Saved by Grace- Now What?

Romans 6:1-14.

In todays text, Apostle Paul addresses the issue of HOW Followers of Christ should respond to the Grace of God.

He is emphatic in stressing that Boundless Grace does NOT, in any way, allow us to continue living in sin.

In Fact, it is the transformative power of our Salvation that should lead us, by Grace to a fuller and complete walk of Faith in our daily lives.

Since salvation is not just a change of social status, but a complete realigning of our thought processes.

We are not JUST forgiven- The renewing of our minds leads to believers becoming transformed- New Creations in Christ-

Highlighted by the intensely deep connection of Gods grace and mercy in our daily lives.

In ancient Rome, the term 'transformed' was often used to describe a change in status.

When a slave was freed, they had to figure out their new identity in society. For many Christians, grace transforms us from spiritual slaves to children of God.

The next step is crucial: how do we live with this new identity? Just as a freedman had to navigate life with new rights and responsibilities, we too must understand our roles as transformed believers in Christ's family.

We draw strength, daily, from that grace and mercy to live righteously before God and man.

We will attempt to show how Jesus is the central conduit from which we draw this abundant grace from-

Thanks to His death and resurrection,

His ultimate sacrifice does provide forgiveness from our sins- But also gives us the strength to live daily, unencumbered, or weighted down by the guilt of our past sins.

Through the daily inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we can live overcoming lives of freedom, because of Gods grace and mercy.

As our relationship with God grows deeper, we become more capable of facing life’s struggles, dilemma’s, moral and ethical complications as they come up.

Being better equipped with renewed minds and pure hearts- In Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul speaks of being a new creation in Christ. The transformation is immediate, but the process of growing in that new identity takes time.

Consider the story of the prodigal son; after being welcomed home, he had to learn how to live as a beloved son again.

Similarly, upon receiving grace, we too are called to embrace our new lives, often having to let go of old habits that no longer serve us in our redeemed state.

SO lets break it down:

1- Does Grace allow for More Sin?

Romans 6:1–4 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? 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.

Paul confronts the idea that by continuing in sin, simply means more grace is poured out.

Only the human mind could come up with a plan that allows for more wrongs to fix any future wrongs.

The symbolism is clear, here.

Our Baptism into Christ, also buries our dead and sinful man.

The transforming power of the blood of Christ calls to all believers to rise into that clear and distinct life of holiness, united in Christ- by His death and resurrection.

Historically, after the Reformation, many believers found themselves in a new spiritual landscape, freed from the bondage of tradition.

Yet, what followed was a radical rethinking of their lives in faith.

They became known as 'the people of the Book,' dedicating themselves to Scripture and community.

This is a perfect metaphor for our journey:

Once we grasp the grace of God,

we must dive into His Word,

discover our purpose,

and walk in the freedom that Christ offers.

2- A Matter of Life and Death

Romans 6:6–10 ESV

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.