Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 6:1-13

INTRO: 'What bad habits can control or ruin a person's life'?
        Samson strangled a lion; but he could not strangle his own  desires. He broke the chains of his enemies; but he could not sever the cords of his own lust. He burned the crops of evil  men; but lost the fruit of his own virtue when burning with the flame kindled by a single woman. Bad habits can control and ruin a persons life.

         'Bad habits' let's call them what they really are...sin, Believers are prone to ignore the words written to us in 1 Jn. 2:1; 'these things I write that you may not sin'. God wants a cleansed and righteous people. A sincere Believer lives to be rid of all sin. Christianity is not some ritual we perform on Sundays. It involves abiding by Biblical standards of personal holiness. Are you guilty of personal holinessl? What about this church, do we strive for holiness? The Roman Christians, not unlike many Christian today, tend to answer this question by going to the extreme.

        On the one extreme there is liberty/license which reveals itself in either moralism which is holding to the teaching s of Christ as commands but not giving adequate attention to personal repentance for sin which leads to righteous living. At the same extreme is 'Cheap Grace' which is believing  'I've been forgiven and I will go on being forgiven, whatever I do, so I can do whatever I want.' The emphasis here is on taking advantage of God's free gift of grace. Come on, haven't you ever said, 'God I know this is wrong, but I also know you'll forgive me so I just have to do it'?

         Some in the church go to the other extreme called  Legalism. Here Believers are committed to justification by faith  and a serious attempt to live a righteous life BUT there is fear that contact with the unsaved world will give them some kind of spiritual infection that will hinder their religious growth.  So they manufacture a set of , rules and regulations designed to isolate them from all that is sinful about the world. Unfortunately the emphasis often switches from following Christ to following the rules.  As long as you follow the rules, they believe you will have victory over sin.

EXP: Paul recognized the extreme ways we try to accommodate or regulate our sin and this is why he writes Rom. 6:1-13. Paul was a gifted teacher and his repetition of the word 'know' in this passage indicates that he wants us to understand something very basic to Christianity. The basic truth Paul is teaching Believers in this passage is that justification by faith is not simply a legal contract, it's a 'living relationship' with JC. And this living relationship is the key to consistent victory over sin.

TRANS: Well, that's it. If you want to go home now you can. BUT if you want to see how this is fleshed out..stay a few more minutes and we will examine the text.

I. The Question 'To sin or not to sin'? (Rom. 6:1)
         Rom. 5 stated that as sin abounded, grace abounded even more. Perhaps it's thought ' Since I have been forgiven and guaranteed a place in heaven (fire insurance)  I can now get on with the business of living as I wish w/o any concern about the consequences of my actions'.

II. The Answer 'Not to sin'. (Rom. 6:2)
         To that individual Paul cries out 'May it never be.' And asks 'How shall we who died to sin, still live in it'? That's the $64,000 question. Paul is introducing a new aspect here of the doctrine of salvation. He tells his readers, Christians, that they have died to sin. A statement so powerful, so overwhelming that it required an explanation.

TRANS: In verses 3-13 Paul gives the reasons for this bold statement. He teaches that sin is dealt with thru a personal and intimate relationship with JC as symbolized by the act of  water baptism.

III. The Reasons.  (Rom. 6:3-13)
    A. Know that Believers are identified with Christ. (vss. 3-5)

        Both Jews and Gentiles were familiar with baptism. Gentiles who wanted to convert to Judaism were stripped naked and placed in large vats of water so that every part of their body got wet. When they emerged from the water they were considered a 'new person.' in the eyes of the Jewish community. So great was the transformation that everything related to the person's 'former life' was irrelevant their slate was clean. Paul's readers understood that baptism meant 'new life' completely and immediately.

