“Dead to Sin / Alive to Christ”
By Pastor Rich Paradis
Romans 6:1-14
We
have now spent 5 chapters of Romans answering questions related to our
justification. Questions like, “Why does man need salvation?” and “What has God
done to make salvation possible?” have been right at the center of the
conversation. But now chapter 6-8 will continue the conversation through the
lens of sanctification, the “setting apart” of ourselves to the Lordship of
Jesus Christ. God’s plan of salvation does not stop at justification, it
continues on in sanctification. (DRAW
THE DIAGRAM ON THE BOARD RELATED TO JUSTIFICATION, SANCTIFICATION AND
GLORIFICATION, NOTING THE POSITIONAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BELIEVER AND THE
NON-BELIEVER)
I.
What
have we seen thus far? Introduction
a.
We
have traveled through our outline thus far:
i.
Romans
1:1-15 – Introduction
ii.
Romans
1:16-17 – Theme: The Righteousness of God
iii.
Romans
1:18-3:20 – The Unrighteousness of all Mankind
iv.
Romans
3:21-5:21 – Righteousness Imputed: Justification
b.
Now
we will move along to the next theological section of Romans:
i.
Romans
6:1-8:39 - Righteousness Imparted: Sanctification
1.
It
is important to note that God’s plan of salvation doesn’t stop at
justification, but continues in sanctification and ultimately in glorification.
2.
God
is not only concerned with the believer’s status but also in his state, his
actual condition.
II.
Paul
considers a possible objection Romans 6:1-2
a.
Paul
now begins the conversation regarding sanctification with another possible
objection. He has utilized this methodology throughout the letter thus far and
will continue to use it along the way. (3:1, 4:1, 7:1, 11:1)
b.
The
thought from 5:20 was this: where sin increased, grace would abound even more.
So if that is the case, than a logical conclusion for those hearing this for
the first time would possibly be: If grace abounds more and God’s glory is
demonstrated more in the face of sin, than perhaps the way to go was to sin
even more.
c.
This
thought demonstrates an antinomian (against law) mindset. If obeying the Law
ultimately did nothing to secure one’s right standing before God, than to
engage in sin to ultimately demonstrate God’s grace and glory would make sense,
right?
III.
Paul
answers this possible objection Romans 6:2-4
a.
Paul
has a quick and clear answer: May it never be! By no means! Away with the
notion! Perish the thought! Paul has already taken this kind of approach in
3:8, but here it is really clear what he has on his mind in relation to this
possibility.
b.
He
continues by asking a question that will get right to the heart of his subject:
How shall we who have died to sin still live in it? Think of it this way as you
consider Verse 2b and Deb’s and my life here in North Carolina. The question is
not whether California still exists (it was not made extinct by us moving), but
whether Californian still has us in its clutches. There are good memories there
(just like sin may afford you some “good memories), but we’re gone from there.
We don’t live there anymore. It shouldn’t have power over us anymore, at least
not in an ongoing way.
c.
In
a similar way, Paul is not presenting the impossibility of committing a single
sin, but he will talk about the impossibility of continuing in a life dominated
by sin.
d.
Verses
3-4 are really neat. You may have heard words like this when you were baptized,
“Buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life”. Theologians
and commentators are not in agreement as to whether this “baptism” is spiritual
or the actual water baptism that the believers experiences. While I think that
both of these experiences can be seen in this passage, I lean towards the
“baptism” being discussed here being the spiritual since to opt for our water
baptism would seem to lean toward a view that would support baptismal
regeneration.
e.
The
spiritual reality here is that by faith believers are placed into Christ and
are therefore identified with Him. This reality is demonstrated and witnessed
to as a person is baptized in water at one of our churches. Just as in our
natural birth we are identified with Adam and His sin; in Christ and death, we
are identified and connected to Him. Because of this we can live a new life in
Him.
IV.
So
now what? Romans 6:5-14
a.
As
we consider Vs. 5, we encounter a word that is interesting to the entire
conversation that will follow. That word is “if”. The logic of this sentence
depends on perspective. The word “if” could be substituted by “since” as we
consider the whole passage. That ultimately will be the truth that is taught
here. But at this point, we are still considering the passage through the eyes
of the unconvinced that are perhaps receiving this letter.
b.
With
the assurance of the first 4 verses, we now can assume some things in light of
them. Verses 5-6 tell us that as believers are united with Christ in His death,
they are also united with Him in His resurrection. This act of death and
resurrection made possible the continuation of Vs. 5. We are now no longer
slaves to sin as we are in Christ. Vs. 6-7 continues the thought by saying that
we are both alive in Christ and dead to sin at the same time! Not the
possibility of sin, but the power of sin in our lives. This “old self” is our
regenerate self, our pre-Christian self is dead. It is powerless to enslave us
to sin.
c.
Verse
8 begins in the same way as Vs. 5. The same thought can be applied here related
to the “if”. Resurrection followed death in the experience of Christ. In a
similar way, a new life can follow the death of our “old self”. This is the
reality of practical sanctification, that process that continues throughout
your life after being justified in Christ.
d.
Verses
9-11 continue the thought with a powerful truth. When Christ died on the Cross,
He died for sin the one and only time that He would ever have to do it. When He
died for our sin, He died for all men for all sin for all time. He doesn’t ever
have to do that again and death has no power over Him. Now He lives beyond the
reach and control of that death. In a similar way, in Christ we are dead to sin
and its power from now on! It no longer has to have its power over us and its
hold on us.
e.
But
we as believers are more than just dead to the power of sin, we are alive to
Christ! We can now live for Him. The chains of sin that enslaved us are now
removed. We now have a choice to live for Him and celebrate victory in Him!
f.
Verse
12 begins with the powerful word “therefore”. In light of the truth that
precedes it, Vs. 12 tells us to live like a believer in our behavior and our
practice because of the position that we have in Him.
g.
This
new attitude of mind can now be lived out in action. The idea here is that from
this position of “dead” to sin, we can actually say no to sin ruling our lives.
The word “reign” is one of rulership. We are not to allow, because of the
resourcing of the Holy Spirit in us, sin to continue to rule our lives. As we
do allow this, we are not only testifying against the truth that has been
shared with us in the passage above, but we will also allow ourselves to “obey”
this ruler.
h.
The
end of Vs. 13 reminds us that you don’t have to do this, making your live one
of presenting yourself as an instrument of unrighteousness. Instead, you can
present yourself to God as one prepared to demonstrate righteousness with your
life.
i.
Verse
14 reminds us that the Law gave no enablement to resist sin; only grace can do
that. Sin doesn’t have to be your master; in fact you and the accompanying Holy
Spirit can actually master it as you move forward in your walk with Christ.
V.
An
Application For All Of Us
a.
To
continue in sin is to misunderstand and misapply the sacrifice of Christ.
b.
In
Christ, we can actually live above the power of sin to dominate and rule our
lives.
c.
Where
the Law kept us enslaved to sin, grace breaks the chains of sin and allows
victory to be celebrated in holy living.
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