Explore the Bible Lesson Preview October 2, 2011 "It's All About New Life" Background: Romans 6:1-23 Lesson: Romans 6:1-16, 22-23 Motivation: Things that bind us: the law, marriage, our desires, slavery, and even death; Paul uses all of these as illustrations of freedom through Christ. Paul continues to answer an objector who seems not to understand justifications by grace alone through faith alone. 6:1 begins the third major section of Romans. st1:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#ieooui) } I. Living a New Identity (1-4) A. An Answer to Antinomianism "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!" (1-2a) Antinomianism (against the law) was advocated through the centuries perhaps most notably by Rasputin the evil monk who served the Romanovs in the last days of this Russian monarchy. An antinomian believes he is free from the constraints of any moral law because of God's grace. Baptists are often accused of (and sometimes practice) a theology which says "get saved and live any way you want." B. An Assurance to the Adopted "...How shall we who have died to sin live any longer in it?" (2b) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1606-7: 6:1, 2 "If salvation cannot be forfeited by one who has experienced God's forgiveness (cf. 5:10; 8:23-39), what is there to prevent the development of careless behavior? 1 / 14
The answer which Paul gives is that those who have died to sin cannot live in sin any longer. The apostle skillfully avoids any idea of sinless perfection. He does not say that those who are dead to sin never again are guilty of the commission of sinful acts. He does declare that those who are dead to sin do not live in sin as a way of life. They have a new life in Jesus." C. An Acceptance into the Body "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (3) While this verse refers to spiritual baptism by which we became a part of the Body of Christ, verse 4 more likely pictures the water baptism that symbolizes this experience. Baptism is a transliteration of the Greek baptizo' which carries the meaning of immersion, in this case immersion into the Body of Believers. D. An Analogy to the Act of Baptism "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." (4) Historically, Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the central fact in Christianity (Acts 1:3). His resurrection, as prophesied, validated His Sonship, teaching and authority. (1 Cor. 15:12-19) In the symbol of baptism, we are "raised to walk in newness of life." (2 Cor. 5:17). II. Living with Christ (5-11) A. Resurrected to Life (5-7) 2 / 14
1. Resurrection Identifies Us with Christ "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection" (5) Baptism is a powerful symbol of identification, both with Christ's death as well as His resurrection. 2. Resurrection Is Made Possible Through Death "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that w e should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin" (6-7) Resurrection is not possible unless a death first takes place. That's why Paul writes to the Galatians: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). We have no power through reformation of living flesh; it is only when we die and are resurrected that Christ's power breaks sin's hold on us. (Phil. 3:10-14; Rom. 5:8-10, 8:31-39; Gal. 5:16-21) B. Dead to Sin (8-11) 1. Christ Conquered Death "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him" (8-9) Paul exclaimed "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54b). As Christians, our identity, significance, security and satisfaction are all contained "in Christ". His victory over the grave is celebrated at every Christian funeral. 3 / 14
Rev. 21:1-8 2. Christ Conquered the Power of Sin "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God" (10) Continuing Paul's word to the Corinthians "The sting of death is sin..." (1 Cor. 15:56a). We are not free from the temptation of sin. God's Word clearly says that we are not sinless (1 John 1:8) However, Christ gives us the power to resist temptation (1 Cor. 10:13) with sinful behavior becoming an occasional lapse rather than a pattern of life. (Jude 24-25) 3. Christ Gives us a New Perspective "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to Christ Jesus our Lord" (11) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1607: 6:11 "In Rom. 6:1-13, Three essential elements of the sanctification process are given: (1) Know what salvation means (v. 3); (2) reckon or consider yourself to be dead to sin (present imperative); and (3) present yourself and the parts of your body to God as instruments of righteousness (present imperative, v. 13). We are called to live experientially what we are positionally. That sanctification requires our active involvement is clearly evident." III. Living As God Wants (12-14) A. Resist Sin "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you 4 / 14
