(Romans 6:1-8) The Insanity of Sin in a Life of Grace

So it might surprise, that this text addresses believers who want the salvation and grace of Jesus while still “enjoying” the false and empty pleasures of sin.

And yet Paul addresses all to common reality in our lives.

We want the salvation of Christ and the pleasures of sin.

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It you would look down at your text - .

Romans 6:1–8 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. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 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. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

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Our passage teaches us -

PROP: Grace should lead us to a transformed life in Christ.

PROP: Grace should lead us to a new life.

TRANS: And our passage explains to us 2 reasons why.

As we begin to look at our text - Observe how Paul begins by dealing with a theological question.

Paul’s Theological Question: Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ()

Romans 6:1–2 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?

What Paul is doing here is anticipating a question about the reign of Christ in our lives - from .

has championed the truth - that through Christ - grace reigns abundantly.

has made it abundantly clear - that through Christ - grace reigns abundantly.

Romans 5:19–21 ESV

19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 5:

And then in - .

Romans 6:1–2 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?

The logic of his question is this -

He actually addressed the same question - in .

If Christ’s work reigns greater grace in our lives, then why not sin to bring greater grace?

Should we sin so that God’s law would bring about a greater good -

Romans 3:5 ESV

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

Romans 3:8 ESV

8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

But here in - He addresses another questions -

If Christ’s work reigns greater grace in our lives, then why not sin to bring greater grace?

It has a certain logic to it - doesn’t it.

If I am under grace, then let grace abound.

I should a live life however I want,

I should take every opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of life, including the pleasure of sin.

because sin just brings greater grace in my life.

Afterall - hasn’t God saved me unconditionally.

But this is a twisting and manipulation of grace

and denial of the holiness of God

and a denial that God’s laws and the NT commands have a place in our lives - even as believers saved by grace.

This question - relates to a larger discussion about the law.

This question - relates to a larger

This is one issue - in a series of false believes about the Law.

The denial of the Law having a place in our lives as Christians is called antinomianism.

Antinomianism - is just a five dollar word for denial of the law.

It was coined by Martin Luther as a Latin phrase meaning - Anti-Law.

It was a major debate in Luther’s Day.

The Anabaptist were condemned for this belief.

It was a major debate both in Scottland in the 1700s

and early American. (Murrow Controversy and Antinomian Controversy/Anne Hutchinson)

Antionomianism covers a number of incorrect beliefs about the law.

In particular - our passage addresses (R.C. Sproul) libertine antinomianism.

Packer calls this - Christ-Centered antinomianism.

- Which is just to say - We can live however we want, because we are not under the law, but under grace.

- It is a false belief that manipulates grace to say that we can commit any sin we want because it is all under grace.

It is a false belief that manipulates grace to say that we can commit any sin we want because it is all under grace.

In case we think this is not that common - consider the words of R.C. Sproul this morning:

I would say that one of the greatest problems in evangelical Christianity today is the pervasive influence of what we call ‘Antinomianism’. Antinomianism says, ‘I am saved by faith, therefore I never have to be concerned in the slightest about obeying the law.’ Antinomianism says that the commandments of God have no binding influence on my conscience. That is not just a distortion of Christianity, it is a fundamental denial of Christianity. Yet this notion is commonplace in Christian circles. Good works that follow from your conversion will not count for your justification, but if they are not there, it proves that faith is not there either. (R.C. Sproul, The Gospel of God: Romans)

Good works that follow from your conversion will not count for your justification, but if they are not there, it proves that faith is not there either.

In other places, R.C. Sproul explains the problem with Christ-Centered Antinomianism

In this view, one understands justification by faith to mean that after a Christian is converted, he is no longer liable in any sense to fulfill the commandments of the law. He sees his justification as a license to sin, excusing himself by arguing that he lives by grace and not by law and is under no obligation to follow the commandments of God (R.C. Sproul, How should I live in the World?)

In particular

This text addresses

This theological idea - that grace

ILLUSTRATION:

But RC Sproul is describing is what we have probably called the insurance policy Christianity.

