Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Romans chapter 6 as we continue our study through the Word of God. This evening we are moving into the third section and the fifth division of this letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome. We have seen Paul’s opening salutation in Romans 1:1-7. Then Paul’s introduction in Romans 1:8-17. From there we moved into the first main section on condemnation where Paul shows that the whole world is guilty before God, Romans 1:18-3:20. Then, once we are all condemned, lost in our sins with no way out on our own, Paul speaks of our justification in the second main section of the letter, how we have been declared innocent before God by Christ. We saw how the righteousness of God has been revealed from heaven apart from the works of the Law and we are saved by grace through faith, Romans 3:21-5:21.
Tonight we will begin the third major section of this letter on sanctification where Paul shows us that once we are saved God is working in us to make us holy people, to conform us into His image, and how God’s Spirit will enable us to live a life that is pleasing to God, Romans chapters 6-8.
Now what we will see in chapter 6 tonight is born out of what Paul said in chapter 5 of Romans, “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21. In other words, we are saved by grace through faith and not by the Law through works! Some might have a problem with that idea of a salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Does a salvation by grace through faith permit or encourage sinful living? Paul is going to respond to that question and so, let’s begin reading in verse 1 of Romans chapter 6 and see what the Lord has for us this evening!
VERSES 1-2
It is truly amazing how people use the grace of God to justify their wicked behavior. An example of this is seen in the life of a Russian monk named Gregory Rasputin who lived in the early part of the last century. He believed, lived and taught that sinning and repentance leads a person to more of God’s grace and thus, he lived a very wicked life, believing this was the way to obtain salvation, the grace of God! Others feel that grace is not sufficient to keep people living holy lives and thus you must put people under the restraints of the Law! Both views are wrong, grace is grace, unmerited favor given to us by God; you can’t add anything to it for if you do, it is no longer grace!
Thus, shall we live in continual, habitual sin so that grace may abound? “Of course not!” “Perish the thought!” “God forbid!” Or to put it in our vernacular, “What are you, nuts?” Paul says we have “died to sin” and it is in the past tense meaning a specific point when that occurred, and it speaks of the day we were saved, it was then that we were dead to sin, or should be! Once we were dead in sins, (Ephesians 2:1), but now we are dead to sin. In other words, sin no longer has power over us; it is not lord of our life. It doesn’t mean that sin is gone, it is not extinct, we just are not slaves to it, under its power!
VERSES 3-4
Paul is saying that we all should understand this truth, and he uses baptism to illustrate his point. The word “baptized” or “baptism” means “to immerse or overwhelm something.” And when you look at how it is used here, it has to mean immersion. Paul is saying that when we are saved we are identifying ourselves with Christ and as He was buried in the tomb, we are buried in the waters of baptism, it is a picture of death, the death of the old life so that as we come out of the waters of baptism, resurrected you might say, we begin a new life in Christ. Paul put it this way in II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” And in Galatians 2:20 Paul tells us, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Now don’t think that baptism saves, Paul is only using it as in illustration of what takes place in a person’s life once they are saved and it is a visual picture of a spiritual truth. I believe we should be baptized in water, the Lord commands us to, but it doesn’t save us! Thus, should we continue in sin so that grace may abound? Certainly not! Walk in the newness of life that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord!
VERSES 5-7
Let me ask you this question. Do you know who one of the thieves who hung on the cross alongside of Jesus was? It was Paul’s father! Shocked? Paul said that the old man was crucified with Christ! Sorry about that, obviously that is not Paul’s point here, but I did want to see if you were paying attention!
Now verse 5 is better translated “Since we have been united together in the likeness of His death . . .” and not “For if . . .” Also, that phrase “united together” is a botanical term and it speaks of growing together, growing together in Christ, that our life is entwined with His! Paul said in Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” And Jesus said in John 15:5-7, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
Thus, apart from Christ, separated from Him, we are lifeless, we will die spiritually, there will be no fruit born in our lives. But, in Him we will have abundant life, we will be alive spiritually speaking, and there will be abundant fruit born in our lives. Stay attached to The Vine, Jesus Christ!
Also, God is a superior Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, while man is an inferior trinity; body, soul or mind and spirit. When man was created his spirit was on top controlling his soul or mind with the body on the bottom. But when Adam sinned, when man sinned, his spirit died, and now his soul or mind is controlled by his body appetites, his flesh!
When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior we are “born again” and our mind is no longer controlled by our bodily appetites or our flesh because it has been crucified and we are now controlled by our spirit. Of this Jesus said to Nicodemus, “. . . ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” John 3:3-8.
