New Life

Romans 6:8–18 NIV84

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Introduction

Today, we will be discussing a topic that is dear to all believers: new life in Christ. In Romans 6:8-18, Paul explains the significance of our new life in Christ. This passage teaches us that our old self has died with Christ on the cross, and we have been resurrected to new life in Him.

1. We have died with Christ

Sub-point 1: Our old self has been crucified with Christ

Romans 6:6 “6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—”

Our old self, the person we were before we accepted Christ, was crucified with Him

This means that the power of sin over our lives has been broken

Sub-point 2: We are no longer slaves to sin

Romans 6:7 “7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

We have been set free from the power of sin

This does not mean that we will never sin again, but it does mean that sin no longer has power over us

When we sin, we can repent, sin has no power over us

Sub-point 3: We must consider ourselves dead to sin

Romans 6:11 “11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

We must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God

This means that we should no longer live according to the desires of our flesh but according to the will of God

2. We are Alive in Christ

Sub-point 1: We have been raised to new life in Christ

Romans 6:4 “4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

We have been raised to new life in Christ

This means that we are no longer the same person we were before we accepted Christ

The old has passed, everything is created new

Sub-point 2: We have been set free from the power of sin

Romans 6:14 “14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

We have been set free from the power of sin

This means that we no longer have to live according to the desires of our flesh, but we can live according to the will of God

You cannot serve two masters

Sub-point 3: We are now slaves of righteousness

Romans 6:18 “18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

We are now servants of righteousness

This means that our lives should be marked by obedience to God and a desire to do His will

3. We are Called to a life of Holiness

Sub-point 1: We should not let sin reign in our lives

Romans 6:12 “12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”

We should not let sin reign in our lives

This means that we should be intentional about avoiding sin and living in a way that honors God

Sin is not the end of the line

Create a new line by repenting and not sinning again

Jn 8:10-11 “10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.””

Sub-point 2: We should present ourselves to God

Romans 6:13 “13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.”

We should present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness

This means that our lives should be marked by obedience to His will

It is never right to do wrong and it is never wrong to do right

Sub-point 3: We are slaves to righteousness

Romans 6:18 “18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

We are slaves to righteousness

This means that our lives should be marked by a desire to do what is pleasing to God

We must be in the pursuit of righteousness

When we are in the pursuit of righteousness, we don’t get distracted with failure, we get up and continue the pursuit

4. Our new life is Eternal in Christ

Sub-point 1: The gift of God is eternal life

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The gift of God is eternal life

This means that we have the promise of eternal life in Christ

We cannot earn the gift, it is freely given

Jesus paid it all

Sub-point 2: We will be raised to new life with Him

Romans 6:5 “5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”

We will be raised to new life with Christ

This means that we have the hope of eternal life in Him

We will live forever with Him

Sub-point 3: We will reign with Him

2 Timothy 2:12 “12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;”

We will reign with Christ

This means that we have the promise of eternal life and the hope of reigning with Him

Don’t make permanent decisions out of temporary situations

Whatever trial you are facing, it will pass, you have the victory

Your new life gives you assurance of victory