Living a New Story

Introduction

When Kristin walked into the bank for work that morning, it was an ordinary day just like any other. Arrive, work, eat lunch, work some more, then go home. That's what she was expecting.

Everything changed the moment a man burst into the bank, armed to the teeth.

He tied up Kristin and her three coworkers and held them captive for six days while negotiating with police in what has become one of the most famous bank robberies of all time.

It isn't famous because the plan was so meticulous. It was sloppy.

It isn't famous because the robbers got away with an amazing score. They got caught.

It isn't famous because it was tragic. Everyone made it out safely.

So why is it famous?

It's because those four employees of that bank in Stockholm, Sweden, sided with the robbers, not their rescuers. The world was shocked. Why did the captives resist rescue? Why would they want to visit their captors once they had been set free?

It wasn't that the robbers were especially kind. It's that captivity does something to us. While this puzzled psychologists, anyone familiar with the story of the Bible knows how easy it is to remain captive even when freedom is offered.

When Israel was rescued from Egyptian slavery by God, what did they do as soon as they arrived in the wilderness? They grumbled and complained about how life was better as slaves in Egypt.

And what about us? We are freed from slavery to sin, but that captivity has left a mark. We are drawn back, again and again.

Will we remain in sin, or will we live a new story? That's the question Paul takes up here in Romans 6.

Prayer

Heavenly Father we confess that too often we turn back to sin. Open our eyes this morning to see where sin still holds our hearts and draw us back to you. Open our eyes to your word that we might understand and apply it, open our eyes to how you would form us to live a new story in you. In Jesus name, Amen.

1. A New Story Cannot Stay the Same (Romans 6:1)

Please open your Bibles to Romans 6:1. Paul begins by asking whether our story should stay the same once we are saved. Please read along in Romans 6:1:

Romans 6:1 NKJV

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

a. What shall we say?

Paul again asks, “What shall we say then?” This is a common approach throughout his letter. After making theological claims, he puts them to the test. Earlier, he used this phrase to explore what Scripture teaches, and here he explores the practical implications of his theology.

His overarching point is that we are saved by grace through faith, not works.

He really wants the Christians in Rome, and us today, to rely 100% on God's grace and 0% on their own effort. It's not the law that saves us. It's not our works. It's all about grace.

In fact, the law increases the offense because the clearer God is with us in His standard, the more guilty we are.

Romans 5:20 states this clearly:

Romans 5:20 NKJV

20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

Do you see the natural problem that might come from this theology?

The law serves as a check on sin. What happens when you replace law with grace?

Isn't grace too risky?

b. Isn't grace risky?

If we don't have to earn our salvation by works, why would we bother doing what is right?

If more sin means more grace, why not just sin even more so we can receive even more grace?

So he asks: “shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?”

I don't know if you've felt this tension at all throughout Romans. There is such a big emphasis on grace and such a strong push against our works that it's easy to imagine this message letting people off the hook without doing any work, without addressing the sin in their lives, leaving them to live forgiven but unchanged lives.

But living in sin is our old story. The new story, the story of salvation, is about how Jesus has defeated sin on the cross. Grace is not an invitation to keep on sinning—it is the only hope for sinners to change.

2. A New Story Begins with Christ (Romans 6:2-7)

Transition: In verse 2, Paul answers his own question and then expands on where our new story starts and what it calls us to.

Romans 6:2–7 NKJV

2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

a. Dead to Sin, yet Sinning? (Ro 6:1-3)

Paul didn't need to answer his rhetorical question. Shall we keep on sinning so that grace may abound?

The answer is obvious. The question itself reveals how absurd that idea is. Yet, to make his point, he responds with, "Certainly not!"

Then he asks another question.

How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Paul makes a similar point in Galatians:

I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20).

“If we have indeed died to sin there is no option but to move out of the old house of sin we used to live in.” (Runge).

The Bible doesn't teach that we take a time-out from sin.

It doesn't teach that we break up with sin.

No, the Bible teaches that we die to sin.

Salvation isn't about remaining where we were; it's about being united with Christ.

b. A Lesson from Baptism (Romans 6:4–6)

To drive this home, Paul refers back to the start of the Christian journey—baptism.

He has in mind the kind of baptism we see throughout Acts: People hearing the gospel, recognizing that Jesus is Lord, repenting of their sins, and being baptized.

That is, being immersed under the water and raised back up.

And this gives us a perfect picture of both what Jesus did for us and what Jesus is doing in us.

If you have already been baptized, I'd like you to think back to that moment and consider its meaning. If you have never been baptized, I'd like to invite you to take that next step by speaking with me following the service.

