our Bible reading today is taken from Romans the book of Romans chapter 6 we'll
read from verse 1 to verse 14 but to put things into context I think I'll read
from verse 20 of chapter 5 as well okay I'm so Romans chapter 5 verse 20 now the
Lord came in to increase the trespass but we seen increase grace abounded all the
more so that a sin reigned in death grace also might rain through righteousness
leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord what shall we say then
are we to continue in seeing that grace may abound by no means how can we who do
how can we who died to sin still live in it do you not know that all of us who
have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death we were buried
therefore we came by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father we too might walk in newness of life for if you
have been united with him in the death like he is we shall certainly be united with him
in the resurrection like he is we know that our old self was crucified with him in
order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be
enslaved to sin for for one who has died has been set free from sin now if we have died with Christ we
believe that we will also live with him we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never died again
death no longer has dominion over him for the death he died he died to sin once for all
but the life he lives he lives he lives to God so you also must consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ
Christ Jesus that not seen therefore rain in your mortal body to make you obey his passions
do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness but present yourself to God as those who have been brought from death to life and your members to God as instruments for righteousness
for seeing will have no dominion over you since you're not under law but under grace
well it's unlikely to happen but if ever I got around to writing my biography
it would be called I'm not the person I used to be
it would be in two volumes it would be sort of one life therefore in one in two massively different parts
so volume one I suspect would probably highlight my childhood years in Northern Ireland and then relocating to Australia with my family at age 16 and that volume would have lots of really massive changes in there for me
the second volume however would be the really crucial volume I think and by far the largest volume and it would begin with my getting married to Alison
and a story therefore it's continuing thus far 42 years of really radically and positively life-changing years
it's hard for me to think of a single area in my life that's not been massively impacted by being married to Alison for the good
and it's such that I would never ever want to go back to being single
now hopefully this picture of biography will help us move into Romans chapter 6
where Paul continues to spell out the result and the ongoing personal effect of the gospel in the life of every believer
and I think his point is is this as we move into it that essentially God's gospel grace changes everything in the life of a believer
those who are in Christ is the terminology that's been used through chapters 5 and 6
so a bit of revision as I normally do in in chapter 1 verse 16 and 17 he's already defined the gospel
and then chapter 2 and 3 he's actually worked through why every single person needs the gospel
and then in chapters 3 and 4 he's defined what the gospel is
and chapters 5 then through into where we're working at the minute chapter 6
Paul starts to unpack the practical results of the gospel in the life of the believer
and essentially what he's saying is look
the gospel means a totally new legal and social or relational standing
between God and his people for believers
radically and totally new
and in chapter 5 over the last two weeks we've seen Paul's list of the incredible blessings
that we can be absolutely confident are ours forever
why?
because we're now tied to Jesus as once we were tied to Adam
Jesus is our representative head
is what we saw last week
he acts for all those who are associated with him
every blessing won by Jesus
and enjoyed by Jesus
we as his people share in
but there's more to be said
as we move into chapter 6
because in chapter 6 Paul wants us to understand
that the gospel
also changes us
or transforms us
it's not just
that the gospel changes our standing before God legally and socially
the gospel actually changes us
transforms us
we have a personal experience of change
it transforms how we live
how we think
how we act
so here's the summary of chapter 6
flowing over from chapter 5
united with Christ
or being in Christ
united with Christ
everything
is different
we're not the same people
we were before we became believers
volume 2
of our biography
our spiritual biography
has begun
now
the question as we move into chapter 6
it's a confronting question
clearly
