[ ] 4/4/2010 #877
OUR LIFE IN CHRIST
Romans 6:1-10
INTRODUCTION: At conversion, the believer is justified by faith before God. The believer is declared righteous by God on the basis of Christ’s death in his place. In the preceding chapters, Paul explained how the believer has freedom from the penalty of sin. In chapter 6, Paul revealedhow the believer is delivered from the power of sin. God’s grace is not a license to sin. God’s grace provides new life and liberty through the person of Jesus Christ.
I. OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
A. OUR DEATH WITH CHRIST. (v. 3-4)
Baptism is a picture of our identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. When Christ died on the cross, He died for me and He died as me. On the cross He was sinless until my sin was placed on Him. I am now identified by faith with Christ.
“For He hath made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21)
William MacDonald: “There is a sense in which a believer attends the funeral of his old self when he is baptized. As he goes under the water he is saying, ‘All that I was as a sinful son of Adam was put to death at the cross.’ As he comes up out of the water he is saying, ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.’”
B. OUR LIFE IN CHRIST.
1. Our conduct. (v. 4) “walk in newness of life”
“Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
2. Our change. (v. 5) “we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection”
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you.” Ezekiel 36:26-27
II. OUR NEW LIBERTY IN CHRIST.
A. FREEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN. (v. 6-7)
The “old man” refers to our sinful nature that we received from Adam. We are no more in Adam but in Christ by faith. The “body of sin” has been rendered inoperative.
B. FAITH IN THE POWER OF THE SAVIOR. (v. 9-10)
Death has been “swallowed up in victory.” Our confidence is based on the fact that the risen Christ will never die again.
C. FRUITFUL IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. (v. 22)
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Eph. 4:24
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. Paul stated three things we are to know:
a) We are to know we share in Christ’s death and resurrection. (v. 3)
b) We are to know we are freed from sin’s power. (v. 6-7)
c) We are to know Christ will never die again. Therefore, neither will we! (v. 9-10)
2. Grace is not a license to sin but the liberation from sin's power and punishment.
3. Spiritual maturity is us growing in the likeness of Christ.
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Col. 3:10
4. Salvation is God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ. Have you received Jesus as your Savior?