And if you spend much time talking to people around you about Christ - you will find dozens of Christian in name only.

They would say -

I'm not really interested in Christ, his word, or even freedom from sin.

I'm simply interested in Jesus saving me so I can do whatever I want (which is by definition idolatry).

Other times - we not so brazen to say that - but their apathy and sinned filled lives declare this to be true. (It is not an idolatry by confession, but by practice)

This is an apathetic, hard hearted the Christian one one hand confesses Christ, yet on the other hand lives enslaved to his sin.

And I hope this isn’t your life!

Do you claim grace while letting sin control your life?

Do you claim grace while enjoying the pleasure of your idolatry?

That is what Paul meant when he says -

Romans 6:1–2 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?

But why not?

What is so wrong with the living a life pleasure?

God saved you, so why should we not enjoy all the pleasures that can be found in this world.

Several answers we could say when we take the breath of Scripture.

Ecclesiastes had one answer – vanity of vanities.

First John has another answer – because believers are meant to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

has an answer – because were called to glorify God.

had an answer – because Christ bought you with his blood.

This is an important truth and found through out God's word – but Paul does give us a different answer here that is just as persuasive.

Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?

The Answer:

1) No…Because we are dead to sin. ()

Paul begins by emphasizing we are united with Christ’s death.

He begins his answer by giving us two self-reflective questions

Consider

Romans 6:2–3 ESV

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?

The first question – how can we who died to sin still live in it?

You can understand the weight of irony here.

Can a dead person live?

– And of course not.

- That is ridiculous, a dead person is and remains dead.

One of the reasons Lazarus was such an important miracle in the life of Christ - is because dead people don’t live again.

They remain forever dead.

How can you live in sin – if you died to sin?

In v. 3 -

You should remain dead to sin.

Not alive to sin, but dead to sin.

Paul pushes this point further in v. 3 -

by assuming here that we already know this truth…that we are dead to sin.

“Do you not know” - is meant to reinforce the obviousness that we are not to continue in sin.

In other words, this should of been basic knowledge for every Christian.

How can you live in sin – if you died to sin?

He assumes here that

Romans 6:3 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

This would be like saying the dead person is living – it's an oxymoron.

His second

In our day, this is not a well known biblical truth.

But from Paul's writings – it is clear this was this was a basic truth of Christianity in the early church.

But from Paul's writings – it is clear this was a basic Christianity.

Every Believer understood -

> First that we were baptized into Christ.

The baptism in the Christ is not the the ordinance of baptism – that is the immersion underwater representing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

But the literal union with Christ, being baptized into the body of Christ.

One of the reasons we know that baptism is not a baptism of water is v. 5 makes it very clear that this is describing the union of the believer with Christ.

> Secondly, that union by baptism with Christ includes the union with his death.

So it is not just Baptized with Christ,

But Baptized with Christ, uniting us with his death.

Several places in Scripture describe believers being united in Christ's death –

Paul makes this point, as the basis for why we ought not to sin so that grace abounds.

We ought not to sin so grace abounds – because just as Jesus died; we have died to sin.

If you recall ,

Jesus death represented the end of sin and death ruling over our lives.

Romans 5:17 ESV

17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

And one of the reason’s Christ’s grace rules in our lives is because we are united with Christs death.

so certainly we should not continue to live as though it still controls us.

Our union with Christ's death - is first reason Paul tells us we ought not to allow sin to reign in our life...

Just as we by nature and by headship of Adam - were forced to endure sin and death.

By nature and by headship of Christ – our union with Christ’s death should cause us no longer be controlled by sin.

By nature and by headship of Christ – are united death with Christ should cause us no longer be controlled by sin.

When Paul says, how can we who died to sin still live in it? - What he is saying is that the power of sin died on the cross with Jesus.

And so how can we possibly consider continuing to live enslaved to the reign of sin.

Continuing with Paul’s introductory reason -

But not only are united with Christ’s d

Are we to sin so grace will abound?

