Week 4: New Life in Christ

Scripture: Romans 6-8

Main Theme: Freedom and Assurance

Big Idea: The gospel doesn’t just forgive your past; it empowers your present and secures your future.

Roman Fact:

Communal Sponges = Ancient Toilet Paper?

In Roman public restrooms, there wasn’t toilet paper. Instead, they used a shared sponge on a stick, rinsed in vinegar between uses. 🧽😳

Let that sink in. The next time you think your school bathroom is bad… remember ancient Rome.

Introduction:

You ever try to fix something that’s way beyond repair?

This week, as I was prepping the sermon, I could not get a clip from the office out of my head. Let’s watch it together. I think it will be beneficial and funny.

Play The Office clip - Kevin and the really dead turtle.

As you can see the turtle was very dead and it is funny for us to watch, but the reality is often times we treat our spiritual life the same way. We think that we can duct tape and glue it together and make it look presentable and alive when in all reality without Jesus, doing the work and us through the power of the Holy Spirit it is just as dead as that turtle.

We say we believe Jesus died and rose again—yet we keep white-knuckling our way through shame, sin, and fear.

We’re forgiven… but we don’t feel free.

We know the gospel saves us… but can it actually change us?

Romans 6–8 answers with a resounding: YES.

Paul doesn’t just want you to understand salvation—he wants you to live like you’re saved.

Not stuck.

Not condemned.

Not defined by the past.

Alive. Free. Empowered. Loved.

So the question is:

If Jesus has unlocked the door, why are we still living like prisoners?

Tension:

Most of us know the gospel forgives us. We’ve heard it a hundred times: Jesus died for your sins.

And we believe it… at least in our heads.

But what about the sin that still shows up in our lives?

What about the stuff we keep doing, even though we don’t want to?

You’ve probably asked yourself:

“Why do I keep falling into the same temptation?”

“Why am I still struggling if I’m supposed to be saved?”

“If I’m a Christian, why do I feel so stuck?”

Let’s be real: a lot of us are exhausted.

We go through a cycle that feels impossible to break:

Sin → guilt → try harder → fail → guilt → repeat.

And we start to think, “Maybe I’m the only one like this.”

Some of us begin to wonder:

“Am I really a Christian?”

“Does God still want me?”

“Will I ever change?”

We believe Jesus saved us, but we’re not sure the gospel can actually sustain us.

We know the cross dealt with our past… but we’re unsure what to do with our present.

And that’s where Paul steps in.

Romans 6–8 isn’t a pep talk.

It’s a spiritual declaration: you’re not who you used to be.

It speaks to the heart of our struggle—sin, shame, identity—and shows us a new way to live.

Not just forgiven… but free.

Not just rescued… but empowered.

Not just called… but kept.

So here’s the question:

If the gospel really changes everything… then why are so many of us still living like it hasn’t changed us?

Big Idea:

The gospel doesn’t just forgive your past; it empowers your present and secures your future.

Truth:

Background:

Paul is writing to the believers in Rome—Jews and Gentiles—trying to live and worship together.

The Jewish Christians had just returned after being exiled by Emperor Claudius. They were rebuilding their community in a city still ruled by pagan values and Roman power. Meanwhile, Gentile believers were learning the gospel without Jewish tradition, and tension was high.

Key themes so far in Romans:

Romans 1: All humanity is guilty.

Romans 2: Religious people can’t rely on rituals.

Romans 3: No one is righteous—BUT God justifies sinners by grace.

Romans 4: Even Abraham was made right by faith.

Romans 5: Through Jesus, we’re given peace with God and a new way to live.

Now in Romans 6–8, Paul unpacks what that new life looks like.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Read: Romans 6:1–4

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.

Summarize: 6:5–14

“Should we go on sinning so grace may increase? By no means!”

Paul says we’ve been buried with Christ and raised to walk in new life.

Sin no longer reigns. We don’t serve our old master anymore. We’ve been transferred into a new way of life.

Key Point:

Grace doesn’t give us permission to sin—it gives us power to live free.

Takeaway:

You don’t have to be who you were.

