Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 5:20–21 ESV

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God’s grace increases, as our sin increases.

Many of us approach God thinking He would never save us.

We look at our lives and see they don't measure up to the commands of Scripture.

When we looked at Romans chapter 3 and it said “No one is righteous” and “ no one does good” you saw yourself.

When you examine your life you ask “How could God want someone like me?”

You ask:

How could God save a person with so much hate in their heart? (talk about blowing up on others)

How could God save a person that uses such awful profanity? (talk about other inappropriate language)

How could God save a person with so much lust in their heart? (speak about viewing women sexually)

God wants to save people just like you.

Where this verse says that “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” it is communicating that God’s grace is all the more beautiful when it saves wicked sinners like us.

God’s grace has no limits.

However bad you might think you are, God can save you.

However, God’s grace does not end at saving you from the penalty of sin.

Romans 6:1–3 ESV

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

As Christians, we have died to sin.

In this passage, Paul is answering the question that comes up when we read the previous passage.

Some might argue, 'If God's grace covers all our sins, shouldn't we continue sinning, knowing His grace will cover it?'

Paul immediately counters this by saying no, then poses a rhetorical question to us.

How could we live in sin if we have died to it?

Salvation is more than receiving a "get out of hell free" card.

When we are saved, God changes us on the inside.

The first thing that happens in us when we put our faith in Christ is that we die to sin.

Paul uses the imagery of baptism, our first act of obedience as Christians, to show a picture of what is actually happening in us during salvation.

In baptism, we are first submerged under the water.

This submersion symbolizes how, just as Christ died for our sins and was buried, we too have died to sin.

When sin tempts us, we must remember that we have died to it.

Sin no longer has control of us.

Why would we return to something that our Savior died for?

Let’s look to how more than just death to sin has occured to us in salvation.

Romans 6:4–11 ESV

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

As Christians, we live in Christ.

Paul continues to use the imagery of baptism to reveal what is occuring inside of us during salvation.

He reveals that we have not only died to sin, but more importantly, that we been made alive to God in Jesus Christ.

Baptism would be an incomplete picture if we stayed underneath the water.

The most beautiful part of baptism is that when we come up out of the water it is meant to show that we now have a new life that is in Christ.

Paul is telling us that our death to sin and life in Christ is to lead us to “walk in the newness of life.”

That means we have new passions and desires.

Instead of having a heart that hates, we now have a heart that loves.

Instead of having a tongue that speaks evil, we have a tongue that gives life.

Instead of having eyes that lust, we have eyes that see others with compassion and dignity.

Moving on to verse 12, Paul gives us an even better picture of this truth.

Romans 6:12–14 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

As Christians, we give ourselves fully to God.

Everything we've read in this passage communicates the truth of what happens in salvation.

Paul gave us our "why."

However, in this part of the passage, Paul gives us actual commands.

Now, we see what we should do as a result of our “why.”

Paul commands us to:

Not let sin reign in our bodies.

Not give our bodies over to sin.

but to instead give our bodies over to God.

Paul is telling us here is that we are to give everything that we are over to God.

We must make the daily decision to let God rule in us.

We must praying every morning:

God, take my eyes and use them for righteousness. Help me see things today the way you do.

God, take my mouth and use it for righteousness. Let my words be full of life and truth.

God, take my hands and use them for righteousness. Guide my actions to help and heal, not hurt.

God, take my ears and use them for righteousness. Give me the kind of listening ears that really hear people.

How will I respond?

Christian...

May you always remember how God’s grace has covered your sin.

When sin comes tempting you, remember that you have died to sin and now live to God.

Everyday, give everything that you are over to God.

Seek God in prayer that He would use you for righteousness.

Those with no relationship with Christ...

Know that God’s grace can cover you no matter the depth of your sin.

God has the power to make the most wicked a new creation.

Put your faith in Christ and repent of your sin, and God will give you life.