Thus, the old man, the old life was placed on the cross with Christ and crucified, and the body of sin is put out of business, it is done away with, we are no longer slaves to it. The flesh is good for nothing, there is no good thing that dwells in our flesh and Paul tells us in Galatians 5:24, “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Put it to death; don’t allow that flesh nature to be resurrected!
Now that phrase “has been freed from sin” in verse 7 can literally be translated, “has been justified or declared righteous.” That is what God has done for us if we receive the free gift of life that is found in Him! Don’t be a slave to sin but be free in Christ!
VERSES 8-10
Again, this should be translated “Since we have died with Christ.” not “Now if”. Since we have identified ourselves with the death of Christ, knowing also that He was raised from the dead, it gives to us assurance that we too have been raised with Him! It is as Paul said in I Corinthians 15:20-22, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” If death has no dominion over Jesus, we can have assurance it will have no dominion over us! The new man does not just have life, but eternal life, everlasting life!
Thus, this new life that God has given to us we live unto God. Of this Spurgeon said: “If God has given to you and me an entirely new life in Christ, how can that new life spend itself after the fashion of the old life? Shall the spiritual live as carnal? How can you that were the servants of sin, but have been made free by precious blood, go back to your old slavery?” You see, it wouldn’t make sense to go back to the old life. Of this new life in Christ Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:17-24, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Also, in Colossians 3:9-10 Paul tells us, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” You are a new creation in Christ – not resuscitation but a transformation, thus, live accordingly!
VERSE 11
The word “reckon” is an accounting term, we have to put this into our account by faith that we are dead to sin and alive in Christ! Why is that? Because we still have these bodies of flesh and the flesh nature does try to resurrect itself and control our lives from time-to-time. Thus, by faith I believe the old life was put to death and we wait for the redemption of our bodies when this flesh nature will be done away with, when this corruptible body has put on incorruption and this mortal body has put on immortality. Paul put it this way in Romans 8:18-23, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” We wait for that day!
VERSE 12
Don’t let sin reign in your body as it did before you were saved. How often we forget that because we try to accomplish the work in our flesh, or we just don’t believe it, or we just don’t care or don’t know the truth. D. L. Moody used this true story to illustrate this point. He spoke of a black woman from the south following the Civil War who was set free from slavery but was confused about her condition and she asked: “Now is I free, or been I not? When I go to my old master he says I ain’t free, and when I go to my own people they say I is, and I don’t know whether I’m free or not. Some people told me that Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation, but master says he didn’t; he didn’t have any right to.” Don’t listen to what the Devil is saying to you, what the world is saying to you, what sin is saying to you, listen to Jesus who said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36. Praise the Lord for that, we are free!
How is that done? How do we walk in that freedom? How do we live like that? Paul is going to tell us in the next few verses.
VERSE 13-14
Here is the key to walking in freedom, don’t present the various parts of your body to the service of sin. I think the New Living Translation puts this idea across for us very nicely as it says, “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.” Tools or weapons can be used for good or for evil, thus, use them for good or you will incur a self-inflicted wound if you use these weapons, your body for evil! What do I mean by parts of our body being used for evil? Don’t let your eyes see things that are evil, don’t let your ears hear things that are evil, don’t let your mind wander to evil thoughts, don’t use your hands for evil, don’t run to evil and-so-on. It is as Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” And Paul said in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
The second key to walking in freedom and not remaining a slave to sin is to present yourself to God, let Him use your life instead of having your body be used as a weapon of evil, let God use it for good! Do you see the two step approach here: Crucify the old man, cut off any connection with the flesh life, do away with it. Now there is a void and that void is replaced with being used by God as His instrument to make beautiful music by so that the world might hear and be drawn to God. It is as Jesus said in Matthew 6:22-24, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Who are our serving, who are you a slave to? You see, whoever it is will be manifested in your life. May it be Jesus!
If you do these things then sin will not have control of your life, it will not be lord over you. That doesn’t mean you won’t struggle, what it means is that which once controlled your life is no longer in control of your life, God is! You see, true freedom is not to live after the flesh, but after God!
Lastly, it is not the Law that sets us free, the Law keeps us in bondage. But a life lived in the grace of God is a life that is truly free! It is as Denny said: “It is not restraint but inspiration that liberates from sin; not Mount Sinai but Mount Calvary which makes saints.” God is working in us, the sanctification process, as John tells us “Whoever abides in Him does not [habitually] sin. Whoever [habitually] sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. . . . Whoever has been born of God does not [habitually] sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot [habitually] sin, because he has been born of God.” I John 3:6, 9.
