Bible Study - Freedom -Personal Responsibility - Romans 5 and 6 - July 24, 2011

Bible Study – Freedom – Personal Responsibility – July 24, 2011
This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Freedom: Making It Personal.”
Our scripture is Romans 5:12-20; 6: 1-23.

In our last lesson, we explored how sin came into the world through Adam and Eve. Since, GOD made Adam responsible for the garden, GOD held him accountable for what went on in the garden. Thus sin and its consequence, which is death, came through Adam, which included Eve and all human beings from that time forward. GOD intended for all of mankind to live forever, thus the tree of life was in the garden. GOD DID NOT place any restrictions on Adam or Eve regarding the tree of life until they sinned. Then HE protected them from partaking of the tree to keep them from living forever in their fallen state. Sin broke their relationship and fellowship with GOD. GOD knew what would happen, thus HE planned to redeem/buy back/purchase through the shed blood of JESUS, all who would believe by faith in HIS ONLY SON, JESUS.

Once the barrier of sin had been broken by the shed blood of CHRIST, the relationship and fellowship with GOD would be restored for all who have faith in CHRIST. All who believe in CHRIST are made righteous, are born into GOD’S family, receive eternal life, receive the HOLY SPIRIT, their citizenship in heaven, they have died and buried, been resurrected, ascended, returned to earth and live upon earth to obediently serve GOD. All of that happened at the moment of salvation. This is a lot to comprehend.

Dying to self is the theme of this lesson. Paul, in essence, was telling his readers then and us today, that Christians should consider themselves dead and that they have been resurrected to obediently serve GOD as HIS Sons and Daughters. Let’s explore.

We need to keep in mind 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (those who believe in HIM/Christians) might become the righteousness of God in Him – as we read our next scripture.

Let’s read Romans 5:12-20: (Background and Lead-in for our Scripture.)

Death through Adam and Life through Christ (My insertions)
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.[3] 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one’s account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression (sin). He (Adam) is a prototype of the Coming One (JESUS). 15 But the gift (righteousness/eternal life) is not like the trespass (sin/death). For if by the one man’s (Adam’s) trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift (righteousness) overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin (Adam), because from one sin came the judgment (death), resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift (righteousness), resulting in justification (just-as-if-I-never-sinned).[4] 17 Since by the one man’s trespass (Adam), death reigned through that one man (Adam), how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone (Adam), so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification[5] for everyone (CHRIST). 19 For just as through one man’s (Adam) disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience (CHRIST) the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOD’S gift of grace is more than sufficient to blot out any sin a Christian commits after he/she receives CHRIST as his/her SAVIOR.

Paul anticipated that some of his readers might think, “Well, if grace is multiplied to cover all sin, then Christians should sin more so they can have more grace.” Paul addressed that statement in our next scripture.

Let’s read Romans 6:1-7:
The New Life in Christ
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized[1] into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may • walk in a new way[2] of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be[3] in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self[4][5] was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body[6] may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed[7] from sin’s claims.[8]

Paul goes to the heart of our lesson. In essence, since Christians have died to sin, how can they continue to sin? WOW, that is a profound statement. Paul explains his statement using the symbolism of baptism. We could get into all sorts of discussion regarding baptism. Being a Baptist, I believe baptism by immersion captures Paul’s explanation. Baptism is an outward example of what has already happened in a Christian’s life at the instant he/she asked CHRIST into his/her life. Baptism symbolizes a Christian dying to his/her old life, being buried and being resurrected to walk in his/her new life, in CHRIST.

We discussed in last week’s lesson about taking off our old clothes or our old life and putting on our new clothes or our new life in CHRIST. It is the same idea as baptism. In CHRIST our old life has been put to death. When CHRIST died all believers in HIM died and when HE was resurrected, all believers were resurrected with HIM. Thus, Paul was saying a Christian was in essence already dead to sin. A dead person cannot sin because he/she is already dead and has no earthly senses.

I know, I can hear some saying, “Only if that were true.” It is true, only we have not reckoned or considered it so through the sanctification process. GOD’S desire is for Christians to be made into the image of CHRIST. Christians have salvation, been made righteous, have been justified, have received the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT, have eternal life, have been born into GOD’S family, have died with CHRIST, have been buried with CHRIST, have been resurrected with CHRIST, have ascended into heaven with CHRIST and sent back to earth to live obediently for GOD and be HIS witnesses to all the world. CHRIST has conquered sin and as Christians, sin has no power over them. Consider that sin has been conquered through the victory of CHRIST through HIS shed blood for you. Claim the blood of JESUS over the power of sin and live victorious. Now, that is a lot to ponder.

