#3 To Sin or not to Sin?                                                                                 Romans 6:1-14

 

Read (Romans 5:12-6:19)

 

Let's pray

 

Just before this passage PaulÕs been talking about what we talked last weekÉ

  -because of GodÕs grace, because of GodÕs forgiveness in the cross & victory in resurrection

  -we have been uniquely forgiven and set free from the power of sin & death over us

  -we have been brought away from the condemnation of the law (that demanded we die )

 

However some people heard that and thought something like thisÉ

  -if GodÕs gets the glory because he showed us grace in forgiving our sin

  -then the more I sin, the more glory God will get, because he has to forgive me more

 

Another variation of that people donÕt say, but our lives display sometimes isÉ

  -if GodÕs forgiven me once an for all, I can just live however I please orÉ

  -I donÕt have to worry to much about sin, because if I mess up (just say IÕm sorry, & IÕm good)

  -so, Paul asks the question does the fact that we are forgiven once and for all in Jesus ChristÉ

  -does that mean then that we can go on sinning, will God really get more glory that way?

 

And Paul says, ÒBy no means – No way!Ó

  -to willingly keep on sinning goes against what Jesus did on the cross & his resurrection

  -and he says we canÕt go on doing that becauseÉ.

  -if we died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?

 

Talking about how Jesus' death and resurrection impacts us he also saysÉ

    -if weÕve given our lives to Jesus, if weÕre following him then in GodÕs eyes

    -we were baptized into his death - We were crucified with Jesus

    -we were buried with him, so that sin would no longer have any power over us

    -and, donÕt miss this, we were united with Jesus in the resurrection

 

In JesusÕ death and resurrection something happened to JesusÉ

  -and because God chooses to see it that way what happened to Jesus

  -is also really true of us right now, because we are right now, joined & united with him

  -in other words, in GodÕs eyes Christ and the church are not two but one

       -Bible says we are one body – Jesus is the head & we are the members of the body

       -the point is this in order for the body to work well itÕs got to remain attached

         -Jesus to body / body to Jesus (head) – members to members

         -because the resurrection created this connection

    

So, as Jesus Christ has conquered sin/death/Satan & all spiritual powers in his death/res.

  -because he has done this entirely and forever, on our behalf

  -because we are in him and he is in us THEN those  things are true of us as well

  -however in our present experience (what we exp. daily) theyÕre only partially true (explainÉ)

 

Jesus Christ is experiencing some things completely that we only experience in part for now

  -For example, he is in the very presence and in a perfect relationship with God the Father,

  -we share in that relationship and the Holy Spirit lives in us

  -but it isnÕt a perfect relationship, because we can still choose to grieve God & push him away.

 

Jesus Christ is beyond all death. Death can do nothing more to Jesus Christ

  -and we share in that victory, but we have to go through our physical death before we inherit it.

  -unless Jesus returned tomorrow and then we wouldnÕt experience a physical death

 

Jesus Christ has complete victory over sin and over all evil powers

  -and we share in that victory too  and none of those powers has to have power over us

  -but  in our daily exp. that victory is incomplete & only grows in as our relationship w/X grows

  -if our relationship with Jesus doesnÕt grow, sin still has control over us

  -but as our relationship with Jesus grows, as we grow up in him, as we become rooted in him

       -we come closer to him and walk further away from the lies & ultimately the sin

 

and this is what I want to focus on this morningÉ

According to Paul there are specific ways growing up into Jesus Christ

  -so that more and more, especially in our daily experience

  -our lives will show everything we share with Jesus because of his death & resurrection

  -and more and more weÕll experience now the victory Jesus won on the cross over sin

 

Read v. 9

v. 9 begins; "For we know". / v.6 starts same way / and v. 3 starts same way Òor donÕt you knowÓ

 

hereÕs my point here, if you want to exp. In your daily life all that you share with Jesus X

1. There are things weÕre supposed to know & obey as Christ-followers

 

hereÕs a questionÉ

  -where do you get you get your expectations of what Xian life/God is supposed to be like?

  -best guess? other people (they) say? Comparison to other people? Looking at yourself?

 

PaulÕs point is, there are things weÕre supposed to know, and we can know themÉ

  -and we can know them because we have the scriptures, the word of God in our language

  -and thatÕs where weÕre supposed to look for our expectations of God/Christian life

  -and if something is too hard to understand, GodÕs given you teachers and community to help

  -so, there are things weÕre supposed to know and obey

       -and thereÕs no excuse if we choose to remain ignorant of those things

      

So first step in experiencing in your daily life what you already share with Jesus

  -learn what youÕre supposed to know

  -and as you learn and obey what youÕre supposed to know

    -youÕll experience more of the truth (forgiveness/victory) that is already yours in Jesus Christ

 

(2nd step in experience in this life what we already share with Jesus) Read v.11

2. There are things we need to believe and expect in faith.   (live by faith, not by sight)

  -verses before said that we died with Christ. Jesus was raised from the dead. He died to sin.

  -& because this is all completely true for Jesus, and because weÕre united with him Paul says

  -"So, Count yourselves dead to sin."

