Romans 6:2b-11 -- "Power for Right Living"

Baptism Made us Dead to Sin

In baptism our old self was crucified with Christ (v. 6)

Nothing less than crucifixion could destroy sins power to control us.

New we do not have to be enslaved by sin.

It makes no sense to live in sin.

Don’t respond to evil desires, because your old self was “KILLED”

Don’t play with sin when it’s dead, as surely as Christ dealt with it on the cross.

Sin does not want to die!

We must live in such a way that sin does not get control of us.

When sin tempts, remembers Whose you are and He made you dead Col 3:9; Gal 5:24

Colossians 3:9 ESV

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Galatians 5:24 ESV

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Baptism Made us Alive to God

We were raised with Christ from death to life (Rom 6:8)

Only God, who raised Christ, could raise us also.

The proof that we are children of God, raised to newness of life

We Bear Fruit for God Romans 7:4

Romans 7:4 ESV

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

We No longer Live for Ourselves 2 Cor. 5:15

2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV

15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

We Set our Minds on Things Above Col 3:2

Colossians 3:2 ESV

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

It’s natural to live as the new people we are

Good thoughts, attitudes, and actions are an integral part of the new self in Christ.

No wonder Christians on the Last Day will not even be aware of their good deeds Matt. 25:37

Yet, it will take some effort to live as the new people we are.

The resurrection power of Christ given us in our baptism will impel us.

Our aliveness will spur us.

Our baptism happened once but has ongoing significance. It is a continual source of power for right living.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.