Here's what we say at baptisms, and it comes from this very passage in Romans 6.

Buried with Christ in baptism

As Paul makes clear here, this refers to being baptized into Jesus' death.

Now, this isn't a physical death. It is a spiritual death where we are dying to sin and to our old self.

Our past sin and shame are gone. But that's not all. Our old nature is gone as well.

When we come to Christ in salvation, we die to our old sinful self.

Raised to walk in newness of life

So we say, "Buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life."

Jesus didn't remain in the grave, and neither do we. Jesus displayed His glory by rising to life again, defeating sin, the devil, and death itself.

So what about us?

As we come up out of the water, we are reminded that we too share in that resurrection. We are raised to walk in newness of life.

Does God's grace enable us to keep sinning? Since we aren't saved by works, does that mean we live shallow, empty, sinful lives?

No. We have not only died to sin, we have also been raised to newness of life. We have both the motivation to live new lives—God's love and grace—and the resurrection power to walk in newness of life.

3. A New Story Leads to New Living (Romans 6:8-14)

Paul continues in verses 8–14, urging the Roman believers—and us today—to live in that new life. A new story leads to new living. Will you read along in verses 8–14?

Romans 6:8–14 NKJV

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

a. Identifying with Christ (Ro 6:8-11)*

Paul has previously shared that humans, by nature, identify with Adam. He sometimes calls this our "old man" or "former self." Identifying with Adam meant living in sin and experiencing death.

Since Adam, sin has reigned. Death has reigned in the world. Sin and death have had dominion over all humanity.

But the good news of the gospel is that in Jesus we no longer have to identify with Adam. Now we can, through God's glorious grace, identify with Christ.

Identify with Jesus' Death

Jesus' death and resurrection offer forgiveness to those who believe, but much more than that.

Identifying with Jesus' death is the only real solution to sin. The reality is that sin requires the penalty of death. Jesus, who never sinned, died in our place.

But if we keep living our old lives, following our own nature and desires, we are living as though sin still rules over us. We identify with Christ's death by dying to ourselves.

What does dying to sin look like?

In practical terms, it means denying our sinful impulses. Denying lust, gossip, laziness, dishonesty, hatred, greed, drunkenness, jealousy, and the like.

Now, how is that different from works righteousness? From doing good works to earn salvation?

Two ways.

First, motivation. We aren't dying to sin because we want to earn God's favor. Instead, He has already shown us favor by saving us from our guilt, and we long to live meaningful lives. With works righteousness, the motivation is ourselves—we are trying to do good to earn something. Dying to sin is about God's love, responding to what He has done.

But motivation isn't the only difference. Another difference is our ability. The reality is we don't have the power to overcome sin on our own. But dying to sin isn't about our power; it's about joining Jesus in His power.

So we identify with Christ—in His love and in His power—by dying to sin.

Identify with Jesus' Life

But we also identify with Jesus' life. Paul makes this clear in verse 8: "If we died with Christ, we also believe that we will live with Him."

Jesus died to sin, but He lived to God. He was raised to glorify God and ascended to sit at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

Jesus is living and reigning right now.

We don't just identify with Jesus' death, but also with His life. The question is not merely, "Will you say no to sin?" The question is, now that Jesus has raised you to life, will you live for God? He gives you the power to do so, but what will you choose?

b. Who Will You Serve? (Romans 6:12–14)

Because ultimately, all believers are faced daily with a choice: Who will I serve?

As one Bible teacher put it,

"What we were 'in Adam' is no more; but until heaven, the temptation to live in Adam always remains." (Moo)

We are in the already and not yet of God's kingdom. Christ's rule and reign have already broken in. Sin has lost its power. Death has lost its sting. God's reign has already broken into our world.

And yet, until the day Christ returns, sin still exists. Death still exists. We look forward to the glorious day when Christ returns and completes the redemption of creation, but until then we face this choice each day.

We still have sinful impulses.

But when we act on those sinful desires, when we feed those sinful impulses, we are going back to the slave master of sin from whom God has set us free. We allow sin to reign.

Paul lays it out in verse 13.

1st. Don't Report to Sin (v. 13)

When sin calls us, we must stop reporting for duty! (Runge)

We have already died to sin. We don't have to follow sin's commands.

But did you notice how Paul said, "Don't present your members"? This means the various parts of our body. Paul is saying, don't let sin take control of any part of your body.

2nd. Offer Yourself to God

Instead of going back to sin, present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead.

Do you remember how Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the grave? What did Jesus say?

"Lazarus, come forth."