So why do we struggle? The flesh still rules. Keep in mind, sanctification is a process. We live in the world of flesh and are being transformed by the renewing of our minds into the image of CHRIST.In the animal world it is called metamorphic, a worm changes to a cocoon and then to a beautiful butterfly. In the Christian world we call it sanctification – salvation, sanctification (Think of this as the stage where the work is done to produce that beautiful butterfly), glorification.

Keep in mind 1 John 1:9: 9 If we (Christians) confess our sins, He (GOD) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Christians must press on to the finish line, which is sanctification, and claim the victory which is our Glorification. When we see JESUS we will be like HIM.

Let’s read Romans 6:8-11:
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.[9]

Dying to self is a mindset empowered by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT and yielding of our human will to HIS will. It is easy to say but hard to do because we must consider or reckon ourselves dead to any influence of sin, which we are through the process of sanctification. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily.” Sin has NO influence over us because we are secure in CHRIST.

JESUS said it best when HE prayed in the Garden before HIS crucifixion, “Not MY will but THY will be done.” CHRIST told HIS disciples that they must take up their cross daily.

To me the ultimate release from the rule of the flesh to the Spirit was when CHRIST hung on the cross. HE had the power and HE knew HE had the power to call legions of angels to release HIM from the cross and remain a human. Or HE could choose to give up HIS earthly life to conquer sin. HE chose to die for you and for me, so that all who believe in HIM will live eternally in relationship, fellowship and complete union with GOD as HIS Sons and Daughters. But guess what? HE gave up HIS human life to be given HIS human life back by GOD in the form of HIS glorified body for eternity.

Satan lures people every day into reaching for the gusto and living life to its fullest in the flesh – drugs, sex, alcohol, gambling, and the list goes on and on. Satan tells them, “Who needs CHRIST or there is plenty of time, so live it up now.” Wrong!!! It is the message of Satan. He tempted JESUS and he will tempt you as well. But in the end those who follow the desires of the world/flesh loose both their physical and Spiritual life. Don’t let Satan rob you of the joy of your salvation and living the abundant Christian life through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. Satan is a deceiver and a liar. His goal is to destroy you any way he can. Don’t let him do it. Seek CHRIST now!!!

Let’s read Romans 6:12-14:
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey[10] its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts[11] of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts[12] of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

GOD does not make us into robots after we are born into HIS family. HE gives us freewill to choose. Christians are empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT but live in a body of flesh. We still must choose who we will serve on a daily basis – GOD or the desires of the flesh. Some may say, “Gee, you are talking in circles. You say a Christians is dead to sin.” Yes, Christians are dead to what sin can do to their born-again bodies. If, we consider ourselves dead, then we will not allow any earthly thing to get into our way when we obediently serve GOD. All fear is gone because we are already dead. Does this mean we are to take stupid chances? NO!!! Satan tried to entice JESUS to jump off the top of the temple. JESUS did not fall for it. Only obey GOD as HE leads you.

Let’s read Romans 6:15-18:
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God (You are a slave.)
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Do you not know that if you offer yourselves to someone[13] as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to, 18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

Paul was saying that people are slaves to something – the things of the world, the flesh or to the things of the Spirit. He rejoiced in the fact that the Christians in Roman had chosen to become slaves of righteousness.

All Christians have that same choice today. Who is your master? Is it various addictions and sensual pleasures that rob you of your relationship with CHRIST? Is it GOD indwelling your life and leading you and guiding you as HE desires? The choice is yours. Choose CHRIST while there is still time.

Let’s read Romans 6:19-23:

19 I am using a human analogy[14] because of the weakness of your flesh.[15] For just as you offered the parts[16] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.[17] 21 And what fruit was produced[18] then from the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification[19]—and the end is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is a good summary. We have all served the flesh but once we asked CHRIST to forgive us and to come into our lives, we have been set free from the bondage and power of sin and received eternal life. We are no longer slaves to sin but have chosen to become enslaved by GOD.

First John 4:4: 4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One (CHRIST) who is in you is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world.

Verse 23 is a verse we all need to memorize - 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you choose eternal death or eternal life? Choosing CHRIST means choosing eternal life. HE is the only ONE to conquer death. Do you choose a living SAVIOR? The choice is yours; please accept CHRIST right now as your SAVIOR. Blessings!!!