Live the New Life!

Study of Romans: Message Eleven

Wednesday Nights MFBC

Romans 6:1-14.

ETS: Paul reasoned that believers should walk in the newness of life found in Jesus Christ.

ESS: We should live in a manner worthy of Jesus’ resurrection.

OSS: [Devotional; ethical] {I want the hearers to commit living a life worthy of the resurrection of Jesus.}

PQ:

What are the basic truths of this passage?

UW: Truths

Intro.: [AGS]: The question has often been asked, “Have you ever seen a UHaul trailer behind a hearse?” insinuating that one cannot take their material belongings with them when they die. However, another angle of this question could simply be to examine it from the perspective of the death of the old person. Have you metaphorically took with you a UHaul trailer with the treasures of the old life into the new life? [TS]: Paul wrote about this to the Romans. He exhorted those he wrote to live in a manner worthy of the resurrection, evidencing the newness of life in Christ. [RS]: This relates to you and me, too. We need to ensure that we are living lives that glorify God, not the flesh. We need to ensure we have fully let go of the things that gratify the flesh- the treasures of the old man- in order that we might walk in the newness of life found in Christ (6:4).

TS: Let us examine a few truths in this passage now:

Those who have died to sin should no longer be dominated by sin. [vv. 1-3]

“TO DIE to a thing or a person, is to have nothing to do with it or him; to be totally separated from them: and to live to a thing or person is to be wholly given up to them; to have the most intimate connection with them.”[1]

Those who have raised to new life with Christ should walk in the newness of life with Christ. [vv. 4-11]

“It is probable that the apostle here alludes to the mode of administering baptism by immersion, the whole body being put under the water, which seemed to say, the man is drowned, is dead; and, when he came up out of the water, he seemed to have a resurrection to life; the man is risen again; he is alive! He was, therefore, supposed to throw off his old Gentile state as he threw off his clothes, and to assume a new character, as the baptized generally put on new or fresh garments.” [2]

The word is verse 6, σύμφυτοι, translated as “identified with” is important because is encapsulates the meaning of relating to Christ in His death and resurrection. The word, in its root, refers to that of a plant growing up. Clarke commented that this is like a mistletoe and oak- whereby the mistletoe gleans its nourishment from the tree; as pertaining to the believer- we grow together with Christ in His death into His resurrection- deriving our growth, vigour, firmness, beauty, and fruitfulness from it. [3]

Those who are alive with Christ should offer their whole beings as weapons for righteousness. [vv. 12-14]

We should be careful to not yield to sin or the temptation thereof. The word is παριστάνετε and is an imperative of prohibition in v. 13a. It literally means- do not present, offer, or yield yourself. Verse 13b uses the same word following a sharp contrastive conjunction- ἀλλὰ- in a positive, permissive command. Also, it is noted that the first use of it is in a present sense (do not go on yielding…) the second use of the verb is in the aorist tense (but start deliberately presenting yourself for righteousness)!

Takeaways:

[1] Does a careful examination of your life reveal that you have a U-Haul attached?

[2] Are you living for Christ or for sin? Is your life an instrument/vessel/implement/weapon for righteousness or sinfulness?

Bibliography:

[1] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 76.

[2] Clarke, 76.

[3] Clarke, 76.