July 15, 2012
Morning Service

Paul, in chapter 4, painted a picture of what faith looks like by examining the life of Abraham.  He shows us that it was not by works or circumcision that Abraham was made righteous but by faith.

 

Rom 4:3 For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

 

We found, in chapter 5, that our justification, which comes from Christ’s resurrection, opens up some unique blessings for the believer.  We are given peace with God, access to His grace, hope to rejoice in His glory, an ability to glory in tribulations (building patience, character =hope), salvation from the wrath of God, and a restored relationship with God.  We also got a glimpse of how much God loves us.

 

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

The chapter closed speaking of the free gift we have received from Christ, through His grace, forgiveness of sins and justification (Just as if we never sinned).

 

Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?  (2)  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

·         Paul again brings up a teaching he was falsely accused of preaching.

·         Here is his first reference to dying.  He says we have died to sin.

 

Rom 6:3-7 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?  (4)  Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been joined together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection;  (6)  knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.  (7)  For he who died has been freed from sin.

·         To understand Paul’s message here we must look at this from the spiritual point of view.   

·         Our water baptism (spiritually) symbolizes our death, burial and resurrection.  Our old man (sinful ways and desires) is destroyed breaking sins bondage upon our lives.  We die out to self and arise to live for Christ.  A change, transformation, must occur. 

 

Gal 3:27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ.

 

2Co 5:17 So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 

Rom 6:8-10 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  (9)  knowing that when Christ was raised from the dead, He dies no more; death no longer has dominion over Him.  (10)  For in that He died, He died to sin once; but in that He lives, He lives to God.

·         The sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross broke the dominion of death once and for all.  It never need be repeated.  He died once and will now live forever more to God.

 

Rom 6:11-14  Likewise count yourselves also to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (12)  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  (13)  Do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God, as one alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  (14)  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law, but under grace.

 

·         We are to consider ourselves to be dead to our old ways (Augustine).  He speaks very plainly here that we are not to allow sin to live in our lives. (Verse 12).

·         I love this comparison Paul uses here.  I often use it in my prayers.  Are we yielding our bodies to be tools of righteousness or unrighteousness?

·         This is the spiritual battle we fight daily.  Surrendering is the only way to win.

·         Sin has no more power over us. Fear and guilt are replaced by love, grace, and power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Rom 6:15-16 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace? Certainly not!  (16)  Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.

·         As we yield ourselves to sin we allow it to take control of our lives.  That choice brings forth death.

·         As we yield ourselves to obedience of God, through faith, the result is righteousness.

 

Rom 6:17-21  But thanks be to our God that you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  (18)  Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.  (19)  I speak in the manner of men because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you have yielded your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to lawless act unto lawless act, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness.  (20)  For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.  (21)  What fruit did you have then in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

·         In these times, a master had exclusive and absolute control over a slaves’ life.  He was able to control him at any and all times. When we yield to sin we are its slave.

·         However, when we obey from the heart and follow righteousness, we are freed from that bondage.  That does not mean we have lost our sinful nature or that we will never again sin; it is that we are free from sin being the dominating force of our life.  It no longer rules our hearts, God does.  He has set a way for us to receive forgiveness.

 

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

·         If He knew we would never sin again, He would not have to create this avenue for renewal.

 

Rom 6:22-23 But now, being made free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.  (23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

·         Our faith in Him now frees us to do things (fruits) that imitate our Savior.  We know in the end He has promised us life eternal.  We act with our eyes set on the future, not the past.

 

Phi 3:13-14  My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things which are ahead,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

·         Verse 23 sums up the choice each of us have to make.  We can choose, or make no choice, and receive our wages that are due us (what we deserve).

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,

·         BUT, the gift of God is eternal life.  We do nothing to deserve this gift; it is an act of grace (unmerited favor).

·         This gift comes to us by only one way; through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

 

Surrendering ourselves to God is an act of worship we must do daily.  Let’s yield ourselves to be instruments of righteousness and be amazed at what the Master can do with us.