The Second reason the answer is,

But secondly,

2) No … Because we have a new life through our union with Christ. ()

3) No … We have a new life through our union with Christ. ()

While Paul highlighted the death of Christ, and continues to highlight it throughout this section;

>>>beginning in verse four Paul introduces another wonderful truth about our union with Christ.

He begins to highlight not only the death of Christ , our union with the resurrection of Christ.

He begins to highlight not only the death of Christ , but our union with the resurrection of Christ.

Looking down at your text at verse 4 and 5.

Paul continues his

Romans 6:4–5 ESV

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. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

a) Our union with Christs death and resurrection. ()

a) Our union is with Christs resurrection as well as his death. ()

The death of Christ represents much for us as Christians.

It represents the:

the payment of our sin debt

peace with the father who was angry with us

adoption as sons and daughters of God.

The death of the power and the slavery of sin.

Wonderful truths are found in the death of Jesus Christ.

But just as important is our union with Christ resurrection.

The gospel of Jesus Christ assures us that we have salvation and redemption because we know Christ died for us

>>>>> - and if we can say that the we can also say we can be confident we are united with Christ in his resurrection.

Again many promises come from the resurrection of Christ:

We look for a day when we will be glorified because of the resurrection.

We also live now in a transformed newness of life because of the resurrection.

Paul's point is twofold here –

1) to be united with Christ resurrection is to be united with the life transformed and sent free from sin.

2) which means (secondly) – if we can be confident of our union with Christ’s death we can be much more confident in our union with his resurrection.

Just as Christ's death – set us free from the bondage of Adam's curse of sin and dad

Christ's resurrection – sets us free to live a life in the blessings and wisdom of God.

His making the point, we can be certain of this.

Like a lawyer in a courtroom Paul continues with his defense why we should not live for sin,

Observe – because of

b) Our confidence of freedom from sin. ()

Romans 6:6 ESV

6 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.

He makes almost the same point in verse 6, but adds a bit of emphasis here.

Why was our old body crucified with Jesus?

Why does it matter whether we are united with Christ and his death?

(((>>> That just sounds like a bunch of theological talk.))))

Paul makes explicitly clear here the practical reason this matters…

>>> In order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing and we can be free from slavery to sin.

The practical take-home value of this passage – is that we no are longer slaves to sin.

It was crucified with Christ.

ILLUSTRATION:

This passage is picturing a slave, and a slave has to do what its master say.

American History Chronicles what it's like to be a slave under in-compassionate and hateful master.

Slaves being worked to exhaustion; slaves being at times even beaten to death.

One Slave owners Journal records this -

(https://mises.org/library/brutality-slavery)

2-8-09: Jenny and Eugene were whipped.

5-13-09: Mrs. Byrd whips the nurse.

6-10-09: Eugene (a child) was whipped for running away and had the bit put on him.

11-30-09: Jenny and Eugene were whipped.

12-16-09: Eugene was whipped for doing nothing yesterday.

4-17-10: Byrd helped to investigate slaves tried for “High Treason”; two were hanged.

You can imagine the oppression and hopelessness described in this journal.

And sin is that kind of master.

And what is crazy is that we marvel at this slavery,

But take lightly our struggle with sin.

Sin is just as oppressive of a master is any human slaveowner ever was.

If you cringe at American slavery, then cringe even more at our slavery to sin.

Sin compels you to feed an empty desire to earning destruction, guilt, and loneliness.

Sin always takes us farther then we ever wanted to go and into a darker hole then we thought possible.

If you don't believe me,

You don't believe me,

consider John Newton.

A man who lived a life – as he described.

- with "unsettled behavior and impatience of restraint"

who sin and drunkenness gambling, lead him to become a slave – until he was freed to a new life found in Christ.

- he remained arrogant and insubordinate, and he lived with morality abandoned: "I sinned with a high hand," he later wrote, "and I made it my study to tempt and seduce others."

And his sin brought him down, until finally he was a slave himself.

Talk about a dark hole.

But then he trusted Christ and was freed to a new life found in Christ.

until he was freed to a new life found in Christ.