         The Greek word for baptism means literally to dip or immerse, but it also has another meaning. It means to 'be identified with'. As in 1 Cor. 10:2 where it says all are baptized into Moses'. Israel identified with Moses as their leader. Thru baptism the Gentile proselyte was identified with the Jews. When Believers are baptized their former existence of life  'in Adam', in sin, comes to an end and a new life 'In Christ' begins. We were buried with Christ as we are immersed into the water and we are raised with Christ as we come out. Paul says that Baptism is the sign of our identification with Christ.  We share in His experience because we are 'In Christ'. Baptism shows that we too died to sin and are raised to life.

TRANS: Paul tells us here that the first reason we can have victory over sin in our lives is because we are 'identified with' and are 'In Christ'.  The 2nd reason found in vs. 6-7.

    B. Know that Believers 'old ways' are crucified with Christ. (vss.6-7)

         The NEB translates vs 6 this way. 'the man we once were has been crucified with Christ. The Greek tense is Aorist, it is a past event already done. The 'old man' was crucified with Christ (that which was 'In Adam') so that our body (the flesh) need not be controlled by sin. Sin wants to control and be our master. It finds it's foothold in our old nature. But in JC our old nature died and along with it went the power of sin to control our body.

ILL: When a drunk dies, he can no longer be tempted by alcohol because his body is dead to all physical senses. He can not see the booze, smell it or taste it...or desire it. He's dead! In Christ we have died to sins power over us so that we no longer are it's slave.

        Christ was crucified on the cross and sin has no power over him, right? We are 'In Christ', identified with Him, we share in His experiences so then what...sin has no power or control over us either. Those who have died with Christ now have a clean slate and are freed from sins control.

TRANS: Shall we sin so that grace will be showered upon us? NO! We can not continue in sin because we are now 'In Christ' identified with Him in His death. We can have victory over sin because Christ defeated it on the cross. Finally Paul wants us to

C. Know that the Believer now and forever lives with Christ. (vss. 8-13)
Read vs. 8-10

         Jesus died to sin once for all. On the cross Jesus said 'It is finished'. The nightmare of the control of sin and death is over for all who believe, for all who are 'In Christ'. Jesus lives in power and glory to reign over righteousness and life.  You see, the old man of sin, the person you were before you gave you life to JC is gone, dead, defeated. The new you, the child of God lives in the resurrection power of JC. Claim what is already yours.

         The key to consistent victory over sin is found in verse 11. (read it)...that's power! Paul didn't ask us to 'feel' as if we were dead to sin. He said to ACT on God's word and claim it for your self. 'Reckon' means to count  as your own.  God does not command us to be dead to sin and alive to Christ  but tells us that we already are.  Paul finishes by giving us practical application to verse 11. (read 12-13)

        Paul says make the choice. Once for all, to not allow your body to be available for sin.
            -Do you allow your feet to take you where your know Christ is denied, blasphemed or ridiculed?
            -Do you allow your eyes to see what's clearly a revulsion to JC.
            -Do you allow your tongue to bless God on Sunday and curse Him on Monday?
            -Do you allow you hands to take what is not yours or to strike a loved one in anger?

         Don't give your body the opportunity to sin. Make the decision today to live a holy and righteous life. God commands it and He makes it possible.

Conclusion
         How? By giving you the option to say no. Believers too can cry 'It is finished' when tempted by Satan. You can say 'Once for all, you have no power over me. Not today, I will not give in. Depart. I will not be disobedient, not today. Jesus already won this victory for me.' Then make the decision to yield your life to the living Christ. Make the decision right now to present your body to God  as an instrument of righteousness and holiness. Then when tempted to sin:

1. Know that you are identified with Christ in baptism. Every part of your life has been changed, you are a new person, dead
   to sin and alive to Christ.

2. Know that your old ways, your life 'in Adam' and 'in sin'  have been crucified  with Christ. Your former way of life is dead
    and so is it's power over you.

3. Know that as a Believer you are raised with Christ and share in  His resurrection power.

         The Spirit has come to make effective in you what Christ has already done for you. Believe..Make the choice! It is finished ! The power of sin is defeated when you are 'In Christ'. The road to victory over sin is a consistent and intimate relationship with Jesus.