should obey it in its lusts" (12) The two key words are reign (rule as king) and obey (make your subject). Paul is once again referring to warring kingdoms, that of Adam (death) and that of Christ (life). If a Christian is continuing in habitual sin, he/she has made a choice to allow such sin to bully him. We must recognize that sin's power over us is broken; if it rules in our life, it rules there with our consent. (2 Pet. 2) B. Recognize Stewardship "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (13) William Barclay comments in his Letter to the Romans (p. 87): "When a man goes out into the world, he is confronted with an awesome situation. As Paul thinks of it, both God and sin are looking for weapons to use. God cannot work without men. If he wants a word spoken, he has to get a man to speak it. If he wants a deed done, he has to get a man to do it. If he wants a person encouraged, he has to get a man to do the lifting up. It is the same with sin; every man has to be given a push into it. Sin is looking for men who will by their words or example seduce others into sinning. It is as if Paul was saying" In this world there is an eternal battle between sin and God; choose your side.' We are faced with the tremendous alternative of making ourselves weapons in the hand of God or weapons in the hand of sin." 5 / 14
C. Remember Your Position "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (14) In previous passages, Paul has described our new position in Christ as redeemed, justified, saved and set free. There's no reason to let sin bully you around. Grace has granted a position of freedom, not dominion. Going back to verse one, "Saved by grace" is not a license to sin. In fact, God's grace grants us the power not to sin. IV. Living for a New Lord (15-23) A. Obedience and Righteousness (6:15-16) 1. Grace Is Not a License to Sin "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Cert ainly not!" (15) Paul's argument in this verse parallels the argument in verses 1-2. In the opening verses of the chapter, he asks if we shall "continue in sin" (Greek: present tense - an ongoing activity); in verse 15 he asks if we shall "sin" (Greek: aorist tense - an occasional act). The first fourteen verses personify sin as a kingdom or dominion from which the Christian has been set free. In verse 15, Paul continues the thought to include sin, not as a lifestyle, but as a point of liberty. He emphatically states that grace contains no license to sin as we desire. 6 / 14
(John 8:32, 36; Heb. 11:25; Lev. 25:10; 1 Pet. 2:15-16) 2. Grace Involves A Choice "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves..." (16a) Paul uses the "slave" analogy throughout the remainder of the passage. It should be noted that one became a slave by birth, by captivity (war), as a result of a crime, or to settle a debt. None of these involved free will. Yet, inherent in Paul's argument is the fact that each of us must "present" himself to either obedience to God or disobedience in sin. There is an element of willful choice. (Jude 24-25; Rom. 12:1-2; Rom. 14:23) 3. Grace Results In Obedience "...present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slave whom you obey..." (16) Matt. 6:24. a. Rejected grace "Whether of sin leading to death" - Fundamental to the institution of slavery is absolute obedience. If one chooses to make sin his master, then sin will eventually lead to death, both spiritually and physically (Rom. 6:23). The devil has no happy old men. 1 Sam. 15:22, 16:7) b. Received grace "...or of obedience leading to righteousness." Our external righteousness is found only in Christ. (5:17; 8:10; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 3:9). 7 / 14
However, on this earth, the clear path to righteous living is obedience to Christ. (John 14:15). Since God has set us free from the slavery of sin and given us an abundant eternal life that begins at the point of conversion, we must follow our new Lord in righteous living. Isa. 64:6 B. Righteousness and Sanctification (17-19) 1. An Honest Appraisal (17) a. The upward look of thanksgiving "But God be thanked..." A sure sign of Christian maturity is a spirit of giving thanks to God. The alternative is a complaining spirit that dishonors God by rejecting His sovereignty and will for your life. (James 1:2-4; Rom. 5:3). Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Cor. 9:6-15. b. The backward look of remembrance "that though you were slaves to sin". It's important to know from whence you came. We are sinners saved by grace. We don't look back in guilt, but rather in thanksgiving, knowing that we are redeemed. Eph.2:1-13 c. The inward look of decision "yet you obeyed from the heart". We have within us desires to do good as well as evil (7:24). 8 / 14
We make choices "from the heart" to determine actions. d. The outward look of evaluation "that form of doctrine". This phrase refers to the correct teaching which the Roman Christians had followed. They discerned truth and obeyed it. e. The summary look of recognition "to which you were delivered." The Roman believers accepted sound doctrine and responded in obedience by repenting of sin and following Christ. (Eph. 4:14-15) 2. A Healthy Alteration (18) a. Freedom from sin "An having been set free from sin". Sin no longer has the power to control us. It is wrong to join Flip Wilson in stating, "The Devil made me do it." b. Fidelity of Salvation "you became slaves of righteousness" Paul described himself as a slave of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1; Phil 1:1). Here, he commends the Romans for becoming slaves of righteousness (right living). 2 Cor. 5:20-21 9 / 14