When Jesus walked out of the grave, He didn’t come to make your sin manageable—He came to make you new.

The Struggle is Real (But There’s Hope)

Read: Romans 7:15–25

Romans 7:15–25 ESV

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Summarize: 7:1–14; 8:1

“I do what I don’t want to do. I hate what I do. Who will rescue me?”

Paul gives us a brutally honest look into his own battle with sin.

He wants to honor God—but keeps falling short.

Then, Romans 8:1 hits like a thunderclap:

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Key Point:

Being honest about your sin doesn’t cancel your identity in Christ.

Takeaway:

You’re not alone in the struggle—and you’re not condemned.

The Spirit doesn’t accuse you—He helps you grow.

Life in the Spirit, Security in the Gospel

Read: Romans 8:14–17

Romans 8:14–17 ESV

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Summarize: 8:18–39

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

We’re not spiritual orphans—we’re adopted. Sons. Daughters.

And in the pain and waiting, the Spirit groans for us, interceding perfectly.

Paul closes with one of the greatest declarations in Scripture:

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Not trouble. Not suffering. Not failure. Not death.

Key Point:

The Holy Spirit gives us confidence, not fear—and reminds us we belong.

Takeaway:

Your identity is secure. Your future is certain. Your God is faithful.

You are fully known, fully loved, and never alone.

Application:

Paul doesn’t just want the Romans to know they’re justified—he wants them to live differently because of it. Romans 6–8 gives us an invitation to real transformation, not just better behavior.

So how do we step into that?

Don’t go back to the grave.

Jesus didn’t die and rise again so you could keep living in a tomb.

He broke the chains of sin so you could walk in freedom.

But let’s be honest—we often choose familiar chains over unfamiliar freedom.

We think:

“I’ll never really change.”

“This is just who I am.”

“I messed up again—God’s probably done with me.”

But the gospel says:

You’ve been raised to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

You are no longer a slave.

You have a new name, a new heart, and a new path.

Takeaway: You are not who you used to be. Stop living like it.

Put to death the old ways—and stop going back to the grave.

Let the Spirit lead you—not shame.

The Holy Spirit is not a voice of guilt.

He doesn’t whisper, “You’re not enough.”

He reminds you, “Jesus was enough—and He’s not done with you.”

Romans 8 says the Spirit intercedes for you.

When you don’t have the words, the strength, or even the desire—He steps in.

Too many of us let shame steer our walk with God:

“I need to do better.”

“I’m probably not really saved.”

“God’s disappointed in me.”

But the Spirit of God is shaping you, guiding you, and strengthening you.

Takeaway: Stop listening to the voice of shame and start listening to the Spirit of truth.

He’s not trying to crush you—He’s trying to grow you.

Remember who you are.

Paul says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness that we are children of God.”

That’s not poetry—that’s reality.

You’re not an outsider trying to earn approval.

You’re not an employee working to keep your place.

You are a son. You are a daughter.

When the enemy lies to you—“You’re not good enough,” When your past screams—“You’re too far gone,” When your struggles shout—“You’ll never change,”

Hold onto this:

Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:39)

Takeaway: Your identity is not based on your effort.

It’s based on His grace. You belong.

Landing:

Romans 6–8 is more than a theological deep dive—it’s a declaration of freedom.

It starts with death to sin and ends with unshakable security in God’s love.

Here’s what it tells you:

You are not stuck.

You are not condemned.

You are not abandoned.

You’ve been justified.

You are being sanctified.

And you will be glorified.

This is the full gospel—one that saves you, transforms you, and keeps you.

So what do we do with that?

Stop living like you’re still on trial.

Jesus already took the stand in your place.

He bore the sentence.

He satisfied the law.

He walked out of the grave—and invited you into the new life with Him.

Big Idea (again):

The gospel doesn’t just forgive your past; it empowers your present and secures your future.

Pray:

Pray: Ask God to help students…

Live in freedom instead of falling back into old sin

Trust the Holy Spirit’s power instead of trying to change themselves

Release shame and receive the truth that they are no longer condemned

Remember their identity as sons and daughters of God

Rest in God’s unshakable love and walk confidently in the new life He’s given them