06 Easter Eve Sermon Romans 6. 3-11 outline

1. This is a story that didn’t quite make it into the Gospels for some reason.
2. It is a story that would not be funny without Easter, because without Easter it would not be true. 
3. St. Paul writes,

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

1. Now there is a lot of talk here about sin and death and life. 
2. This life is not something that happens once we stop breathing. 
3. This is something truly awesome because it is only in Jesus that we know true life. 
4. “I am the way, the truth and the life.” 
5. “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” 

1. The life that we live, we do not live as individuals, but as a community that is brought together by our Lord. 
2. Can you imagine what kind of witness is given to the world around us, when they see a community living together in the love of Christ. 
3. Now this does not mean that we live perfectly. 
4. I had a truly Holy Week experience this past week. 
5. First was a gentlemen that I did not really know. 
6. In a different time spent with another friend, there was support and encouragement given.  And at yet another time there was another friend. 
7. The life that we live together as the people of God is a gift. 
8. May our God richly bless you and me as we live together as his people.  Brought together through a common baptism, a common adoption by the same heavenly father.  And may he be glorified in those lives that we live together.  Now and always.  Amen.