Law. We are under grace.
Application:
1. Sin will deceive you by thinking that problems can be solved by the flesh.
2. Avoid two extremes: Some say there is conflict with no victory. Others say there is victory with no conflict.
3. Man cannot please God or have victory in his own strength.
4. For the unsaved the only deliverance is in Jesus Christ. Need redemption not reformation.
5. For saved, do not try to perfect salvation by your own efforts.
6. Do not try but rely on the power of God for deliverance from temptation to sin.
7. In relationship to sin, we
have died to it and no longer have to follow thru with it.