Archive for the ‘Romans’ Category


Under Gods Command

 Dead to sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:8-10 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 

 Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, his followers need never fear death.  That assurance frees us to enjoy fellowship with him and to do his will.  This will affect all our activities-work and worship, play, Bible study, quiet times, and times of caring for others.  When you know that you don’t have to fear death, you will experience a new vigor in life.

Lets Bring it Home:  Are you a just a Fan or follower of Jesus Christ?


Under Gods Command

 Dead to sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer.  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

  (5-7) If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be unite with him in his resurrection.  For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

 The power and penalty of sin died with Christ on the cross.  Our “old self,” our sinful nature, died once and for all, so we are freed from its power.  The “body of sin” is not the human body, but our rebellious sin-loving nature inherited from Adam.  Though our body willingly cooperates with our sinful nature, we must not regard the body as evil.  It is the sin in us that is evil.  And it is this power of sin at work in our body that is defeated.  Paul has already stated that through faith in Christ we stand acquitted, “not guilty” before God.

Lets Bring it Home:  Here Paul emphasizes that we need no longer live under sin’s power.  God does not take us out of the world or make us robots-we will still feel like sinning, and sometimes we will sin.  The difference is that before we were saved we were slaves to our sinful nature, but now we can choose to live for Christ (Galatians 2:20)

 


Under Gods Command

Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer.  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 

In the church of Paul’s day, immersion was the usual form of baptism-that is, new Christians were completely “buried” in water.  They understood this form of baptism to symbolize the death and burial of the old way of life.  Coming up out of the water-symbolized resurrection to new life with Christ.

Lets Bring it Home:  If we think of our old, sinful life as dead and buried, we have a powerful motive to resist sin.  We can consciously choose to treat the desires and temptations of the old nature as if they were dead.  Then we can continue to enjoy our wonderful new life with Jesus.


Under Gods Command

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer. 

 If God loves to forgive, why not give him more to forgive? If forgiveness is guaranteed, do we have the freedom to sin as much as we want?  Paul’s forceful answer is By no means! Such an attitude deciding ahead of time to take advantage of God-shows that a person does not understand the seriousness of sin.  God’s forgiveness does not make sin less serious; his Son’s death for sin shows us the dreadful seriousness of sin.  Jesus paid with his life so we could be forgiven.

Lets Bring it Home:  The availability of God’s mercy must not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxness.


Under Gods Command

Romans 5:20-21 The law was added so that the trespass might increase.  But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

As a sinner, separated from God, you see his law from below, as a ladder to be climbed to get to God.  Perhaps you have repeatedly tried to climb it, only to fall to the ground every time you have advanced one or two steps.  Or perhaps the sheer height of the ladder seems so overwhelming that you have never even started up.

Lets Bring it Home: In either case, what relief you should feel to see Jesus offering with open arms to lift you above the ladder of the law, or take you directly to God!  Once Jesus lifts you into God’s presence, you are free to obey out of love, not necessity, and through God’s power, not your own.  You know that if you stumble, you will not fall back to the ground.  Instead, you will be caught and held in Christ’s loving arms.


Under Gods Command

Romans 5:15-19 (15) But the gift is not like the trespass.  For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!  (16) Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin:  The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.  (17) For it, by the trespass of the one an, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.  (18) Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.  (19) For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 

 We were all born into Adam’s physical family-the family line that leads to certain death.  All of us have reaped the results of Adam’s sin.  We have inherited his guilt, a sinful nature (the tendency to sin), and God’s punishment.  Because of Jesus, however, we can trade judgment for forgiveness.  We can trade our sin for Jesus’ righteousness.  Christ offers us the opportunity to be born into his spiritual family-the family line that begins with forgiveness and leads to eternal life, if we do nothing we have death through Adam; but if we come to God by faith, we have the life through Christ.

Lets Bring it Home: Which family line do you belong to?


Under Gods Command

Romans 5:12 (12) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned

How can we be declared guilty for something Adam did thousands of year’s age?  Many feel it isn’t right for God to judge us because of Adam’s sin.  Yet each of us confirms our solidarity with Adam by our own sins each day.

Bringing it Home: We are made of the same stuff and are prone to rebel, and we are judged for the sins we commit.  Because we are sinners, it isn’t fairness we need-it’s mercy.

(13)-for before the law was given, sin was in the world.  But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.  (14) Nevertheless death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 

 Paul has shown that keeping the law does not bring salvation.  Here he adds that breaking the law is not what brings death, Death is the result of Adam’s sin and of the sins we all commit, even it they don’t resemble Adam’s.  Paul reminds his readers that for thousands of years the law had not yet been explicitly given, and yet people died.  The law was added, he explains in 5:20, to help people see their sinfulness, to show them the seriousness of their offenses, and to drive them to God for mercy and pardon.  This was true in Moses’ day, and it is still true today.  Sin is a deep discrepancy between who we are and who we were created to be.  The law points out our sin and places the responsibly for it squarely on our shoulders.  But the law offers no remedy.

 Lets Bring it home: When we are convicted of sin, we must turn to Jesus Christ for healing.


Under Gods Command

Romans 5:10-11 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

God is holy, and he will not be associated with sin.  All people are sinful and so they are separated from God.  In addition, all sin deserves punishment.  Instead of punishing us with the death we deserve, however, Christ took our sins upon himself and took our punishment by dying on the cross.

 

Lets Bring it home: Now we can  “rejoice in God.” Through faith in Christ’s work, we become close to God (reconciled) rather than being enemies and outcast.

 


Under Gods Command

Romans 5:9-10 – Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

The love that caused Christ to die is the same love that sends the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us every day. The power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that saved you and is available to you in your daily life.

 

Lets Bring it home: Be assured that, having begun a life with Christ, you have a reserve of power and love to call on each day, for help to meet every challenged or trial.  You can pray for God’s power and love, as you need it.

 


Under Gods Command

Romans 5:7-8 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

“While we were still sinners”- these are amazing words.  God sent Jesus Christ to die for us, not because we were good enough but because he loved us.  Whenever you feel uncertain about God’s love for you, remember that he loved you even before you turned to him.

 

Lets Bring it home: If God loved you when you were a rebel, he can surely strengthen you, now that you love him in return.