Romans 6:1-5

Read Romans 6:1. Why does Paul ask the question? Because in the previous verse it says "but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." We as humans tend to rationalize. With this verse we could think, "I'll just do this sin. God will forgive me." Could be alcohol, sexual sin, pornography, gossip, divorce... Paul responds, "By no means!" Read verse 2, he says of course not, why would you keep on sinning when you have died to that; stop living in it. Paul stands behind grace, he does not back off. Grace can be abused. The answer is not a works salvation or legalism, it is who you are and what Christ has done for you. Dying to sin and living in sin don't go together. We are joined to Christ and when Christ died to sin, so did we; so stop living in it.

Read Romans 6:3-5. Remember God deals with mankind on the basis of a representative. We are connected to Adam by birth, when he sinned we sinned. We can be connected to Christ by faith, when Christ died to sin we died to sin and we raise to newness of life when he rose from the dead. We need to know who we are in Christ and what Christ has done for us. The goal is not to have head knowledge of this but for it to move to our heart. That's not to imply that knowledge doen't matter. It is the basis, the foundation, it is crucial. Life with God is based on the truth of God. When Paul talks about Baptism in verses 3-4 he assumes that they all have been baptized. There were no unbaptized believers in the New Testament, after they trusted Christ they all were baptized. Baptism is a seal a symbol that you belong to God, just like a wedding ring is a symbol of marriage. When we are immersed under the water, it is a symbol of our death with Christ and when we rise out of the water it is a symbol of our resurrection with Christ into newness of life.

Sin has no further claim on Christ because the penalty was paid. Therefore, sin has no further claim on us because Christ died as our representative. It has no claim, no power, no say in our life. We don't have to listen to those lies, we don't need to serve sin anymore. The rope around our neck has been snapped and we are free.

Discussions Questions:
1. Do you walk in newness of life or are you still living in the bondage of sin?
2. Are you different than your non-christian friends? How? Are you living for yourself or Christ? Are you trying to impress others? Do you worry or do you trust the Lord?
3. Who are you in Christ? What is your identity?
4. If you are a believer, are you baptized? If not, what is holding you back?