John Newton would go on to write the song - Amazing grace.

Describing his new life set free both from human slavery and sin slavery.

A slave in American slavery had no choice – they had to do whatever their master told them.

And in the same way,

before Christ you have no choice but to sin.

But the death of Jesus Christ pronounces us free from the enslavement to sin.

We are no longer forced to do the becking call of our sin nature,

but we can choose instead to live in the newness of life found in Christ.

CAVEAT:

This is not to say that we never struggle with the temptation of sin.

The temptation and presence of sin is not removed until the day when God changes us, we are glorified. ()

Yet if we are believers in Christ, then you can say I am free from the shackles of sin.

And so Paul,

c) Restates our confidence of a new life (based on our assured death and freedom). ()

The way Paul writes this, is adding layers upon layers;

So you understand you are free from sin and given a new life.

He summarizes this in

Romans 6:7–8 ESV

7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

CONCLUSION:

So -

Bring this back to our main point.

PROP: Grace should lead us to a transformed life in Christ.

Because - We are united with Christ so that:

- we are dead to sin.

We are united with Christ so that- dead to sin.

- and living a new life found in Christ.

How do we apply this text?

First,

Do you trust in Christ to save you from the debt of sin

Do you trust in Christ to save you from the debt of sin and do you trust Christ to save you from your slavery to sin.

and do you trust Christ to save you from your slavery to sin.

- This passage should teach you you are a sinner who needs a savior to save you, you can’t save yourself.

But at the same time,

- this passage teaches a wonderful truth that Christ died to save you from the judgment of God and your slavery to sin.

But at the same time, this passage teaches a wonderful truth that Christ died to save you from the judgment of God and your slavery to sin.

But you must place all your trust in dying for you in order to be saved.

I think would be a shame for us to talk about being free from sin and its destructive reign over our lives – and yet one of us remain that way because we believe in Christ.

If you're here don't know Christ, let's get this settled.

- Not because of me

- not because the church will grow

But because Jesus Christ is the greatest news you can ever hear - that he gives you freedom from your sin.

On the other hand, this passage as a whole is addressing believers.

Are we to sin so that grace may abound?

So you understand you are free from sin and given a new life.

Too many Christians live as though God's word doesn't matter to them.

After all, I'm not under the law, but I'm under grace.

We may not say - I should sin so that grace may abound.

But we live that way.

As RC Sproul noted,

- Christians in our culture live as though God's word has nothing to say to them,

Christians in our culture live as though God's word has nothing to say to them,

- as though Christ death was only there to save them from hell.

And yet, Christ - is so much more.

Yes – Christ saves us from the penalty of our sin.

But just as important, maybe even more important,

>>>>he died to save us from the kingship of sin in our lives.

If you think it is better to live in your old pleasures that were crucified by Jesus,

- then you don’t understand sin.

- and you don’t understand the cross.

you have no idea why Jesus had to die for you.

A basic belief in Christ - understands the slavery of sin.

CAVEAT:

Let me caution you, this does not teach that you are no longer sin.

This passage promises we are free from the power of sin, but we still await the day when the temptation of sin will also be removed.

This is why says:

1 John 1:8 ESV

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

- What this passage is saying, we have a responsibility and the power to fight sin in our lives.

Hat this passage is saying, we have a responsibility and the power to fight sin in our lives.

- Christ died to give us a better way and we ought to as Christians live out our death and resurrection in Jesus Christ.

Christ died to give us a better way and we ought to is Christians live out our death and resurrection in Jesus Christ.

Do you live today,

publicly or privately,

secretly or openly,

enjoying a sin while boasting in the grace found in Christ?

I challenge you - realize you have something better.

You have death to sin and life in Christ.

He summarizes this in

Response for Home Bible Fellowships:

a) How do we live in sin and trust in abounding grace?

b) What is Paul’s attitude towards this view? What does this teach us?

c) How does the death and resurrection of Christ change our lives?

d) What is the obligation of people who have been united with Christ?

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