3. A Human Analogy (19) "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to holiness" (19) William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, p. 89: "Paul actually apologizes for using this picture. He says" I am only using a human analogy so that your human minds can understand it.' He apologized because he did not like to compare the Christian life to any kind of slavery. But the one thing that this picture does show is that the Christian can have no master but God. He cannot give a part of his life to God, and another part to the world. With God it is all - or nothing. So long as man keeps some part of his life without God, he is not really a Christian. A Christian is a man who has given complete control of his life to Christ, holding nothing back. No man who has done that can ever think of using grace as an excuse for sin." C. Sanctification and Eternal Life (20-23) 1. Sanctification Leads Away from Sinful Practices a. Sin produces bondage "For when you were slaves to sin..." (20) "having been set free from sin" (22). Ultimately sin produces addictive, compulsive behaviors. Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. 10 / 14
b. Sin precludes holiness "But now, having been set free from sin...you have your fruit in holiness." (22) A Holy God cannot tolerate sin in His presence. Therefore, a sinful lifestyle will preclude holiness. They are diametrically opposite. Either the Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible. (Gal. 3:3) c. Sin results in death "For the end of these things is death" (21b), "Fo r the wages of sin is death" (23a). Sinful acts may lead to physical death (drunk drivers, drug users, STD's). But sin will always lead to spiritual death. It is the cost of doing business with the devil. Sin will kill fellowship, with believers and with God. (Gen. 3:3-6) 2. Sanctification Results in Righteous Fruit "your fruit to holiness" (22) Je sus said, "by their fruits you shall know them" (Matt. 7:20). A sanctified life will be a fruitful life (John 15: 1-8). Through God's Holy Spirit, fruit will evidence our walk with Him (Gal. 5:22-23). 3. Sanctification is Crowned with Eternal Life "and in the end, everlasting life" (22) "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (23b) 11 / 14
William Barclay, (The Letter to the Romans), p. 92; "Paul finishes with a great saying that contains a double metaphor. "Sin's pay is death," he says, "but God's free gift is eternal life." Paul uses two military words. For pay he uses opsonia. Opsonia was the soldier's pay, something that he earned with the risk of his body and the sweat of his brow, something that was due to him and could not be taken from him. For gift he uses charisma. The charisma or, in Latin, the donativum, was a totally unearned gift which the army sometimes received. On special occasions, for instance on his birthday, or on his accession to the throne, or the anniversary of it, an emperor handed out a free gift of money to the army. It had not been earned; it was a gift of the emperor's kindness and grace. So Paul says: "If we got the pay we had earned it would be death; but out of his grace God has given us life." (John 17:3; Mark 10:27-30; Phil 3:10-14) Application: 12 / 14
1. Everyone is slave to something. Heb. 12:1-2 2. We must choose our obedience. Col. 2:6-7 3. Rejecting Sin and Receiving Christ is the path to life. John 5:24, 6:28-29, 47 Leader Pack: Item 8: Handout: New Life Biblical Illustrator: p. 70: "Righteousness in Pauline Thought" Notes: **You may access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: www.hfbcbiblestudy.org ; Dates: 2011: 8/24-11/16 - Midlink & Meal; 8/25-11/17 - College Kardia; 9/30-10/1 - Men's Retreat at Camp Cho Yeh; 10/2-1010 Lamar Campus Launch; 10/9 - Lord's Supper all services; 10/13 - SBTC Young Pastor's Luncheon; 10/14 - Parent's Night Out; 10/15 - SPF to Hunt, fishing; 10/21-23 - Middle School Retreat; 10/22 - Summit Hoedown; 10/31 - First Fest; 11/6 - NY Eve and Ski Trip Unveiling Summit; 11/10 - UBA Quarterly Assoc. Meeting; 13 / 14
11/12 - Men Pray Event; 11/13 - Make it Your Church Orientation; 11/13 - Parent Commitment; 11/13 - Christmas Store Collection; 11/18 & 20 - Thy Will be Done Seminars; 11/24-25 - Thanksgiving Holiday, church offices closed; 11/27 - Thanksgiving Weekend; 12/1 - Women's Christmas Banquet; 12/2 - Parents Night Out; 12/3 - Christmas Store; 12/8-11 - Christmas Celebration 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm.; 12/11 - No Eve. Svc. or Eve. LBS; 12/17 - Candy Cane Lane; 12/17 - Deacon's Christmas Party; 12/22-23 - Christmas Holidays - church offices closed; 12/24 - Christmas Eve Services @ 2, 4 & 6:00 pm; 12/25 - Christmas Day - 1 svc. 10:00 am, no LBS; 12/31 - New Year's Eve Party - Summit. 14 / 14