Aug7-13: Victory Over Sin

 

Teaching Points

1. Why does Paul here say “dead to sin” and what does this mean?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:1—“What then”—This is still referring to chapter 5.
• Rom. 5:21—By Christ grace is able to reign through righteousness (justification).
• Remember this justification is really blotting out of sin by faith which necessitates a life of victory. Romans 6 tells us how this is possible.  
• Dead to sin is living a life of justification allowing grace to work in the heart.
• Living a life of justification and victory over sin is what is referred to as sanctification. 

2. How is it that one becomes dead to sin?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:1-4—We are baptized (by faith) into Christ’s death, buried in the watery grave, and raised to a new life in Christ.

3. What is the definition of  planted and buried?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:5—planted together—G4854: grown along with or united with.
• Rom. 6:4—burried with—G4916: bury with-very close burial (Col. 2:12).
• The term planted together is more than just buried. It is united with or grown along with so we can also be planted together in the likeness of His resurrection. In other words we are so closely united with Jesus that whatever He does we do with Him by faith. 

4. What is the significance of baptism according to Romans 6?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:4, 5—We choose to die to sin as Jesus died, then by faith we are buried under the water, when we come up out of the water it symbolizes that we are raised to a new life in Jesus. 

5. Why does Paul use the term crucified?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:6 Crucified with—Can a person crucify himself?
• We must choose to die to sin but we can’t make ourselves die to sin. God must give us the power to die to sin. But surrendering our will to God’s will, we die to sin.   

OBSERVATION:

• Being dead to sin is basically staying justified.
• Baptism is used to illustrate our spiritual death to sin and burial of sin and raising a new person in Christ with the hope of resurrection.
• Why does Paul use the word crucify rather than some other form of self-death? Paul wants us to realize we can’t die to sin on our own. We must choose to surrender to God and let Him put sin to death in us.

6. What does “raised to newness of life” mean?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:4—Newness of life--renewal.
• Notice Romans 12:1, 2—be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
• Rom. 6:2, 4-12 Sin no longer rules over us. We are set free from slavery to sin and we are to live a new life with Christ.
• If we are dead to sin we also have the hope of resurrection.

7. How is it possible for sin to not have dominion over us?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:11—reckon (consider) yourselves dead to sin but alive to God.
• Rom. 6:13-14—Yield yourselves to God.
• The secret is what we choose to yield to. We can yield our members (mind and/or body) to do sin, or we can yield ourselves to do God’s will  -- by our choice.

8. Why are we not under the law?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:14-16—because we are choosing to die to sin and yield ourselves to God’s will.
• Rom. 8:1—When we walk after the spirit by yielding to Christ, and choose not to walk after the flesh (continue in sin), we are not condemned by the law anymore.
• “Under the law” means the condemnation of the law because of sin for which the penalty is death.
• Grace includes the offering of justification, which removes the sin, which removes the penalty of death. 

9. Does grace give license to sin or continue to break God’s law?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:14, 15—No, but rather the power to live victoriously.

10. How does Paul summarize Romans 6?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:19—Just as you previously yielded yourselves to do sin, so yield yourselves now to do righteousness.
• 6:20—When you were serving sin, you did not have righteousness.
• Rom. 6:21—The fruit of sin leads to death.
• Rom. 6:22—Now,  you are made free from sin and have become servants of God and your fruit is holiness which leads to eternal life.
• Rom. 6:23—Sin brings death. God’s gift (grace) brings eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

OBSERVATION:

• “Raised to newness of life” means our will is set free from the power of sin, we have power for victory in Christ,  and we have the hope of the resurrection.
• Sin can’t have dominion or rule over us if we consider ourselves dead to sin and yield our will to God.
• Being not under the law but under grace means that we are not under the condemnation of the law because we are dead to sin and alive in Christ—Justified.
• Grace does not give us the right to continue breaking the law but gives us the power and desire to keep the law and thus stop sinning. 

SOP

• Is he now free to transgress God's law? Says Paul: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.” “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” And John declares, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” [Romans 3:31; 6:2; 1 John 5:3.] In the new birth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it is brought into accord with his law. When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto life, from sin unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has ended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. Then “the righteousness of the law” will “be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Romans 8:4.] And the language of the soul will be, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” [Psalm 119:97.]  {GC88 468.1}
• … Have you lived the Christ-life? Have you been seeking those things which are above? When you took your baptismal vows, were you dead to sin and to the world, or were you buried in baptism while you were still alive? It is an awful thing to be buried alive.  {BEcho, March 23, 1903 par. 1} 
• Those who are dead to sin and to the world are dead to fashion and pride. They are careful in the expenditure of means. When the gospel messengers enter new fields to carry the truth to those who have never heard it before, those who have died to the world contribute liberally for the support of these messengers. They give to this work every shilling that they can save. They spend nothing for selfish gratification or for the adornment of their children.  {BEcho, March 23, 1903 par. 2}
• Pray, oh, pray most earnestly, "Put Thy Spirit, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit, within my heart, that I may be sincere in keeping my baptismal vow." Pray that the intercession of Christ in your behalf shall not be in vain. Pray that unbelief shall no longer lead you to live a life that bears witness against the truth; no longer lead you to claim to be in God's service while in the life-practice, because of a perverted will, you reveal that you are not bearing the fruits of the Spirit. Pray for power to demonstrate to the world that you are dead to sin, and that your life is indeed hid with Christ in God.  {18MR 105.2}  

CONCLUSION:

• Dead to sin is living a life of justification allowing grace to work in the heart.
• Baptism is a symbol of death to sin, burying our old life of sin, raising to a new life in Christ of victory.
• Paul uses the word crucifed because we cannot of ourselves die to sin, this is something we must choose but only God can work it out in our lives.
• This new life in Christ is possible when we choose to change masters. Christ breaks the chain of sin and empowers us to continue to choose Christ’s way.  
• The secret in sin not continuing to rule over us is that we must consider ourselves dead to sin and yield to God continually.
• The reason we are no longer under the law is that we have been justified. Justification takes away the condemnation of the law so we are no longer under the death penalty.  
• Grace does not give us license to sin but rather gives us power for victory.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Have you been baptized into Christ’s death, buried your past life of sin, and been raise to a new life in Christ or are you still living the old life of sin?
• Maybe you were baptized but did not understand or experience death to sin and new life in Jesus. Will you choose now to experience this?
• Are you choosing to be crucified with Christ realizing you cannot change yourself?
• Are you choosing to live the new life in Christ by considering yourself dead to sin and alive to God?
• Are you yielding yourself to God’s will and letting him be your master or are you still serving sin?
• Are you experiencing the power of God’s grace for victory?