United in the Gospel: True Freedom

United in the Gospel: “True Freedom”
Romans 6:1-14
7/19/20

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Matthew 28:19-20 – “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 10:47-48 – “Peter declared, 47 ‘Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.”

Baptism is an outward expression that you have died to self and risen to new life in Christ.

I. Dead to Sin. (Romans 6:1-7)

Acts 2:24 – “God raised him [Jesus] up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

1. Out with the old and in with the new!

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

John 3:3 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 – “…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

2. Crucified with Christ.

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 5:24 – “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Galatians 6:14 – “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

2 Timothy 2:11 – “…If we have died with him, we will also live with him”

II. Alive in Christ. (Romans 6:8-11)

1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Colossians 3:1-3 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

III. Instruments for Freedom. (Romans 6:12-14)

“Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see!”

1. Don’t let sin reign.

“Be killing sin or sin will be killing you” (John Owen)

2. Use all you are for God’s glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

3. Rest in His Grace.

Monthly Transformation Verse: Romans 5:8 - “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Weekly Transformation Verse: Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Weekly Reading Plan: Romans 6-7 Psalm 42; 1 Corinthians 14

Going Deeper This Week

1. What’s your favorite form of exercise? How does sin enslave people? How does the salvation Jesus offers us free us from sin’s slavery? (Romans 6:1-7)
2. How do we die to sin? What does it look like in daily living? (Romans 6:1-7)
3. What does Jesus’ resurrection do for us? How can we be “dead to sin”? How can we be “alive to God”? (Romans 6:8-11)
4. How do we keep sin from reigning in our bodies? What is our part? What is God’s part? (Romans 6:12-14)
5. Consider Paul’s words that we’re freed from sin’s claims. Does the guilt of sin ever try to creep in and rent space in your life? Does sin hang heavy burdens of guilt across your shoulders? Commit to living the power-filled life Jesus offers all believers.