Paul has established that God's grace
is really gracious
really gracious
but does that graciousness have unintended consequences
Paul begins with two questions
which link us back to
his last statement
in chapter 5
verse 20 and 21
and Leigh's obviously on the ball this morning
because I should have got her to read that
but she's taken the initiative and read it
so it's excellent
she's more prepared than I am
for this
so
you don't want to swap do you Leigh
come on up
so the two questions link us back
to chapter 5
verse 20 and 21
see the two questions
what shall we say then
so
that links us back to chapter 5
the arguments are already going
are
and then the question flows out of that
so let's have a look at those two verses
in chapter 5
verse 20 and 21
now the law came in
to increase the trespass
but where sin increased
grace abounded all the more
the problem of sin
was always huge
for God
right from the time of Adam
but the introduction of God's law
sharpened the focus
on sin
in the time of Moses
and it showed even more clearly
because there was a written code
and you could evaluate
it showed even more clearly
how deeply ingrained sin
was in God's people
how extensive it reached
it showed even more clearly
the guilt of God's people
and even provoked
disobedience and rebellion
and we know that
don't we
you see a sign on the side of the road
speed limit
100
and you think
I want to go at 110
or 120
or 130
so the rule actually provokes
disobedience
but God's grace
was even bigger
than all of that
and God's grace
was so big
that it was seen
in the death of Christ
the death of Jesus
and so
Paul then anticipates
the question
that would follow from that
so it goes something like this
well
given
the graciousness
of God's
grace
does it follow then
that we who have been
justified by grace alone
should be comfortable sinning
should be comfortable sinning more
knowing
that it would further demonstrate
the extent
the extent and generosity
of God's grace
or put it in slightly different words
if my sin shows God's grace
then surely the more I sin
I actually make God
and God's grace
look even better
that's an outrageous question
isn't it
Paul's answer
verse 2
is very sharp
by no means
or in modern lingo
don't be ridiculous
and it's what follows then
how can we who died to sin
still live in it
so Paul's answer is
don't be ridiculous
Jesus died to deal with sin
as people
so how could we easily
continue to live with it
or put it in different words
how could those
who say they love Jesus
continue to love
the very thing
that actually caused
Jesus to be killed
cause the death
of the one they love
now again
maybe an illustration
would help here
it's almost as Paul
Paul's saying
it would be as ridiculous
as a hopelessly lost
bushwalker
rescued from certain death
at huge cost
to the helicopter rescue service
but actually free
to the idiot
who got lost
and then they said
well how can I respond
oh I know how I'll respond
I'll go and get more lost
and more regularly lost
and get lost
in more difficult terrain
because
these guys are super competent
and the more lost I get
and the more frequently
I get lost
then
everybody will be able
to see how competent
they are
at their jobs
you see how ridiculous
that is
now if they really
want to honour
the rescue team
if they really want
they show appreciation
for the rescue
then the obvious thing
to do
is to make
every effort
not to stray away again
rather than force
these competent
rescue people
to repeatedly
put their life
in danger
so there's Paul's
short answer
don't be ridiculous
but then he expands
it in verses 3
through to 11
and his first point
I think is
that in Christ
or united with Christ
you are a new creation
so at the heart
of Paul's argument
here
is the phrase
we who died
to sin
in fact it's repeated
then in verse 7
and verse 11
so look at verse 7
for we
one who has died
and then verse 11
so you also
must consider yourselves
dead to sin
so what does
this phrase mean
what is it
it's described
of believers
what is it
to be dead
to sin
well
again
hopefully
an illustration
might help
suppose
there's an old
Christian guy
John Jones
and he's looking
back over his life
like a
biography
and he speaks
of his life
in two parts
separated by his
conversion
by him becoming
believer
and as you listen
to John Jones
he speaks about
the old
sinful
John Jones
characterised
by disobedience
by careless
disregard
for God
by lack
of awareness
of his sin
or his offence
to God
because the old
John Jones
was basically
living an autonomous
life
living for himself
then he speaks
about the new
John Jones
still stumbling
into sinful
disobedience
yes
yet
desiring
now more
than anything
else
to honour
the Lord
in every
thought and
action
and so
the new
John Jones
grieves
over
his sin
every time
he stumbles
into it
and wishes
he could be
free from it
so
what happened
to John
Jones
when he
became a
believer
that made
such a
radical change
in his
thinking
and his