VERSE 15
Isn’t this the same question Paul asked and answered in the beginning of this chapter regarding sin? No, not at all. Wuest tells us: “The verb in verse 1 is in the present subjunctive, speaking of habitual, continuous action. The verb in verse fifteen is in the aorist subjunctive, referring to a single act.” In other words, the question is “What if I sin just a little, if I just dabble in sin? Since I am not under the Law that must be okay!” Paul is going to show us the problem with that kind of thinking, and some Christians feel this way, a kind of justification for their sin, “I am not perfect, just forgiven!” But Paul is going to show us we are not to think that way, we are to live holy lives, that is the goal!
VERSE 16
“I’m only going to try cocaine just this once!” “It is only one drink, it can’t hurt me!” “I only cheated on my wife once, and we were having problems back then anyway!” “It is only one magazine and God made the body beautiful, so what is wrong with me looking at these women who aren’t wearing any clothes?” Obviously this list can go on and you can put in it any sin you are trying to justify. In saying that let me now say this, once you open the door to sin it is hard to close! God said to Cain before he murdered his brother Abel, “. . . ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’” Genesis 4:6-7.
In other words, God told Cain that sin is at his door and it wants to come in to control your life, it wants you to become a slave to sin, don’t open the door, don’t let it in our it will rule over your life! “I can’t believe that, maybe just a little peek!” and as that door opens up, it flies open and before Cain new it, sin controlled his life, he was a salve to it and he murdered his brother Abel! God says what He means and He means what He says! Don’t be a slave to sin but be a slave to God, be obedient to Him. Don’t let the liberty you have in Christ put you into bondage!
VERSES 17-18
Paul speaks of us being slaves to sins in the past tense because now we are a new creation in Christ, the old things have passed away and all is now new in Him! Maybe some of you remember the Bob Dylan song, Gotta Serve Somebody. Let me just share with you a few words from this song because he does hit the nail on the head, we all have to serve somebody and it is our choice who we are going to serve. He said:
You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You might be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
And the song goes on, but I think you get the picture and the question is, “Who are you serving?”
Thus, don’t be a slave to habitual sin, don’t be a slave to occasional sin, you are free in Christ and thus, remain free! Continue to be obedient from the heart, an example of faith in action; for if we truly believe something we will act upon it, we will walk in it!
VERSE 19
It has been estimated that during the first century in Rome about one-third of the population were slaves, 33%, so this was an illustration that was easy for the Romans to understand. And here the idea is whatever you are rooted and grounded in; it will be hard to remove. Think of a tree that has just been planted, it is easy to uproot. But take that same tree some 15 years down the road and the roots are grounded, they are established and it would be very difficult to remove that tree from the ground. That is what we are to be in the Lord, rooted and grounded in Him and not to sin. It is as Jesus said, “. . . ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’” John 8:34-36.
The late Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, “As you go on living this righteous life, and practicing it with all your might and energy, and all your time. . , you will find that the process that went on before, in which you went on from bad to worse and became viler and viler, is entirely reversed. You will become cleaner and cleaner, and purer and purer, and holier and holier, and more and more conformed unto the image of the Son of God.” And John MacArthur concludes by saying, “No one stands still morally and spiritually. Just as unbelievers progress from sinfulness to greater sinfulness, a believer who is not growing in righteousness, though never falling back altogether out of righteousness, will slip further and further back into sin. God’s purpose in redeeming men from sin is not to give them freedom to do as they please but freedom to do as He pleases, which is to live righteously.”
VERSE 21
As you look back on the old life, how good was it? What fruit was born in it? What was the end result of that kind of life? It was bad, it wasn’t good. There was no fruit that God would accept that was born in the old life. The old life leads to death! Now that is not encouraging but Paul does not leave us there, he tells us . . .
VERSE 22
This is very encouraging for what the bondage of sin couldn’t do, Christ has done in us and we are free, we are fruitful in holiness and we have everlasting life!
VERSE 23
The Greek word for “wages” is OPSONION (op-so’-nee-on) and it speaks of rations for a soldier or a soldiers pay. If you want to be paid for your sinful life, the works of the flesh, the payment for you is death, eternal separation from God. It is as Clarke said: “Every sinner earns this by long, sore, and painful service. O! What pains do men take to get to hell! Early and late they toil at sin; and would not Divine justice be in their debt, if it did not pay them their due wages?”
On the other end is the grace-gift, the free gift of God which is eternal life by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! We all have choices to make but this one seems so obvious, why would I want to remain a slave to sin and be cast into Hell when I can be free in Christ and enter into eternity with Him? It seems so obvious and yet, some will and I guess what the Psalmist said is right, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1. Or this can be translated, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘No to God.’” Either way, they are fools for rejecting the free gift that God has for them in Christ, eternal life, freedom from sin, a new life in Christ! It doesn’t get any better than that! It is as Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
What a glorious promise that we have from the Lord and let me leave you with these words we read tonight from Paul, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.” Romans 6:4-9. Amen!