       -choose to believe for yourself that this is the truth because you are now one with Christ

       -Christ is dead to sin – so you can be, should be dead to sin as well

       -so if you want to experience that reality more and more count ourselves dead to sin

 

If youÕre going to experience in your daily life the things that you share with Jesus right now

  -if youÕre going to experience the forgiveness you share with him

  -if youÕre going to experience the freedom from the power of sin over your life daily

  -then you have to believe and expect in faithÉ

       -that these things really are available to you right now.

       -that you can really become a whole new kind of person in Christ-likeness

       -that you can really pray for that right now / seek that right now / long for that right now

       -that because of JesusÕ death  & res. Satan and sin no longer have any power over you

       -unless you choose to give them power – why Bible says, donÕt give devil a foothold

 

Or you can choose to live by sight instead, and that goes something like thisÉ

  -IÕm not worth it so I canÕt change / do you know what IÕve done – I donÕt deserve forgiveness

  -IÕve tried to change before and wasnÕt able to so, I might as well give up

  -why would God do that for me?

 

Paul says, forget that, live by faith

  -count yourself dead to sin – this isnÕt trying to fool your mind into believing something not true

-this is training your heart, mind, body to realize this really is the truth because youÕre one w/X

-and the more you do this what do you think that will do to your relationship with sin?

-is it going to happen overnight? Why not?  But will it happen? (absolutely)

 

one more thing needs to happen so we can actually exp. The truth of our union w/X in this lifeÉ

(Read Verse 12 and 13)

There are choices youÕre going to have to make    

  -do not let sin reign in you; do not offer you body to sin, who has to make the decision here?

  -in the cross & the resurrection God did it all/everything necessary so we can walk w/him

  -(forgave our sin/ freed us from power of sin/death / made us one with Jesus Christ

    

But hereÕs what God wonÕt do - God will not over rule your will

  -God is sovereign.  God does something in us before we have the ability to do anything for him

  -but at some point God looks for our response – at some point God asks

       -knowing everything IÕve done and what I went through to reach out for you

       -where do you stand? What will you choose?

 

That means that again and again in this life, we are going to face choices.

  -God is not going to eliminate choices, GodÕs not going to eliminate temptation

  -but through what Jesus has done, we now have a choice each and every time

       -will we offer ourselves to God because of the union we have with Christ orÉ

       -will we offer ourselves to sin?

 

That moment before we turn on a computer for all the wrong reasons we have a choice.

  -That instant we are beginning to compose an angry reply to somebody (choice)

  -When someone is yelling at us and lying and accusing us of things, (choice)

  -When we are signing our income tax forms we have a choice. (choice)

  -When we are about ready to make that impulse purchase that we can't afford (choice)

  -whatever sins that you struggle with every single time (you have a choice)

  -because Jesus died on the cross for you, because in his resurrection He conquered sin/death

  -because we are united with him - you and I have a choice each and every time

       -and I donÕt tell you that so you feel guilty for all the times you havenÕt made that choiceÉ

       -I tell you that to say, this is possible, you can get there not because youÕre strong enough

       -but because JesusÕ death and Jesus resurrection was enough

 

The closest comparison the Bible has for this union is marriageÉ

  -in marriage two people become one in the eyes of God and even in the eyes of government

  -Their property laws change; inheritance laws change, they can speak for one another legally

  -one of the signs of marriage is the wedding ring - sign of commitment two people make

  -itÕs a sign that all those realities that changed when you got married really are true.

 

But experiencing the oneness of marriage goes beyond a wedding ring

  -being One is shown in how we live with one another each day

  -You can be married and have a bunch of things be legally true about you

  -U could have made a bunch of commitments & worn your ring all the time/sleep in same bed

  -but you can still choose to live as if you are not married.

       -Neglect/ hurt each other/ not communicate/ demean/ fool around

 

The same is true in our relationship with God.

  -ThereÕs this legal reality that happened in Jesus Christ through his death & resurrection

  -itÕs a reality that happened completely in God's eyes. We are now free from the power of sin.

  -The law cannot condemn us. There is no spiritual power that has authority over us.

  -These are all true. And we have a symbol of that  (baptism.)

 

Baptism, like a wedding ring is the symbol that says this is relationship is true of us

  -by the way if you havenÕt been baptized, itÕs something you should do (another time)

  -but rings/baptism are just symbols  - and hopefully they will be good reminders and a help us

  -but our daily experience is going to depend, not what the symbols say is true

  -but on what our choices say is true

 

We all realize all this is not easyÉ

  -I realize the change from sinning to not sinning doesnÕt happen overnight

  -sometimes the baggage weÕve brought into the relationship draws us easily away

  -but we know when thatÕs the caseÉ

  -if we repent and confess our sins we have a God who is just and faithful to forgive our sins

 

But over and over people choose to use that as an excuse for not getting serious w/their sin

  -and thatÕs what Paul is getting at in this passage

       -learn & obey what youÕre supposed to know/ live by faith/ make Godly choices

       -and in time, as weÕre committed to this union that God created through cross & resurrection

       -we can & will experience more & more, the truth & reality of  all those things that are true

   -because we are united, we are one with Jesus  Christ

 

Any Questions?

 

Pray!