outlook
and his
desires
well
his old
life
lived under
the old
man
Adam
as we saw
last week
was finished
it came to
an end
volume one
of the
biography
was written
and complete
John came
to realise
his sin
he came to
realise
that he was
actually
compared to
the righteousness
of God
he was
actually
unrighteous
so unrighteous
that his
sin deserved
death
God's condemnation
the full penalty
of God's wrath
and righteous
judgement
and John
Jones then
realising he
couldn't bear
the wrath of
God in himself
and had an
alternative in
Jesus
took God
at his word
and turned
to Jesus
believing that
as he was
united with
Jesus
by God's
grace
in salvation
then
the death
that Jesus
died
became his
death
and the
benefits of
Christ's death
were transferred
to him
that's the
force I think
of verses
5 and 6
so read them
through with me
now
follow through
as I read them
for if we
have been
united with him
in a death
like his
a sacrificial
death for sin
we shall
certainly be
united with him
in a resurrection
like his
we know
that our
old self
was crucified
with him
in order
that the
body of sin
might be
brought to
nothing
so that we
would no longer
be enslaved
to sin
united with
Christ
John
learned
to view
himself
as if
he
himself
had died
for his
sin
thus his
old life
dominated by
sin
which left him
guilty before
God
was brought
to an end
God's
justice
was satisfied
in the death
of Christ
it was as if
John
Jones'
life
had been
forfeited
that's how
God viewed
it
the immediate
consequence of
this for
John
Jones
well verse
seven
one who has
died
has been set
free
in the Greek
that is the
one who has
died has been
justified
that's the word
it's a bit of a
liberal translation
there
one who has
died has been
justified
it is a
freedom concept
but it's a
legal process
to that
freedom
one who has
died has been
justified
which in turn
is free
from the
guilt of sin
freedom from
the guilt of
sin
death pays
all the debt
owed
and when the
debt is paid
you're free
to go
the guilt
of his
sin
and its
power to
accuse him
of ongoing
guilt
is removed
and in that
sense
he's set
free
now
important caveat
here
it's not
that John
John
suddenly
was perfect
as if
somehow or
other he's
free from
any ongoing
inclination to
sin or any
temptation to
sin
it's that
the guilt
and power
of sin
to accuse
him
and debilitate
him has
been removed
why
because he
enjoys the
benefit of
Christ's death
as if it
was his own
death
that's what it
is to be
united with
Christ
but that's
only half the
story for
John
as he
becomes a
believer
united with
Christ
at his
point of
salvation
it's also
true that
his new
resurrection
life lived
under the
new man
old man
was Adam
the new
man is
Jesus
his new
resurrection
life has
also begun
and that's
the force
of verses
8 through
to 10
so follow
again
now if
we have
died with
Christ
we believe
that we
shall also
live with
him
we know
that Christ
being raised
from the
dead
will never
die again
death
no longer
has dominion
over him
for the
death he
died
he died
to sin
once for
all
but the
life he
lives
he lives
to God
and the
idea there
in the
tense
is a
continuous
life
died to
sin
once to
all
lives
continuously
for God
so
satisfactory
was
Jesus
death
and meeting
all the
demands
of God's
wrath and
justice
in respect
of sin
that Jesus
quite literally
came back
from the
grave
resurrected
to new
life
as proof
that never
again would
any penalty
for the sin
of John
Jones
be required
by the
Lord
so put
it
together
what was
God's
salvation
purpose
or God's
gospel
purpose
for John
Jones
well
it was
that
John
Jones
would
experience
personally
both
the benefits
of Christ's
death
and also
the benefits
of Christ's
resurrection
when he
became a
believer
John
Jones
rose
as it
were
a new
man
to live
a new
life
to God
lived
under
God's
rule
in
thankfulness
intimacy
security
obedience
and life
forever
free
from the
guilt
and penalty
of sin
all those
things
that we
saw
listed
in
chapter
five
now
John
Jones
is
every
believer
here this
morning
all
these
benefits
both
of the
death
of Christ
and of
the
resurrection
of Christ
are ours
in
Christ
because we
are united
with Christ
just as we
tumbled
headlong
into
disobedience
guilt
and death
with Adam
our first
representative
head
representative
man
so we've
been
rescued
lifted up
to a new
life
given a
fresh start
with new
hearts
shaped
and filled
by the
love of
God
poured
into us
by the
Holy
Spirit
as we
saw
two weeks
ago
in Romans
5
one
life
massively
different
in its
parts
the
difference
God's
salvation
becoming
believer
and Paul
then uses
you might be
wondering why
I jumped
over verses
3 and 4
well Paul
just uses
the symbol
of baptism
to help
establishes
point
so if you
look at
chapter 3
verse 3
rather
it says
do you not
know that
all of us
who have been
baptized into
Christ
and there's that
interesting word
there
it's baptized
into Christ
who were baptized
into Christ
Jesus
were baptized
again
emphasis
into
his death
being
being baptized
