In this letter to the church in Rome Paul has challenged the Jewish (nationality) Christians and the Gentile Christians. In Romans 1:18-31 he informed the Gentiles that their unrighteousness was suppressing the truth. In Romans 2:27-28 he informed the Jews that their is no physical advantage over the Gentiles. In Romans 3:9-10 he also informed them that there is no actual division between themselves and the Gentiles because “none is righteous, no not one.” They were not superior to the Gentiles, in fact they were united based on sin. Sin made no distinction between Jew and Gentile for none are righteous. Having explained all that Paul then turns his attention to how those two groups could move from being universally united in sin to being universally united in righteousness. Starting in Romans 3:21 and going through Romans 5 Paul demonstrates three truths concerning this “universal Need” in righteousness. The first truth we noticed concerning this “Universal Need” for righteousness was… There was a New Law - Romans 3:21-31 The second truth we noticed was… This New Law justified people in the same way it always has - Romans 4:1-25 The third truth we will noticed… This New Law that justifies people through faith comes with many benefits or “Faith Promises” Having explained these three truths concerning the universal need for righteousness Paul then explains what this justification or “New Life Brings.” There are three things this new life brings with it. This new life brings “new freedoms” - Romans 6 This new life brings “new law” - Romans 7 This new life brings “new expectations” Romans 8 With that in mind let us consider our lesson for today on…(SLIDE)

In Romans 6 Paul explains how this new life in Christ will bring with it new freedoms. Some bad, some good but either way it is our choice which freedom we want to hold on to. (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 1 - 2 3

R O M A N S 6 : 1 - 2 3 God has always allowed his creation to choose whether to live for Him or die against Him. Being a child of God does not change that universal reality. Some people would rather live worldly, sinful, lives and die spiritually. We have all heard people say things like “I’d rather die than live like that.” The church at Rome was, in essence, saying just that… The Gentiles were saying “I’d rather die in sin than adhere to those Jewish “customs.” The Jews were saying “I’d rather die in sin than lower myself equality with the Gentiles.” God gives us the choice to live in sin and die spiritually. You can almost hear Paul’s exhaustion when he writes…(SLIDE)

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” The truth is “sin is pleasurable” even if it is for just a moment. (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 1

“choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” People see the “pleasures of sin” and sometimes say “that doesn’t look to bad.” Satan makes it look “good to eyes” for sure. (SLIDE) H E B R E W S 1 1 : 2 5

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light Even though sin is pleasurable for a moment and even though Satan makes it look “good” that doesn’t mean we “must” fall for the trap. What it means is that we have chosen to fall down the rabbit hole of sin.” (SLIDE) 2 C O R I N T H I A N S 1 1 : 1 4

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (SLIDE) J A M E S 1 : 1 4 - 1 5

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” If people choose J O H N 3 : 1 9

R O M A N S 6 : 1 - 2 3 If people choose death over life it is their choice. That is why we must help people understand the devastation the wrong choice brings. (SLIDE)

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death…23 For the wages of sin is death…” God’s children have the right to choose death, but we must do our best to remind them how deadly that choice is!!! (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 2 0 - 2 3

R O M A N S 6 : 1 - 2 3 The numbers are far fewer who die to sin and live for Christ daily. Paul wanted these Jewish & Gentile children of God to understand the benefits of living for Christ. Paul, in our text, gives two main reason why we are not to live in sin i.e. choose sin. The first reason is, as children of God, we “have” died to sin!!! (SLIDE)

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This death took place when they obeyed the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). When they buried their old sinful selves (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 1 1

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his… R O M A N S 6 : 3 - 7

…6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.” When they buried their old sinful selves in baptism they did so, so that sin would no longer reign over them. (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 3 - 7

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” Sin doesn’t have to have dominion/reign over us!!! Paul says, “don’t let Satan control you lives anymore.” He might be the “ruler of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31) but we are not supposed to be “of this world” anymore. (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 1 2 - 1 4

“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” So as we can see we are not to live in sin first and foremost because we have died to sin as children of God. The second reason, Paul gives, for why we are not to live in sin is… Because we are living “in Christ.” (SLIDE) J O H N 1 5 : 1 9

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” In fact Paul says we are not to even look back fondly at our past lives at all. (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 8

“We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This doesn’t mean we can’t reflect on it, it means we are not to look fondly at our past lives of sin!!! The reason for this should be obvious. When we lived in sin we lived separated from God. That’s why Paul then explains living for Christ means being obedient to God (SLIDE) R O M A N S 6 : 9 - 1 1

“What then. Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed… R O M A N S 6 : 1 5 - 1 9

…18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” R O M A N S 6 : 1 5 - 1 9

R O M A N S 6 : 1 - 2 3

With the division in Rome between the Jew and Gentile children of God Paul, inspired by God, is working hard to try and bridge that gap. This universal justification by faith, which led to this new life, brings a freedom in Christ for the Jew and Gentile in Christ. It unites the two into one (Galatians 3:28). R O M A N S 6 : 1 - 2 3

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1John 1:7

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Romans 10:17

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” R O M A N S 1 0 : 1 7

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” H E B R E W S 1 1 : 6

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” A C T S 1 7 : 3 0

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” M A T T H E W 1 0 : 3 2

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5

“in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” 2 T H E S S A L O N I A N S 1 : 8

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” 1 C O R I N T H I A N S 1 5 : 1 - 4

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” R O M A N S 6 : 3 - 5

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1John 1:7

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 JOHN 1:7

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1John 1:7