A Study of Romans (23)

Implications

Last week we looked at the illustration given by Paul about being “dead to sin” now we are shifting gears a little;

Past Death (v. 6-7) in order to fully identify with Christ there had to be a change in you - a death to your old way of living;

Now I understand the challenge mentally of leaving our old habits, but remember we are not doing the heavy lifting Christ is;

When we accept Christ we spiritually went through the crucifixion with Him;

That was the receiving of justification - His righteousness - as our own;

The Book of Romans A past Death (Verses 6, 7)

The phrase simply means the sinner, the person he used to be before conversion, the way he lived formerly. (The term has exactly the same meaning in its two only other occurrences in Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9.) That person, that sinful way of life, died when Christ died.

Your sin was removed as controller and replaced with the Creator - “the sinful body was dethroned”

The Book of Romans A past Death (Verses 6, 7)

The Greek word translated “destroyed” means to render powerless, ineffective, to sever relations with, break the hold of.

Sin’s “death grip” was removed giving you a gateway to a new life;

The Book of Romans A past Death (Verses 6, 7)

This sinful body he regards as having been the master of the old man. But that hold was broken at conversion; the sinful body was removed from the throne. (Which does not mean the pull of the flesh is no longer felt; only that this force no longer is in control.)

There was a bondage removed from you - you are no longer obligated to follow the control sin once had over your life;

The Book of Romans A past Death (Verses 6, 7)

The idea here is quite similar to that of the previous clause: Sin was a slave master that held the old man in a helpless bondage. That bond of servitude was broken.

How was this bondage broken - Christ’s crucifixion;

The Book of Romans A past Death (Verses 6, 7)

“Is freed” means “has been freed”; and the Greek word for freedom here is one that refers to judicial freedom, legal freedom, freedom from the penalty and guilt of a crime with which charged.

The Book of Romans A past Death (Verses 6, 7)

After all, a man executed for his crime has made full payment. We were “executed” for our sins with Christ.

A Present Deliverance

Now let’s go to the positive side of being dead;

So what is the positive - death with Christ equals resurrection with Him;

The Book of Romans A Present Deliverance (Verses 8–10)

If it is true, as it is, that we died with Christ, then we believe (are confident) that we will live with Him too. Just as in verse 5, the remote future is probably not the time Paul is referring to: We shall, in our present Christian lives, “live” with Christ; we shall not continue in sin (cf., verse 1).

So if we live with Him how can we live in sin also:

We can’t period;

The Book of Romans A Present Deliverance (Verses 8–10)

To “live” with Christ means to experience the effects of His resurrection-power, thus to be new persons, to “walk in newness of life” (verse 4).

When we completely grasp this fact that’s when we realize freedom in Him and “alive unto God”;

So let’s look at a couple of thoughts;

The Book of Romans A Present Deliverance (Verses 8–10)

First it means justification, standing right and righteous before God.

The Book of Romans A Present Deliverance (Verses 8–10)

Second, to be “alive unto God” means not only legal “life,” but also practical life.

The Book of Romans A Present Deliverance (Verses 8–10)

It means to be under His dominion instead of the old dominion of sin, to be conscious of His control in our day-to-day living. This is the outworking, in practice, of the righteous standing we possess before Him.

Invitation

The Book of Romans 4. Dead to Sin: An Invitation (Romans 6:11)

Paul has been telling them what is true of a Christian. The believer did die with Christ and is alive with Him. The assumption of verse 2, that “we are dead to sin,” is a fact. Consequently, Paul says, count on this as truth every day and live that way.

How do you view your salvation - not what is your salvation but how do you see it;

To you see it as an event or a lifestyle;

The Book of Romans 4. Dead to Sin: An Invitation (Romans 6:11)

“Keep on regarding yourselves as dead men, in so far as sin is concerned, but as living men in so far as God is concerned. Because this is true in Christ!”