The Change

This morning we are going to being look at the book of Romans, written by the apostle Paul. This is a marvelous book that has brought many people to the true realization that we are saved through faith in Christ alone (Marin Luther). Paul makes some exhaustive arguments in Romans and gives the readers his theological resume in a sense. In chapters 3-5 Paul is teaching about justification, and then in chapters 6-8 he covers sanctification. To put it simply he talks about getting saved and life after being saved. We must remember we are called to live a righteous life, remember the standard PERFECTION.

What is sin

The Question (Vs. 1)

The Answer (Vs. 2)

The Argument (Vs. 3-7)

What is Sin

Sin: Lawlessness or transgression of God’s will, either by omitting to do what God’s Law requires or by doing what it forbids. The transgression can occur in thought (1 John 3:15) word (Matt. 5:22), or deed (Rom. 1:32). Nelson Student Bible Dictionary.

Romans 6:1–7 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.

Romans 6:1 ESV

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

In Chapter 5 Paul had at great lengths covered the topic of sin, and it consequences. Now here in the text we are looking at this morning he is heading off an argument that he foresees. That we should sin that God’s grace may abound (Libertarinsim). He asks a rhetorical question here in verse one. He is trying to make the point of the absurdity of being saved and continuing in our sin so God’s grace may increase. It is impossible for a person to be truly saved and continue in sin, no matter what they think. There has to be a change, the Christian life is a life defined by holy living. We are saved by our relationship with our Lord and Savior Christ, but we are still called to a life defined by holy living.

Romans 6:2 ESV

2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Here Paul answers the question he asked in verse one. We are not to continue to live our life in our old sin. I don’t care how good of a person we think we are we are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

We see from Jeremiah why we are all sinners, sin comes from our heart. Without a relationship with Christ we are doomed. Temptations are the fleshly desires of our heart, that is where it comes from. We will get to how to make this change.

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?

In this Paul is not talking about a water baptism. The way he uses the word would have the meaning of being immersed into Christ, we are baptised into a union with Christ. When we accept Christ into our heart, we have a new identity, our old one was put to death on the cross. Our old self, the way we acted, the way we thought, the way we talked was all put to death.

Romans 6:4 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.

We as believers are immersed into Christ’s death, so that we to can be changed by God. Once this happens we are to walk in a different way, we are changed. A true conversion makes a different person, did I say perfect, no but we are different. The word “newness” refers to newness of quality and character not just a newness in a point in time. How does this change happen it is through the power of the Holy Spirit, a gift from God. Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 11:19 ESV

19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

It is God who changes us not ourselves. When we try and make changes they are only temporary, they are not eternal like the change He makes in us.

Romans 6:5 ESV

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.

Here Paul further drives his point home about our identity. Since we are united with Christ in His death, it is only logical that we be united with Him in His resurrection. So this resurrection will take place twice, once at your conversion and when we receive our glorified bodies. You all know I like illustrations, but this morning we are going to have to settle for some pictures. When I think of our new identity I think of a butterfly. It starts as a not so pretty caterpillar, goes into its chrysalis (cocoon), and then emerges a new creation, a beautiful butterfly.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

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.

We here in the United States like our freedom, and don’t get me wrong it is a wonderful thing, but no one is really free, until they meet Jesus. We were all slaves to our sin, we can only be truly free when we accept Christ into our hearts. We are crucified with Him so that our sin will be “brought to nothing” what does Paul mean by that phrase. Our sin will no longer rule and reign our lives, it will be nothing. Christ defeated sin and death on the cross, and made it powerless over those who accept Him.

Romans 6:7 ESV

7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Life and death cannot coexists you either are alive or you are dead. The one who dies with Christ is set free from their sin. It no longer holds them in bondage. Remember we are changed just like the caterpillar ugly and full of sin one moment and then changed risen as a beautiful child of God. We are made righteous through Christ, it is nothing inside of us, it is through Him and Him alone that we are set free, as new creations.

The Change

You may have noticed the line under the title of the message. This is a quote from Gandhi (the Indian Leader for change in India). Why did I put this on here, well its because once we accept Christ into our lives we have a job to do and that is share the gospel with those around us. If we want to see change how do we make that happen, remember we are just the messengers God is the only one who can truly change people but we should be the change we want to see in people. The loudest sermon we all will ever preach is the one we are living. We should be shining our new light into the dark world.