Grace Doesn’t Mean Go Wild
Journey's Road Map • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Text: Romans 6:1–4
Text: Romans 6:1–4
Series: Journey’s Road Map
Series: Journey’s Road Map
Theme: Grace frees us from sin’s penalty, not from responsibility.
Theme: Grace frees us from sin’s penalty, not from responsibility.
Introduction – A Misunderstanding of Grace
Introduction – A Misunderstanding of Grace
Humorous Opener:
Humorous Opener:
“Someone once said, ‘I love sinning, and God loves forgiving—sounds like the perfect relationship!’
“Someone once said, ‘I love sinning, and God loves forgiving—sounds like the perfect relationship!’
Paul wrote Romans 6 just to ruin that joke.”
Paul wrote Romans 6 just to ruin that joke.”
Paul anticipates the argument that if grace increases when sin abounds, maybe sinning more is a good thing. But Romans 6:1–4 slams the door on that logic. Grace doesn’t license sin; it liberates us from it.
Paul anticipates the argument that if grace increases when sin abounds, maybe sinning more is a good thing. But Romans 6:1–4 slams the door on that logic. Grace doesn’t license sin; it liberates us from it.
I. The Question of Grace (v. 1)
I. The Question of Grace (v. 1)
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”
Paul is confronting a twisted version of the gospel—a cheap grace that excuses sin rather than conquers it.
Paul is confronting a twisted version of the gospel—a cheap grace that excuses sin rather than conquers it.
The Greek phrase ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ (“continue in sin”) implies settling down or remaining comfortably there.
The Greek phrase ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ (“continue in sin”) implies settling down or remaining comfortably there.
Grace isn’t a hammock for sin; it’s a hammer that breaks sin’s chains.
Grace isn’t a hammock for sin; it’s a hammer that breaks sin’s chains.
Illustration – Moral/Modern:
Illustration – Moral/Modern:
A prisoner pardoned by a king doesn’t run back to the cell—he walks out and lives differently.
A prisoner pardoned by a king doesn’t run back to the cell—he walks out and lives differently.
Grace sets us free from the cell, not for another round of crime.
Grace sets us free from the cell, not for another round of crime.
Quote – Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
Quote – Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
“Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
“Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
Cross-Ref: Titus 2:11–12 – “The grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness.”
Cross-Ref: Titus 2:11–12 – “The grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness.”
Application:
Application:
Grace doesn’t give permission; it gives power. The question isn’t “How much sin will God forgive?” but “How much new life will I live?”
Grace doesn’t give permission; it gives power. The question isn’t “How much sin will God forgive?” but “How much new life will I live?”
II. The Reality of Death with Christ (v. 2)
II. The Reality of Death with Christ (v. 2)
“By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
“By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
Paul’s answer is emphatic: μη γένοιτο! – “May it never be!” or “That’s unthinkable!”
Paul’s answer is emphatic: μη γένοιτο! – “May it never be!” or “That’s unthinkable!”
To “die to sin” means sin has lost its claim and authority over us.
To “die to sin” means sin has lost its claim and authority over us.
This is positional truth: when Christ died, we died in Him.
This is positional truth: when Christ died, we died in Him.
Colossians 3:3 – “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:3 – “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ.”
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ.”
Illustration – Historical:
Illustration – Historical:
When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, every enslaved person in the Confederate States was legally free. Yet many continued to live as slaves, unaware of their new status.
When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, every enslaved person in the Confederate States was legally free. Yet many continued to live as slaves, unaware of their new status.
Paul is declaring spiritual emancipation—sin no longer owns you.
Paul is declaring spiritual emancipation—sin no longer owns you.
Quote – Martin Lloyd-Jones:
Quote – Martin Lloyd-Jones:
“The New Testament does not tell us to die to sin; it tells us that we have died to sin.”
“The New Testament does not tell us to die to sin; it tells us that we have died to sin.”
Application:
Application:
You are not trying to die to sin—you already have. The call is to live like a free person.
You are not trying to die to sin—you already have. The call is to live like a free person.
III. The Symbol of New Life (vv. 3–4)
III. The Symbol of New Life (vv. 3–4)
“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… in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life.”
“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… in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life.”
Baptism pictures what has already happened spiritually—union with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Baptism pictures what has already happened spiritually—union with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
“Buried with Him” = the old life gone.
“Buried with Him” = the old life gone.
“Raised with Him” = new life begun.
“Raised with Him” = new life begun.
The verb περιπατήσωμεν (“walk”) implies continuous daily living in this new reality.
The verb περιπατήσωμεν (“walk”) implies continuous daily living in this new reality.
Illustration – Moral:
Illustration – Moral:
John Newton, the slave trader turned preacher, said near his death:
John Newton, the slave trader turned preacher, said near his death:
“I am not what I ought to be… but by the grace of God, I am not what I was.”
“I am not what I ought to be… but by the grace of God, I am not what I was.”
Grace transformed him. His baptism wasn’t just a symbol—it was a declaration that the old Newton was dead.
Grace transformed him. His baptism wasn’t just a symbol—it was a declaration that the old Newton was dead.
Cross-Refs:
Cross-Refs:
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
Ephesians 2:5–6 – “Even when we were dead… He made us alive together with Christ.”
Ephesians 2:5–6 – “Even when we were dead… He made us alive together with Christ.”
Application:
Application:
Grace doesn’t make sin safe—it makes sin senseless. If you’ve been raised to new life, stop revisiting the graveyard of your past.
Grace doesn’t make sin safe—it makes sin senseless. If you’ve been raised to new life, stop revisiting the graveyard of your past.
Conclusion – Buried and Raised
Conclusion – Buried and Raised
Romans 6:1–4 teaches that:
Romans 6:1–4 teaches that:
Grace doesn’t encourage sin—it ends sin’s reign.
Grace doesn’t encourage sin—it ends sin’s reign.
Baptism isn’t magic—it’s testimony.
Baptism isn’t magic—it’s testimony.
The Christian life isn’t about better behavior—it’s about a new identity.
The Christian life isn’t about better behavior—it’s about a new identity.
Quote – Charles Spurgeon:
Quote – Charles Spurgeon:
“The same grace that pardons sin also subdues it.”
“The same grace that pardons sin also subdues it.”
When Christ died, your sin went to the grave. When He rose, your life began.
When Christ died, your sin went to the grave. When He rose, your life began.
So live like someone who’s been through a funeral—and walked out resurrected.
So live like someone who’s been through a funeral—and walked out resurrected.