into Christ
pictures
identification
with
or
being united
with
Jesus
we're baptized
into him
into his
death
now
again
note carefully
it doesn't say
that the baptism
secures
or establishes
our union
with Christ
our baptism
is a
practical
expression
of that
which has
already been
established
by the death
of Christ
by God
on our
behalf
so
given
sorry
not giving
going
into the
water
symbolizes
death
and burial
it's as if
the old
life
of unrighteousness
or sin
in Adam
is finished
gone
they're dead
to sin
in that sense
then as they
come up
out of the
water
it symbolizes
the start
of a new
resurrection
life
in Christ
a fresh
start
in a life
of righteousness
and grateful
obedience
to God
the pivot
point
in the life
of a Christian
the old
John Jones
now the
new
John Jones
so what
do we do
with this
well verse
11
a very
very simple
application
I believe
having said
that I'll
probably try
and make it
complicated
it's as if
Paul's just
saying
act out
who you
are
I think
we often
get tripped
up as
Christians
and ask
them the
question
what do
we need
to do
we've got
this sense
that the
gift isn't
free
but somehow
or other
we owe
God
and we want
to pay
God back
we don't
like to be
indebted
even if we
think it's
free
so we're
always asking
the question
well what is
it that we
need to do
as Christians
in response
to God's
graciousness
well I think
Paul says it
here in very
simple terms
act out
that's what
you need to
do in response
to the
gospel
act out
it's not
very often
we get
encouraged
to act
out
is it
well act
out
be who
you are
now a
question that's
often raised
by Christians
I've raised it
and I'm going to
raise it here
and hopefully
I won't get
into trouble
for it but
anyway we'll
see how it
goes
can I say
as a
Christian
that I'm
free to do
whatever I
like
I can do
whatever I
want
the answer
is
yes
but I
then quickly
have to
follow up
and say
well what
is it
that I
know
want to
do
in
Christ
and the
answer is
I want
to honour
him
I want
to serve
him
I want
to be as
far away
from that
which offends
him as
possible to
be
so act
out who
you are
now Paul's
not asking
us here
to pretend
about something
that's not in
fact true
he's asking
us to
realise
and act
accordingly
in respect
to something
that is
true
look at
verse 11
so you
also
must
consider
yourselves
and that
word
consider
is just
to
actually
have a
look
and recognise
this is
how it
is
so if
you can
recognise
this is
how it
is
this is
how you
are
in
Christ
you're
dead
to sin
and alive
to God
and start
acting
it out
now again
don't get
it wrong
it's not
that my
sinful nature
has totally
died out
and totally
removed from
me
that's
something
the Bible
says
won't
happen
until I
go to
be with
Jesus
in
heaven
rather
it's
my old
self
you know
the volume
one
the volume
two
it's
my old
self
guilty
before the
Lord
that's
the one
that's
gone
I must
realise
that in
Christ
I have
a new
life
to be
lived
for God
and get
on with
doing that
yes there
will be
daily
sinful
happenings
and failures
yes I
will not
be what I
want to
be and
who I
want to
be
but I
am not
who I
used
to be
I
am dead
to sin
in
Christ
I
am
raised
to new
life
in
Christ
and I
need to
live
accordingly
not to
do that
not to
be who
I am
is
essentially
to continue
again
illustratively
to continue
living the
life of
a hobo
a down
and out
homeless
purposeless
miserable
despairing
person
when in
fact
I've
actually been
taken into
the richest
royal family
history has
ever known
and I have
been given
access to
every single
resource of
that royal
family
it just
doesn't make
sense that I
continue to
act like a
hobo
and friends
hopefully you
will see
now why
Paul is so
sharp in
his response
in verse
2
don't be
ridiculous
as I said
earlier
if we
love Jesus
how could we
continue to
love the
very thing
which caused
his death
death
now we'll
still be part
of the
very thing
that caused
his death
but that's
very different
from loving
it
in fact
the longer
we the more
we love
Jesus the more
we'll hate
the thing
that caused
his death
and Paul's
second point
and you'll
be glad
mercifully
it'll be a
lot shorter
Paul's second
point is that
in Christ's
new creation
Christ ought
practically
to be king
and it's
picking up
verses 12
13 and 14
if you notice
in the text
there
Paul uses
imperatives
or commands
for the first
time
in his
letter in
Romans
let not
sin therefore
that's a
direct command
let not
sin therefore
reign
in your
mortal bodies
to make you
obey their
passions
do not
present your
members to
sin as
instruments
of righteousness
but present
yourselves to
God as
those who
have been
brought from
death to
life
and your
members to
God as
instruments
for
righteousness
now
it's a
question of
loyalty
it's a
question of
identification
put it in
simple terms
who will be
king
because it
got the
word here
reign
a monarch
who will be
king
and what
will be
king
in your
life
your new
resurrection
life
verse 13
is a
pretty strong
military
picture
I think
do not
present your
