Romans Chapter 6

vs. 1-4- Grace and sin

- Just because God has provided Grace to cover our sin, should we take advantage of it and sin as much as we want? NO!
- Say the president has a son. This son, because he thinks
daddy can get him out of any trouble he gets into, commits murder. Was he right in committing the act? No! Is the father right in getting him out of trouble? No! What should the father's response be?
- Just because there's a way out... doesn't mean you push
your luck. God doesn't spoil His children
- God's forgiveness does not make sin less serious; His Son's death for sin shows us the dreadful seriousness of sin.
- The availability of God's mercy must not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxness.
- God has brought you into life! He has released you from sin and brought LIFE to your soul... why would you want to go back to that? Why would you want to go back to living a dead life?
- We are living a new life. Don't go back to the old one. When Christ died, he took our sin to the grave with Him. Just as Christ was raised to life by the power of the Almighty God, so we are raised unto NEW life by that same power to live lives that glorify the Father.

- Romans 12:1-3
- II Corinthians 5:17
- Ephesians 4:17-32, 5:1-20

Questions:
- Have you ever caught yourself acting like a spoiled child, expecting to get your way in all things? Expecting to be justified in every action? How did you feel God respond to your behavior?
- Do you feel parts of the old life still trying to hang on to you?
- Are you living in a new life with Christ?

vs. 5-11- New Creature

- Baptism was a symbolism of the death and burial of the old life and the resurrection to new life with Christ.
- Sin no longer has power in our lives. When we were crucified with Christ, sin lost his grip on us.
- We are united in faith with Christ. Through His resurrection to new life, we also have new life. We have the opportunity for unbroken fellowship with God.
- How can we be sure of this? How can we know for sure that we are free? Because Christ rose from the dead and will NEVER die again. Death has no power over Him and by faith in Christ, neither does death triumph over us. (This doesn't mean we won't die physically, but spiritually, we will live with Christ for forever.)
- Footnote- “Because of Christ's death and resurrection, His followers need never fear death. That assurance frees us to enjoy fellowship with Him and to do His will. This will affect all our activities—work and worship, play, Bible study, quiet times, and times of caring for others. When you know that you don't have to fear death, you will experience a new vigor in life.”
- Our new person is not going to magically never be tempted or never fall again... but we now have someone to help us when those times come.
- When we accept Christ as Savior and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, we receive the ultimate weapon against sin. Christ has won the battle already. We are being perfected every day through every trial.

- Galatians 3:26-29
- Colossians 2:11-15, 3:1-17
- I Peter 3:18-22

Questions:
- What trials have come up in your life lately?
- What lessons did you learn through them? How did they cause you to grow?
- Are you in the midst of a struggle now? What is God trying to perfect in you? What parts of your life or your heart is He trying to purge to purify?

vs. 12-14- Resist temptation!

- We through Christ have the power to resist sin! Don't give in to flesh! You can resist it through Christ.
- We have new life through the grace of God. Why would you want to live in sin after that? Should you not want to live for Christ? He's given you everything! He took you up out of nothing and made you an heir of the Kingdom!
- Your grateful response should be to serve God for His glory. To offer yourself as a living sacrifice.
-Sin is not your master. Your flesh is not required to follow its own desires. You are free from the power of sin. Live like it!

- Colossians 1:11-12
- I Timothy 6:9-21
- Matthew 6:24
- James 4:6-10

Questions:
- Are you letting your flesh get in the way of your walk with God? Are you letting temptation have an inch? Have you checked your thoughts lately?
- Are you resisting temptation with all your might, or are you giving in to make the struggle go away?

vs. 15-19- Slave and Master

- God's grace does not give us a free pass to sin however we like.
- You must obey something. You were created to be a servant... God says, choose your master. Will you serve a God who loves you? Or will you serve the master of sin who seeks to destroy you? You cannot serve two masters... nor can you serve no one... If you try and serve yourself, you end up in sin, thereby serving sin. So the ultimate end lands you in one category or the other regardless of the direction you take... So who will you serve today?
- You were once a slave of sin, but thank God! You are free from slavery to sin and are now a slave of righteousness.
- The master you serve determines what kind of life you lead. What do you plan on your life becoming?

- Ephesians 2:8-9
- Joshua 24:14-15

Questions:
- Who are you obeying?
- What path is your life taking?
- Is Christ your Lord and Master?
- How are you serving Him?

vs. 20-23- Wages

- When you were a slave to sin, you were not required in any way to do the right thing. In sin, you could do whatever you liked. There were no rules to guide your life.
- And what effect did this have on you? You are now ashamed of your past and the things that would lead you to eternal doom.
- But now that you are slave to Christ, you are free from the power of sin.
- And what was this effect? Now you are on the path to righteousness and have gained eternal life.
- Each master pays his own wage.
- Sin's wage is death and separation from God.
- Christ is giving you a bonus if you will... your wages are free! You don't have to work for it, but your desire out of gratefulness should be to serve in whatever way He asks you to. It's a free gift to you if you choose to accept it.

- Acts 2:22-28
- Romans 8:1-3
- John 3:12-21

Questions:
- If you have been saved, how does your life reflect this?
- If Christ is Lord and Master of your life, what is your response to Him?
- What wages are you earning?