Season 5: More to Identity, Episode 3 (Romans 6:15-23)

Big Idea:

A Christ-centered identity results in eternal life.

Intro:

Good morning church,

Last Sunday, a youth watched a clip of me accidentally saying the phrase “6-7” during first service. He texted me and said I was “aura farming.” I have the “phrase” on the screen for those who have no idea what I just said. Honestly, I had no idea what that meant. I think it was being used in a good way…

What it made me think about was “Farmville.” Remember, that game? For those who don’t...

FarmVille was a social simulation game launched on Facebook in 2009, where players manage a virtual farm by planting crops, raising animals, and decorating their land. It quickly became one of the most popular games on the platform. The goal of the game was to grow your farm over time by earning coins and experience points through farming tasks that were time-based.

I was addicted to Farmville. And one of the hardest parts of the game was the time-based tasks. Because the game kept running in the background even when you weren’t playing it on your phone. And if you wanted your crops to live, you had to log back into the game at the right times. I had to strategically take bathroom breaks at work to make sure I got that watermelon harvest. And if I’m honest, there was probably a season when I was more invested in that online life than real life - neglecting my real world responsibilities for fake temporary rewards.

And that’s similar to what Paul writes about today as we continue in the book of Romans. We’re picking up where Pastor Jon left off a few weeks ago with his sermon titled, “You’re dead to me.” It was an awesome. I watched it on a bus ride in Sao Paulo. If you missed it, you can always watch it online. But in summary, when we turn from our sin and put our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we get a new identity. We are no longer “sinners” by identity… sin is no longer our master and doesn’t define us. As verse 14 says…

Romans 6:14 CSB

For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.

Now, Jesus is our Master. We are God’s children by identity. And we live under His wonderful grace.

Yet, many Christians struggle to live in this new identity. In both Paul’s day and ours. Rather, staying invested in a world they belong in. If Farmville represented our old sinful life, we keep logging on, living for temporary, unsatisfactory rewards and ignoring real life - our life in Christ!

Why do we do this?

Exegesis:

I have a couple of thoughts…

Since, in Christ, we become free from the judgment of the law…

And since we no longer worry about the eternal punishment for our sin…

And - what’s not written, but maybe implied - since it’s easier to live in sin because that’s what we’ve always done wand what everyone around us is doing…

And… whether or not we’d say this out loud… it’s more fun (at least temporarily), then, why fight it?

We say to ourselves, “I get I have a new identity… that’s actually kinda cool. And what’s really cool is that because Jesus paid it all, now I’m free to party! I mean…

I know I still need to go to church….

Still serve or give…

Still wear “Jesus Loves Me” or “TRC” shirts…

And go to Christian concerts…

But I’m also free to let loose every now and then! I mean, Jesus already paid for the sin anyways, right?”

…Are we ACTUALLY allowed to think like this?

When I first started following Jesus in Jan 2004, I remember I was passionate about Jesus. I couldn’t stop going to church. I couldn’t stop reading the Bible. I wanted to tell everyone about what God did for me. How He saved my out of the party scene, sexual sins, and bitter anger. But then, March came along and it was my birthday. And I thought… while I loved Jesus, and was doing my BEST to follow Him, I deserve one night off, right? I mean… it’s my birthday!

I remembered all the “fun” I had partying with my friends. Filled with liquid courage and not having a care in the world. Of course, I overlooked all of the sinful and hurtful things I’d say and do in those moments… all the brokenness and sickness I’d feel the morning after. I conveniently left that out of my processing. I mean… it was my BIRTHDAY. So, I made up my mind- I’m going out!

I called all my friends who I hadn’t hung out with in a while. I had actually just started dating Janelle and told her I was going out and I’d call her later. Went to a club in downtown San Diego. And picked up where I left off in regards to ordering drinks. I was ready for a good time!

But then, something happened… as I was sitting there, with a Long Island in my hand, I heard a voice whisper to my heart, “George, what are you doing here?”

I brushed it off. But it wouldn’t let me go. “You don’t belong here anymore.” But… it’s my birthday. And I’ve been such a good Christian for 3 months! I deserve a night of fun!

I started negotiating with God. Ever do that? Okay Lord, I won’t drink. At least not a lot… just enough to have courage to dance. Just then, a friend brought me another drink, “Happy Birthday!”

When he turned around, I poured the drink into the trash can, but as I did, he turned around! “What are you doing?” “Oh…umm… some girl spit in it.” “Oh okay, I’ll get you another one.”

It was at that moment that I knew, “I didn’t belong here. This is NOT WHO I AM anymore.” I went home early, called Janelle, and we talked all night on the phone.

Apparently, some in Rome were spiritually immature like me. They were still learning what it meant to be “in Christ.” And they were wrongfully using the “sufficiency of Christ” (the truth that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross fully paid for our sins) as justification for continuing to sin. That’s why Paul says…

Romans 6:15–16 CSB

What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not! Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness (or what’s right in God’s eyes)?

On my 24th birthday (I’m 45 now), I heard two voices:

“Go ahead and sin. It’s not a big deal. You deserve a little fun. Plus, God doesn’t care that much…”

“My son, what are you doing here? You don’t belong here anymore. This is no longer your home.”