members
to sin
as
instruments
that word
instruments
has got
the notion
of weapons
in the
daily
battlefield
of life
either
we will
surrender
to sin
and thereby
declare war
on God
whose purpose
in salvation
was to
deliver us
from sin
so either
we'll surrender
to sin
and thereby
declare war
on God
or
we will
rally around
king
Jesus
and war
against sin
thereby
demonstrating
your conviction
that sin
is an
already
defeated
enemy
and that
the future
is with
loyalty
and service
of God
and make
no mistake
it will
be a
battle
sin
is still
a really
powerful
force
using the
language of
verse 12
and 13
it's as if
sin is like
a deposed
but angry
king
who remains
determined
to reign
again
to take
back that
which has
been lost
to him
determined
to reign
again
in our
lives
sin
still
occupies
some
territory
but not
the
capital
city
and my
desire
to turn
away
from
unrighteousness
and serve
God
as I
rally
around
king
Jesus
will be
the
motivation
the
encouragement
into the
struggle
the
enemy
I'm
fighting
against
sin
unrighteousness
is already
defeated
I am on
the side
of king
Jesus
he has
brought me
near to him
second point
in these
last verses
is
don't
reduce
God
to
rules
pursue
him
in
thankful
relationship
which is
worship
if you
look at
verse 13
it says
don't
present
your
members
to sin
as
instruments
for
unrighteousness
but
present
yourselves
to God
as those
who have
been brought
from death
to life
it's a
relational
statement
present
yourself
pursue
God
come
before
God
and say
here I
am
what
do you
want
me
to
do
now
historically
Christians
have shown
a lack
of
understanding
of
justification
by
faith
and this
lack
of
understanding
almost
always
reduces
God
to
thinking
to
reduces
thinking
about
God
to
rules
sorry
I got
that
mixed up
almost
always
reduces
thinking
about
God
to
rules
so when
you think
well how do I live
as a Christian
rules
well actually
no
the first
one is
sometimes
Christians
say there
are no
rules
go back
to chapter
6 verse
1
some
people
say
well
okay
look
I'm
saved
by
grace
my
performance
doesn't
matter
I can
keep on
sinning
it's
no
big
deal
and
we see
Christians
like that
who
have
little
concern
to
change
to
become
more
like
Christ
others
go to
the other
extreme
have
overlaid
God's
grace
with
holiness
rules
until
freedom
in
Christ
has
been
smothered
with
a long
list
of
what
Christians
should
and
shouldn't
do
to
prove
that
they're
saved
but
true
understanding
of
grace
pushes
us
to
relationship
and
worship
presenting
yourself
to
God
or
pursuing
him
as
his
beloved
died
for
child
determined
to express
your
thankfulness
and so
our
motivation
in the
Christian
life
is not
fear
of what
God
might
do
to
us
if
we
break
the
rules
but
love
for
what
God
has
already
done
for
us
in
Christ
that's
our
motivation
and
in turn
the
sheer
joy
and
goodness
of
God's
purpose
for
us
as
children
is
best
experienced
by
us
when
we
actually
struggle
and
actively
struggle
to
say
no
to
unrighteousness
and
yes
to
righteousness
my
friends
we
need
to
understand
that
Christ
is
the
way
to
life
and
Christ
is
the
prize
in
life
well
just
about
finished
bear
with
me
in
a
couple
of
minutes
the
final
thing
I
want
to
say
is
don't
focus
on
your
own
efforts
or
success
as
you
struggle
but
your
new
state
of
grace
life
is a
biography
written
in two
volumes
it's been
written
by the
Lord
Jesus
volume
one
is just
tragic
and not
surprisingly
so because
it's the
story of
my
autonomy
it's the
story of
my
condemnation
God's
condemnation
on my
unrighteousness
but as
a
believer
volume
two
is well
underway
and is
full of
hope
and promise
in the
struggle
because
it's the
story of
what God
has done
for me
and the
story of
what God
continues
to do
in me
I'm
united
with
Christ
I have
a spirit
within me
he pours
his love
into me
daily
that's
going to
shape
the second
volume
so my
friends
this morning
I say to
you
keep
your
focus
on
Jesus
efforts
and
success
on your
behalf
not on
your own
efforts
and
success
remember
this
that God
doesn't
ask you
for
perfection
or success
in that
which you
cannot do
and that
is be
sinless
he asks
for
faithfulness
as you
struggle
to be
daily
that which
you are
in
Christ
I just
want to
finish
with the
words of
John
Newton
which I
have
already
hinted
at
earlier
in the
sermon
every
believer
can say
this
with
confidence
I'm
not
what I
want
to be
I'm
not
what I
ought
to be
I'm
not
what God
wants
me
to be
I'm
not
what I
will
be
one
day
but
I'm
certainly
not
what I
used
to be
pray
with
me
Lord
help us
to see
this
simple
truth
as
we
seek
to
take
to
ourselves
justification
by faith
that
both
the
benefits
of
your
death
and
the
benefits
of
your
resurrection
are
applied
to
us
and
that
we
experience
them
personally
on a
day
by day
basis
thank
you
Lord
that
every
believer
here
is
well
into
the
second
volume
of
the
biography
with
hope
and
promise
and
certainty
because
we're
united
with
you
give
us
confidence
therefore
Lord
and
the
simplicity
of
life
to
act
out
who
we
are
in
Jesus
name
Amen