Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the never-ending supply of Your grace. Thank You that when I am weak You are strong. Thank You for each new day and for each new wave of grace. Thank You for being the truth that sets me free. Amen.[1] – Michael Mason
Main Scripture: Romans 6:1-23
For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been set free from sin (5-7). The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God (vs. 10). For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace (vs. 14). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (vs. 23).
Associated Scriptures:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36-37).
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1).
Correlative Quotes:
These verses are important because Paul’s aim is that we would live in victory over sin. Christ’s death and resurrection not only paid the penalty for our sin, but also provided the power that we need to overcome sin on a daily basis. So, if this message leaves you somewhat confused, I urge you not to shrug your shoulders and walk away. Rather, chew on these verses like a dog with a bone, until you get the marrow of them into your soul. Paul’s idea is: Living in light of our union with Christ is the key to overcoming sin. To put it another way, don’t live in sin as you used to live because you aren’t the same person that you used to be.[2] – Steven J. Cole
Sin wants to be our master. It finds a foothold in the old nature, and through the old nature seeks to control the members of the body. But in Jesus Christ we died to sin; and the old nature was crucified so that the old life is rendered inoperative. Paul was not describing an experience; he was stating a fact. The practical experience was to come later. It is a fact of history that Jesus Christ died on the cross. It is also a fact of history that the believer died with Him; and "he that is dead is freed from sin" (Romans 6:7). Not "free to sin" as Paul's accusers falsely stated; but "freed from sin."[3] – Warren Wiersbe
Sin is in one respect a faithful master. His pay day is sure. His wages are death. Note it is not divine judgment that is in view for the moment, but sin’s wages. Death is the wages of sin, but “after this the judgment.” Penalty has yet to be faced at the judgment-bar of God. Through error to see this many have taken up with the error that physical death involves cessation of being and is both wages and penalty. Scripture clearly tells of divine judgment after sin’s wages have been paid. On the other hand, eternal life is a free gift, the gift of God. None can earn it. It is given to all who trust in Christ as the Savior of sinners. It is ours now, who believe the gospel. We shall enjoy it in all its fullness at the “end.”[4] – Harry A. Ironside
Study:
We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of a sin.[5] – C.S. Lewis
God doesn’t live in our time (2 Peter 3:8). I had a teacher who sometimes said, “Isn’t it about time that God…” and then she would finish the phrase with an idea that it was time or past the time for God to take action. The turmoil that was bothering her usually involved some potentially evil outcome that had her concerned. When the evil had become reality, or had passed without coming to fruition, she would move on to some other matter that would consume her, never again mentioning the earlier events. God is not like my teacher. He does not forget, forgive, or ignore iniquity. His memory is unlimited, eternal. God requires a payment for sin.
Our lives, both temporal and eternal, are the payment for the unrighteous acts we commit. We are sinners and the payment for our iniquity is death; physical death in this life and spiritual death and punishment in the life to come.
This truth is black and white; mankind will pay the penalty for their sin. (Psalms 1:1-6). But this doesn’t have to be. Jesus, knowing the severity of the penalty for sin prayed at the Mount of Olives the night before He was to be crucified, (Matthew 26:32) “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” The cup refers to the horrible wrath of God that awaits all who die without Christ as their redeemer. A wrath so unspeakable that Jesus sweat drops of blood during that prayer in anguish over the thought of it.
Jesus paid the price that was required for sin. He now makes that gift available to all who accept Him as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). He cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:9, NKJV). He rescues us from the eternal wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
Summary Statement:
God’s grace gives us freedom to choose between our sin nature that is rooted in Adam’s original act of disobedience and the righteousness of God. His grace is more than sufficient to save us, secure us, and separates us from the temptations to which we so easily fall.
Lessons within the Lesson:
How should knowing that you are free to live in obedience impact your decisions?
How should we react to temptation, and where is the power to resist it going to come from?
What are some of the steps that can be taken to make us “slaves of righteousness?”
How do we lean on God’s sufficiency?
[1] Michael Mason, Sufficient Grace, MyDaily Devotional, © by Thomas Nelson, All Rights Reserved, p.156.
[2] Steven J. Cole, Lesson 32: Dead to Sin, Alive to God, © 2015 bible.org, All Rights Reserved bible.org/seriespage/lesson-32-dead-sin-alive-god-romans-65-11.
[3] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright © 1989 by Chariot Victor Publishing, and imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
[4] Harry A. Ironside, Lectures on the Epistle of Romans, © Studylight.org., All Rights Reserved, studylight.org/commentaries/isn/view.cgi?bk=44&ch=6.
[5] C. S. Lewis, whatchristianswanttoknow.com/25-christian-quotes-about-sin/#ixzz3uGfokgpF.
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