And what Paul is teaching to someone (like us) is, whatever voice you obey is your master. That’s where you find your identity.

If you obey sin, that’s your master.

If you obey the Holy Spirit, Jesus is your King.

So… in your life, who are you obeying?

Paul continues…

Romans 6:17–18 CSB

But thank God that, although you used to be (say, “used to be”) slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, and having been set free from sin, you became (say, “became”) enslaved to righteousness.

Paul is a man filled with grace. He got it. He understood what it meant to receive the free gift of God in Christ. To live in grace… to give people the underserved benefit of the doubt, BECAUSE… he - as a murderer and blasphemer - received grace. How could he not give it to others?

And this grace made Paul okay with messy people. With people who were still a work in progress. Don’t get me wrong… Paul never overlooked sin or didn’t care about bad theology… after 6 chapters in Romans, we know he did! But, as we talked about a few weeks ago in Romans 5 (and as we’ll talk about today), he understood that part of the believers new identity included progressive sanctification. This reality that although Jesus paid it all, and in the Fathers eyes we are positionally and perfectly holy, in this current life we’re ALSO STILL being made holy… STILL learning how to be like Jesus. Therefore, he often gave grace to messy, spiritually immature people like me.

But more than that, Paul trusted God. He knew God is faithful to His promises. He knew that…

Philippians 1:6 CSB

…he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God WILL finish the work He started in His church. When these people genuinely obeyed the gospel from their heart (turning from their sin and putting their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior), God saved them. They are eternally secure, even when they temporarily sin.

And these moments (even seasons) of sin wasn’t because they weren’t Christians or the gospel didn’t work, it’s just that they needed to be taught how to follow Jesus (to be discipled), starting with believing and walking in their new identity.

I get the sense this is applicable to our church today. God is doing a work in Glastonbury! And we are seeing Him start a good work in our community - in many people and families! But sometimes we make a spiritual mess, because we’re spiritually immature. Thats not a bad thing. It’s a normal thing. It’s only a problem if you stay immature.

If you’re 24 years old and still drinking out of a bottle and diapers, something might be wrong. But if that’s not the case, then what you need is grace. Grace for yourself and from others.

Church, let’s be a people known for grace. A church that believes God’s promises over people’s present messiness, amen?

Anyways, Paul explains “For many of you, you are genuine children of God! You simply need to be learn how to think properly about your identity, over time, being discipled, and receiving grace to grow in spiritual maturity.” He continues…

Romans 6:19–22 CSB

I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!

One of the best ways to teach is to start with the basics, or to simplify things to increase understanding. That’s what Paul is doing. And he’s using the illustration of slavery, which would’ve been very common to his original audience.

Now, slavery wasn’t like what we know in American history. It’d be more like employment (but with less rights). So maybe that will helps us…

When you have a job, you work for someone. There’s a boss or “master.” And, when you work there for a long time and maybe even get good at your job, you get a promotion. That’s like sin. Sin was our master. And the more we practiced it, the better we got at it. We may even get a spiritual promotion. Paul was once “the chief sinner.”

But then, you quit that job. You don’t work for that person anymore. They can schedule you, call you, and tell you what to do, but it doesn’t matter, YOU DO NOT WORK FOR THEM ANYMORE. You’re free from the obligation!

And that’s what happens when Jesus saves you. You quit that old sinful life. You don’t work there. They can “slack” you all they want, but they’re not your boss! You don’t work for Taco Bell no more! You work for Chick-fil-A serving the Lord’s chicken.

Jesus is your Lord now! And there’s a lot of room for growth in this company, so serve the Lord with all your heart!

This is an important lesson. Because, for some reason, we Christians often forget… we hated that old job. We can have this distorted and selective memory of our sinful life.

We’re like the Israelites after Moses saved them from Pharaoh…

Before Moses…

Exodus 3:7 NLT

…the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.

They hated Egypt! But after Moses brought them out by God’s power, they complained…

Exodus 16:3 NLT

“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

They forgot how miserable they were in Egypt. Remember “Forgetful Jones” from Sesame Street? My mom used to call me that. That’s us! We’re Forgetful Jones. We forget how miserable life was when sin was our Master. We forget how ashamed we were every morning being weighed down by our sins…

When I think about my life before Jesus, I’m ashamed. The things I did. The people I hurt. How I dishonored the God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Nothing eternally good came from that sinful life.

Btw, it might be helpful to clarify this… shame is a very negative word in our culture. And for good reason. But biblical culture was different than ours…

The Bible was originally an “honor-shame” culture. And God used purposefully used shame to emphasize that sin was no joke! So, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater (who does that anyway?) when it comes to appropriate applications of shame. We SHOULD BE ASHAMED of our sin, so that it causes us to repent and run into the arms of Jesus!

I was ashamed of my sin! But now, by the grace of God, I’m free to live out the life and purposes God created and called me for. To love God with all my heart and help others do the same. To find true joy and satisfaction in life (not just chasing the next pipedream or relationship only to come up empty). I don’t want to go back to that life!

Because now… in Christ, I know it’s only going to get better.

