Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 6:14-23

Summary: In Romans chapter 6 Paul  introduces a new aspect of the doctrine of salvation. He tells his readers, Christians, that they are not to continue in sin because they have died to it.  A statement so overwhelming that it required an explanation.In verses 1-13 Paul gave the first of two reasons for this bold statement. He said that victory over sin is possible thru a personal and intimate relationship with JC.  In vs. 14-23 Paul gives the second reason we are not to continue in sin. And he uses the metaphor of slavery to explain it.

         Now you may be sitting there thinking I remember the  message on Rom. 6:1-13. Why do we need another message on how to have victory over sin? For one reason, Paul thought it was important enough to talk about it again. God thought it important enough to have included it in His Holy Word.

         Let's make it personal, How many times have you struggled and failed in the battle with sin in the past week...in the past 24 hrs .....how about this morning?  Paul says sin has made us slaves. But he then tells us that Believers can choose their master.  We struggle with sin with everyday and perhaps there is no more important, no more personally relevant topic we need to discuss.

INTRO:  I was in the Army and when the drill sergeant said jump, you not only jump, you ask how high? The Army tells you when to sleep and get up. What to wear and when to eat. They tell you when to shower and how to stand at attention. They tell you when you can go home and when you are to be back on base. The Army OWNS you and has no qualms treating you as such. You really have no choice but to obey or suffer the consequences. Then that glorious day comes when you are handed your DD form 214 (discharge papers). I remember as I stood in line with the other guys getting out of the Army at Ft. Dix  I saw the discharging officer walk to the middle of the group for one final salute.

         For the first time in 3 years, I had the choice of what I will do next. I could stand straight and tall, and give one final, and proper military salute OR I could cross my feet, put my hands in my pocket, push my stomach out (which really wouldn't have been hard to do with all the weight I put on in Germany) cross my eyes and go BLLLLLLLPPP! And he couldn't do a thing about it. It was my choice. The Army no longer owned me. It no longer had any control over me. I was free to do as I wanted.

TRANS: This is the essence of Paul's message to Believers in Rom. 6:14-23.

I. (Rom. 6:14-15)  Learn Something: Sin shall not dominate the Believer
         To learn means to gain an understanding of or skill in by study, instruction or experience. Paul is saying learn this and make it a part of your life. Sin  is no longer your master.  You no longer have a relationship of servanthood to sin. So don't continue in it. This is so important that Paul repeats here what he already said in vs. 1-2. This is something we need to hear repeated to us everyday. Living under God's grace does not give us the freedom to sin. Why, because sin is no longer our master.

II. (Rom. 6:16) Know Something: You can only serve one master
        To the one you are obedient, you are their slave. Paul said, yes, we were once slaves to sin. Sin was our master and  we did as sin said. We were powerless to say no to sin.   Sin owned us. BUT NOW, you have passed from the service of sin into the service of God. You have a new owner, you are now under new management. Your business now is to do what pleases God.

APP:  Paul says know that slavery is marked by obedience. Today we can become enslaved to many things. Some are slaves of things, they've got to have the newest, fastest, biggest or most powerful whatever on the market. 'He who dies with the most toys wins' is their motto.  Some are slaves to habits; drinking, drugs, gambling lying or anger to name a few. They allow these habits to dominate and very often ruin their lives and families as well. Paul says know that you will obey the things that enslave you. Slaves to sin will say they are in control but when asked to stop, they won't because their obedience to sin is further fueled by their disobedience to God. Know something, Paul says, you can only serve one master; sin or righteousness. Which will it be?

III. (Rom. 6:17-18)  Remember Something: You chose righteousness
        When you asked Christ into your life, you  chose to follow His leading, you chose to live according to His Word, you chose righteousness. The phrase 'you became obedient to that form of teaching' is not talking about some weak commitment to follow Christ. It is talking about your duty to live by a 'specific standard of behavior'.  That is to live righteously according to what is found in God's Word, without exception and without excuse. That is what you chose. Slavery to righteousness shown by your obedience to God's Word. Paul says    Remember that!

IV. (Rom. 6:19-20) Do Something: Serve God with Righteousness
ILL: Someone once said 'I want to be as good a saint as I was a sinner'. The idea is that we are to have the same and even greater  enthusiasm in obedience and commitment to righteousness, to godly living as we did to obeying our sinful desires in life.

APP: What did Paul tell us to do?  To present our lives in obedience to righteousness. This is a powerful call to commitment.
Are you ready? Because it is a call to slavery. To total obedience to forsaking the world with your sinful desires and following God in full obedience to His Word. Are you ready? Are you willing? God's Word has already said, you are able. What sin is stopping you?

V. (Rom. 6:21-22)  Question Something: What are the benefits of slavery
        To Sin: Shame. Choosing to sin produces shame in the life of the Believer, doesn't it? You all have felt it and know exactly what I am talking about. Shame so great that you don't want to be seen by anyone in the church family. So you avoid them at all costs. The benefit or fruit of obedience to sin as a believer is shame.

         What sin in your life are you ashamed of? Think about it for a moment. What is it that you are allowing to be your master in the place of Christ and righteous living?  Be assured your sin will be found out and it will bring you shame.

What are the benefits of slavery

        To Righteousness: Holiness leading to eternal life. Now that's the kind of fruit I want in my life. That is the kind of benefit worth seeking. But it requires a choice of obedience to righteous living according to the specific standards of behavior found in God's Word.

         Folks, there is no middle ground. You will either know shame or holiness. Paul tells us to question what benefits we are getting from our choice of masters.

VI. Consider Something (Rom. 6:23): Sin = Death      Jesus Christ = Life

 This is SO CLEAR. It really is a no brainer?  Both masters reward their slaves. Sin rewards with the wages of death. And this death is not only a future event but it is a present reality, you are dead to Christ. But your new master, Jesus Christ, rewards those who choose obedience to righteousness with eternal life. This benefit  is not just our future reward but a present reality. Thru obedience to righteousness we are made fully ALIVE in Christ.

ILL: Ireanaeus around 135ad said 'The glory of God is a man fully alive'.  Our spiritual life came with our union with Christ in Salvation, but fullness of life comes with our obedience. God will do great and mighty things in the life offered in obedience to Him.

Conclusion:
 Think about it. Do you really have a choice?  Can it get any clearer?  Obey righteousness and Live. Obey sin and die.

ILL: D. Martin Lloyd Jones has commented about living a life of total obedience to righteousness in Christ. He said ' You already have received all things that pertain  unto a life of godliness. You do not need another experience. You do not need some new gift. You have been given everything In Christ. You are In Him from the beginning of your Christian life. You are just a slacker and a cad, just lazy and indolent indeed a liar if you are not living this life.'

         Cuts straight to the heart, doesn't it? And O how it stings when we have something in our lives we are giving obedience to other than righteousness.  If we think God is not aware or is not concerned, we are a slacker and a liar. Be not deceived, the unrighteous will not inherit eternal life. Habitual obedience to sin reveals a heart in rebellion to God, it reveals you have never changed masters and that you deserve the wages of your obedience to sin and disobedience to God...death. But, habitual obedience to righteous living reveals a heart in devotion to God, it reveals new ownership, a deliberate change in masters from sin to righteousness resulting in the free gift of eternal life.

         A man was walking down the streets of LA with a sandwich board sign. On the front it read 'I am a slave of Jesus Christ'  on the back it read  'Who's slave are you?'