Winning Over Sin Part 1
Living as God Intended
Living as God intended Romans 6 to 8
Winning over Sinning Romans 6:1-10
At my father’s funeral, many of my cousins whom I
hadn’t seen since childhood were present. When I
stood up to give a tribute, some of them gasped – I
looked so much like my father when they last saw
him!
I am my father’s son! But for many years I was living
a life that was out of sinc with his character.
During that time I was only like him outwardly
Living as God intended … not merely outward …
Paul here is dealing with HOW we live as God
intended
Winning over sinning – is critical…
Salvation is not only getting us into heaven,
it’s getting heaven into us!! (penalty/power/presence)
Romans – the gospel: God’s grace sinful man
“Shall we go on sinning that grace may abound…”
Ch 5 (One act of disobedience / one act of obedience …
Where sin increased (law), grace super-increased)
Can we live as we like, so long as we have trusted Jesus?
“May it never be!" Absolutely not!
Vs1-11 We should not because we are united to Christ
Vs 12-14 We need not because sin’s dominion … broken
Vs 15-19 We must not b. that would make sin our master
Vs 20-23 We dare not because it would bring disaster
Why can we not go on sinning?
1. We have broken with sinful living
(v.1-4,6-7)
HOW?
l. We have finished with our life of sin
v.2 - “how can … continue…” p.t. ‘to abide’ in it (happy)
God’s grace not only forgives, it delivers us from sinning
… not only justifies, it sanctifies
Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self–
controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age”
v.2 Because of our commitment to Christ
“May it never be!" emphatic. The thought is abhorrent
( Should a man who marries still play the field? )
The Christian life begins with repentance - death to sin.
“Died to sin” – the central truth (the rest of the chapter …)
How have we died to sin?
- Not died to the influence of sin (c/f v.11-13)
- We have died → reign of sin
aor. ind. active: “We died to sin; how can we live in it
any longer?” I did it – I chose / histcl fact (repentance)
We severed our relation with sin … we completely broke w. sin
reign (word – ruling king )
“the wrong side of the road”!
v.3-4 Because of our public confession in baptism
The symbolism of baptism … death
v.3 “all of us who were … into (‘with respect to’) His
death”
Baptism represents the one, irreversible step
“We were buried” = death has occurred
(Baptism is the external proof of death to sin,
just as burial is the external proof of physical death)
HOW have we broken with sinful living?
ll. We are freed from our slavery to sin
v7 – “anyone … freed” → ‘oo’ = declared (shown) to be
Before – I sinned as a way of life, now I sin because I choose
The 3 statements in verse 6 … in reverse order
1. No longer slaves of sin – because…
2. “the body of sin” = sin-dominated (motivated & controlled)
Sin uses the body for it’s own evil purposes
“done away” – rendered powerless
because…
3. Our old self was crucified … Aorist Pass. (done to/for us)
not our lower self but our former self (what we were ‘in Adam’)
The only way of getting out of being ‘in Adam’ is to die!
Why can we not go on sinning?
2. We have begun a new life (v.4-5; 8-11)
- We are united with Christ
Verse 5 – You can't die with Christ and not be risen with Him
united = planted together as in graft
not meta … with (ingredients),
but ‘sun’ – mingled, bonded, (baked!)
- We are alive in Christ
l. We need to know this truth
Verse 4 - “we too may have a new life”
Illust – old leaves on oak tree resist falling, but come
spring, when new life invigorates the branches, they
have to fall off!
Verse 8 “We believe…” – pres. active … constantly
holding to a belief that controls our lives!
Christ did not come into your life to improve you …
replace you!
ll. We need to apply this truth
Verse 11 “consider yourselves dead to sin”
* present tense – constantly looking at yourself as a
newly freed slave
Why can we not go on