While there may be trials and tribulations in this life, one day, God promises it will all be over. Every tear will be wiped away. God will make all things right. And I will be with God and his people, in heavenly perfection, for eternity. Where each day is better than the last! Can you imagine that?

By nature, I’m a rule-follower. By God’s grace, I never tried any sort of drug (still haven’t). Even though I didn’t grow up in the church, I didn’t drink until I was 21… in America. But… I grew up in San Diego, so I was just a hop, skip, and jump from TJ, where the drinking age was 18. So, that was permissible for me. And I can still remember my first time getting drunk.

My friends all knew it was my first time drinking. So they got me a lot. It was disgusting. But then the alcohol hit me. And I can remember that first feeling of drunkenness. The sensation was overwhelming.

Here’s the thing… I can remember years of chasing that feeling and never finding it again. No matter how good I got at drunkenness (and I got pretty good), it only caused me to spiral downward in sin, never finding that high again.

And while it may sound like I’m describing fun or a good feeling, what I’m really sharing is after years of practice and investing in sinful drunkenness, it never produced anything good. It always left me empty. It kept me on the path of shame moving towards death.

But then Jesus saved me. And I started living for Him. And I can’t say it’s always been easy, it hasn’t. But what I can say is the Holy Spirit consistently gives me special moments when He shows me, “Look at what I’ve done in your life.” And I have to just stop and thank God. I can’t believe I get to do this (what I’m doing right now). I don’t deserve this! And here’s what’s crazy about the goodness of God… because He loves me, He showers my life with good gifts…

For some reason, I’ve always wanted to live in Connecticut. I don’t know why. And where does God call me to? Connecticut. I don’t deserve that!

I don’t deserve my wife, my boys, my baby girl. Even my two dogs, one that happens to be a Collie, which I always wanted after watching endless episodes of Lassie with grandma. And then, in 2020, a pastor who also breeds Collies calls me and ask, “Want one a free puppy?” God is good!

I could go on, but here’s my point: Following Jesus is “where life happens.” That’s why that phrase is on some of our shirts. As a church, we’re all about Jesus. We follow and focus on Him. Because that’s “Where Life Happens!”

Jesus is serious when He said…

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

That doesn’t mean God will give us everything we want and that we won’t have trouble in this life - actually Jesus promises we will. But it does mean that in Christ, we have the hope of a better day, every day. And as I mentioned before, in heaven, we’ll never feel empty or chase things that leave us unsatisfied. Instead, it’ll be an infinite succession of days where we’ll think, “I can’t wait to see what God has for me tomorrow! Because I know it’s going to be far better than yesterday and anything I could ask or think.”

Can you imagine a life where you have a perfect day and the expectation is always… tomorrow will be better? That’s the future for those in God’s family!

And here’s the good news my friends, we don’t have to wait for heaven to live with that expectation. God wants us to experience that now. That today, we would, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

But it starts with identity! You will always grow towards your what you believe about yourself. There’s only two options…

You’re either growing in death or eternal life (v. 23).

Romans 6:23 CSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What direction is your life headed? Is your heart set on sinful and temporary things leading to death? Or, are you focused on Jesus and growing in eternal life? Do you want to play Farmville or do you want to experience the abundant life? It’s your choice.

Here’s my strong encouragement: Choose Jesus.

Response:

And so, as we close (and the worship team comes up), I want to share what it looks like to grow in death versus eternal life, so you have something to help you examine your life…

The apostle Paul gave the Colossians two lists:

A list of actions when sin is the master and you’re “growing in death.”

A list of actions when Jesus is King and you’re “growing in eternal life.”

List number 1:

Colossians 3:5–9 NLT

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

List 2:

Colossians 3:12–17 NLT

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Which list describes your life? Maybe this will help. Let’s consider what this looks like in Glastonbury, CT 2025?

When you’re growing in darkness in 2025, it might look like this:

Consistent brokenness in relationships.

Being physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually unhealthy.

Wasting money on what doesn’t matter or hoarding your money because it’s your security in life (not God).

Living in isolation instead of in relationship and accountable to your church family.

Btw, no one automatically likes accountability. I don’t! But spiritually mature people invite accountability because it’s part of God’s process for healthy living. Accountability is a spiritual shield for our souls against sin!

And here’s what it looks like to be growing in eternal life in 2025:

You invite accountability.

You value relationship over emotions; meaning, you’re willing to show up, endure, and preserve a relationship even when you don’t get your way for a long time!

You encourage, listen well, and quickly forgive people.

You aim to honor God in everything you do.

Here’s a tough one: You sing. Singing in worship to God is a spiritually mature response of those growing in eternal life.

Which one of these can you grow in this week?

And remember this: You can’t grow in eternal life without Jesus as Lord and living in that new identity.

So, let’s pray for that now…

Jesus, we invite You right now to change us, to save us. We know that You are always with us. It’s just we’ve been ignoring You. So we’re not only acknowledging Your presence, but welcoming You to take Your rightful place on the throne of our hearts. Lead us towards eternal life. Help us to leave behind the junk that leave us in shame and keep us chained to sin. We’re ready to live. We’re ready for You. Amen.