He was raised from the dead, and he wasn't called to remain in the grave or wrapped in his burial clothes. He was called to come out and present himself to Jesus alive.

That's what God wants from everyone He raises from the dead: to come out of the sin that enslaved them and experience true life in a relationship with Him.

3rd. Use Your Body for God

Finally, Paul tells us how we should use our bodies. We are to offer our members—our whole bodies—as instruments of righteousness to God.

What does this look like?

Present your hands to God to be used by Him.

Present your feet to God to go where He would lead you.

Present your eyes to God to look at what is right and to see others with His eyes.

Present your mouth to God to share His good news, grace, and forgiveness.

Present your ears to God to listen to God's voice and to hear the needs of those around you.

Conclusion

Our loving and gracious God has saved us from sin, but like Israel in the wilderness and the bank captives in Stockholm, we are tempted to remain in bondage.

Sometimes sin entices us with its promises of happiness. Other times, it is simply returning to the familiar patterns of how we have always lived.

And yet, today's Scripture call is as strong as ever: In repentance, turn away from sin and back to the loving arms of God. Present yourself to Him as one who has been raised from the dead, and live the new story He has given you in Christ.

Invitation

Song: Living for Jesus

During this song of response I invite you to commit to living for Jesus. Will you refuse to return to sin and choose today to yield your thoughts, actions, habits and your new identify to Christ.

Will you stand as we sing and respond?

Sermon Notes & Further Study

1. Romans Resources

Introduction to Romans: https://www.havenfellowship.org/introduction-to-romans/

Commentary Recommendations: https://www.havenfellowship.org/romans-commentary-recommendations/

Reading Plan: https://www.havenfellowship.org/romans-reading-plan/

Choosing a Bible Translation: https://www.havenfellowship.org/choosing-a-bible-translation/

2. References & Citations

Illustration: Stockholm Syndrome

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/this-day-history-august-23-1973-bank-robbery-sweden-leads-stockholm-syndrome

NICNT

What we were “in Adam” is no more; but, until heaven, the temptation to live in Adam always remains.

Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans, ed. Ned B. Stonehouse et al., Second Edition, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 399.

Dead to Sin, yet Sinning? Paul answers the rhetorical question about continuing to sin by asking an oxymoronic question: How can we who have died to sin go on living in it? If we have indeed died, then there is no option but to move out of the old house of sin we used to live in.

Steven E. Runge, High Definition Commentary: Romans (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 108.

High Definition Commentary

3. Additional Scriptures

Exodus 14:11-12

Exodus 16:3

Numbers 11:5

Numbers 14:2-4

Nehemia 9:16-17

4. From the Study: Questions the Passage Raises

How does the NT describe sin as slavery?

The New Testament employs slavery as a metaphor to capture sin’s coercive power over human behavior and the impossibility of neutrality in spiritual allegiance. Rather than possessing absolute autonomy, humans can only choose which master to serve—either sin or God[1]. Either sin or God claims ownership of the soul[1], and no middle ground exists where one can set independent standards[1].

Jesus frames this most directly: “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin”[1] (John 8:34). The ultimate bondage is not political or economic subjection, but enslavement to moral failure and rebellion against God—a despotic devotion to self-centeredness and created things rather than the Creator[2]. The metaphor captures how sin progressively entraps its victims. Rebelling against God’s will and yielding to sinful passions results in becoming mired in a bog from which escape proves impossible; the more one sins, the deeper one sinks, even when attempting obedience through personal effort[1].

Critically, sin functions as a harsh taskmaster that dehumanizes its slaves—promising freedom while robbing it, driving lives toward inescapable destruction[1]. Enslavement to sin creates a domino effect, entangling victims in escalating transgression while intensifying spiritual numbness that diminishes responsiveness to God’s grace[1]. Humans cannot escape this bondage through willpower alone since sin has corrupted it, nor can mere repentance break its power[1].

The metaphor’s force lies in its absoluteness: every person is enslaved to someone and must choose their master[3]. Even enslaved believers possess freedom in the most important sense—liberation from slavery to sin through Christ’s ransom[4], though this requires divine intervention rather than human effort.

[1] David E. Garland, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J. Schnabel, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: IVP; IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2021), 6:226–228. [2] D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 350. [3] Ralph W. Harris, ed., Romans–Corinthians, The Complete Biblical Library: Study Bible (WORDsearch, 2009), 101. [4] William Baker, “1 Corinthians,” in Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009), 109.

5. About Haven Fellowship Church

Haven Fellowship Church is a non-denominational, Bible-believing church in Conyers, Georgia where we experience the love of God, grow in His Word, and share His love with others.

https://havenfellowship.org/