Freedom from sin – Romans 6 explained
In our continuation of the discussion of Romans, we come to the monumental chapter 6 – which leads to the equally glorious revealed truths of Rom. 7, and 8.
The recordings are hopefully self explanatory, and in the Bible study a couple handouts were given.
These are posted below.
Lord bless you!
On Romans Six
Romans 6 speaks of revealed truth of which the Holy Spirit must open a person’s spiritual eyes in order for them to see what God did for them by placing them “in Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:30)
Christians are taught in Rom. 6 that from the moment they were truly born again, the Father sees their “old man” as “crucified” with Christ and buried through baptism so the may walk in the Spirit (See also Gal. 5:16-26, Rom. 8). They must by faith “know” (vs. 6) and “reckon” (vs. 11) it so.
While the words on the page may be comprehended, even by non-believers, it bears repeating: Christians must have God open their eyes or it is nothing more than a nice theory.
Romans 6:6 speaks of “knowing.” This is from the Greek root gnosco, which is the same depth of knowledge given a child of God that they are God’s. (RE: Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God …)
Anyone serious about living a life pleasing to God would be well served to focus on this until he or she is sure they get it and can walk in the power of it! Seek God until you “know” too!
God’s Conditional (Precious) Promise
Paul the apostle assumes the reader is 1) Baptized into Christ (thus a new creature – see 2 Cor. 5:17), 2) obeying the apostles’ doctrine (see Acts 2:38-46, 3) has no other agenda (Rom. 12:1,2).
Carnal, worldly Christians with faulty understanding of the seriousness of Christ’s discipleship are not guaranteed to be delivered from the sin nature as promised in Romans 6!
Revelation on a need to know basis: Basically, when we realize that we absolutely need to know God’s means of deliverance from the “law of sin” (see Rom 7:21-24) so we may walk with God, and serve Him with our spirits (Rom 1:9), we seek the truth of Romans 6.
Warning: Play games with God about the truthfulness and sincerity of your commitment, and you will be spiritually weak and not partake of the promise (see also: Eze. 14:1-4, and following).
Romans 6 otherwise is the answer of God to Jesus Christ’s promise:
John 8:34,35 – Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Holiness
The goal of the gospel is that we be “conformed” to the Image of God’s Son (Rom. 8:29). Holiness is separation to God the Father as Jesus Christ was and this involves deliverance from the tendency of the old man to sin. We who name the name of Christ are called to nothing less! The means to this spiritual reality is spelled out in Romans 6 and the apostle Paul says in two passages the deliverance from sin is needed for holiness (see Heb. 12:14):
Rom 6:19,22 –
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. … 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Not a ‘Process’
Bottom line
It is amazing how repeatedly Paul nails home these points of the Cross by which we are crucified, buried, and raised with Jesus Christ.
This is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise of setting us free so we may serve Him in holiness (see vs. 19,22). These are declarations, and commands – not suggestions to attain to later – as in years later if ever. People confuse sanctification with believing God’s Word and accepting it with childlike faith. That throws a lifeline to the flesh, which must die (actually is already dead). God has already done it; we must by faith enter in to it. While we are under grace, Christians may in their unbelief or deception misuse God’s grace in claiming an undefined future attainment and realization of the power of Romans 6, but God says to stand on the truth that can make you free. The only “process” here is repent for unbelief, as needed, seek revelation in prayer and study, and believe God’s facts as stated. Seeing yourself as free from the law of sin is vital!
If it does not at first work, then seek His face until the reality is revealed. It is on the basis of the Blood; Christ’s perfect sacrifice, not our merits. It is as real a revelation as being born again for which we did nothing to earn or deserve. It is our inheritance as part of being born again. The Blood and the Cross are God’s gift to His Bride, the church.
The Cross does not yield sinless perfection, of course, but it is a power over our sin far greater than many Christians are taught or know in experience. It is also the basis for going on with God in spirit and truth. Test by fruit. Keep seeking God’s face. Freedom from sin’s power is the gospel promise! (See also Hudson Taylor’s letter to his sister – one of numerous testimonies of those who entered in to these realities. As many as received Him, He gave the power to be sons (and daughters) of God.
Original (NKJV)
Romans 6
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
