Romans - Week 12

New Lives

READ

Romans 6:1-4

1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Paul makes the point that when people were crucified with Christ they were joined to Him in baptism. 1 Corinthians 10:2 refers to the Israelites being baptized into Moses in the Red Sea. They crossed over on dry ground and did not even get sprinkled. This indicates the basic belief about baptism is identification with Christ and His followers. Just as believers were co-crucified and identified with Jesus in His death they were also identified with Him in His resurrection.

REFLECT

If you have trusted in Jesus for salvation, are you now living a new life that shows you have been buried and raised with Him to newness of life?

RESPOND

Read Ephesians 2:6 to see what your position in Christ is now that you have been raised with Him.

Crucified With Christ

READ

Romans 6:5-8

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

Because the believer has been united with Christ in His death, he has also been raised to life as He was. Sin has lost its power over the person who has believed in Jesus for salvation. Before one’s salvation, Paul viewed him as a slave to sin. Now that the believer has been raised to life as Jesus was, he is free from the power of sin. And because the believer has died with Christ, he shall live with Him.

REFLECT

As you think about your identification with Christ, do you focus on the dying with Him or on being raised to new life with Him?

RESPOND

Read 1 Peter 1:3-4 to see the priceless inheritance every believer has because of trusting in Jesus for salvation.

Alive

READ

Romans 6:9-11

9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Some may want to ask the apostle Paul, How can you be sure of what you are saying? He answers in this passage. Jesus died once to break the power of sin; now He lives for the glory of God. Paul then relates this to the believer who “should consider himself dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” The believer’s hope is based on what occurred with Jesus.

REFLECT

As you question what’s possible about you now, think about what Christ accomplished for you in the past.

RESPOND

Share these truths with your disciple. Talk about how you can be thankful that the power of sin has been broken for you.

The Freedom of Grace

READ

Romans 6:12-14

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Over this passage one could write, I am not forced to sin. The power of the old nature has been broken so now the believer is free to please the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, no believer should let his or her body be used as an instrument or weapon of unrighteousness. Believers should use their bodies to do what is right for the glory of God. It is wonderful news for Christ-followers that sin is no longer their master.

REFLECT

Think about how blessed you are as a believer in Christ that sin is no longer your master

because you are not its slave.

RESPOND

Read Galatians 2:18-20 to see how Paul rejoiced to be freed from the law because Christ now lived in him.

Righteous Living

READ

Romans 6:15-18

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Some might think that because they had been freed from the law they could sin as much as they wanted. Paul refused such logic. Being a slave to sin, he wrote, would lead to death; choosing to obey God leads to “righteous living.” Paul wants believers to thank God they are no longer slaves to sin. Before salvation they were not free to please Jesus Christ, but after trusting Christ as Savior they are free to please Him.

REFLECT

Imagine what slavery is like. No such person is able to do what he chooses. This is the way you were before salvation.

RESPOND

If faced with some temptation, remind yourself that you do not have to sin. If you have trusted in Christ as Savior He has broken the bond of slavery to sin.