Dead to Sin, Alive to God
Romans 6:1-14
What does your baptism mean?
#Baptism
Published March 5th, 2017
Main point summary
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Main point summary
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Notes
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Main point summary
We do not continue in sin because we are dead to sin and walk in newness of life.
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Romans 6:1-4
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What shall we say then?
Considering that we are justified by grace through faith apart from works,
* Shall we continue in sin
we are not to continue in sin,
that grace may abound?
because sinning on purpose does not magnify the grace of God.
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Certainly not!
Therefore , God forbid to despise the grace of God by willfully sinning!
How shall we who * died to sin live any longer in it?
In other words , we who are dead to sin, are not to practice sin any longer,
Or do you not know
because you know
that * as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus * were baptized into His death?
that all who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death.
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Therefore we were * buried with Him through baptism into death,
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death,
that * just as Christ was raised from the dead
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by * the glory of the Father,
by the glory of the Father,
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* even so we also should walk in newness of life.
even so we also might walk in newness of life.
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Main point summary
We do not continue in sin because we are dead to sin and walk in newness of life. We are united in Christ's death and will be resurrected, by knowing that we are not slaves to sin anymore and that we will live with Him eternally. Therefore we think ourselves dead to sin and it's rule and present ourselves alive to God.
Arc
Romans 6:1-14
What shall we say then?
Considering that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works,
* Shall we continue in sin
we are not to continue in sin,
that grace may abound?
because sinning on purpose does not magnify the grace of God.
Certainly not!
Therefore , God forbid to despise the grace of God by willfully sinning!
How shall we who * died to sin live any longer in it?
In other words , we who are dead to sin, are not to practice sin any longer,
Or do you not know
because you know
that * as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus * were baptized into His death ?
that all who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death.
Therefore we were * buried with Him through baptism into death ,
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death,
that * just as Christ was raised from the dead
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by * the glory of the Father,
by the glory of the Father,
* even so we also should walk in newness of life .
even so we also might walk in newness of life.
* For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death ,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection ,
knowing this,
that * our old man was crucified with Him,
that * the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves of sin .
For * he who has died
has been freed from sin .
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Now * if we died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with Him,
knowing that * Christ,
having been raised from the dead ,
dies no more.
Death no longer has dominion over Him.
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For the death that He died , * He died to sin
once for all;
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but the life that He lives , * He lives to God .
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Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be * dead indeed to sin ,
but * alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
* Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body,
that you should obey it in its lusts.
And do not present your * members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin ,
but * present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead ,
and your members as instruments of righteousness to God .
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For * sin shall not have dominion over you,
for you are not under law
but under grace .
This is a miracle walk. Christ's resurrection is a miracle, so is a walk in newness of life a miracle that takes place through the power of God.
Why is it "shall"? What does it speak about? For some reason, I've taken that in the sense of new life in Christ, such as, a new creation in Christ. But that is not right because the one who is in Christ is already a new creation. Paul speaks here about the future. So, he must be speaking of our final salvation, when he said that we will be in the likeness of His resurrection. Christ died for sin and rose from the dead to live forevermore. The death part is complete in our union with Christ. Now we are walking by the power of God toward final salvation (glorification), which will be complete when we are taken to be with the Lord.
Who or what is the "old man"? The ESV translators chose the word "old self". The following verses give more insight: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (Ephesians 4:22 KJV) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Colossians 3:9 KJV) It is actually not necessary to look at a different book since Paul described the old man in 5:12-21 and in more detail form chapter 1 to 3. The "old man" is the fallen self-seeking man who does not obey the truth. He puts confidence in himself, even though he knows that he is far from perfection and his conscious bears at times witness of that. God is righteous and nothing but perfection is acceptable. In His amazing grace, God provides perfection in the union with Christ to be received freely and at His cost.
The condition to be in the likeness of Christ's resurrection is to be first united with Him in the likeness of His death. We need to be set free from the slavery of sin.
How will we be in the likeness of His resurrection? By knowing that our old man (rebellious self) was crucified with Christ. Why will we be in the likeness of His resurrection? Because he who has died has been freed from sin.
How will we live with Him? By knowing that Christ is alive. Why will we live with Him? Because death has no rule over Him. He is alive.
Notes
Union with Christ displayed in baptism Baptism is a sign of what was done for us , namely that Christ died and rose for us. Sometimes the emphasis is wrongly shifted to symbolize our act of faith in Christ. Our Death: Active in the death of Christ (cf. have been, was). This means freedom from the dominion, slavery and condemnation of sin. It is our access into the realm of grace. Our Resurrection: Though Christ is risen, the likeness of His resurrection in its completion is yet in progress to be worked out in us (cf. shall). It is a sure hope and joy we life in now. Our aim is on what we will be one day, that is Christ-likeness. Union with Christ: Our liberty for sanctification Justification by faith, as taught in the earlier chapters, makes us to appreciate God's work and motivates us to live for Him. Here Paul goes a step further and gives instructions on how to live for God. Since Christ freed us from the rule of sin, we are free to obey and walk in newness of live. He instructs to reckon (or count, think) ourselves to be dead to sin and to present ourselves to God. This deals with present deliverance from sin in our bodies, also known as sanctification. It is to live out the reality of what we already are. Deliverance into the kingdom of live Paul speaks of two rulers: Sin as the ruler of the kingdom of death God as the ruler of the kingdom of live The members of our body are the weapons in the kingdom. Theses weapons are used either for good or evil depending on which ruler we present or devote ourselves to. Our victory is guarantied because Christ defeated sin. We are in Christ's dominion under grace and not in the dominion of sin's rule by the law leading to guilt and condemnation.
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