Romans - July 1, 2008

SECTION --- Four: Sanctification (6:1-8:39)
III. {Rom 6:12-14} Christian’s Relationship to sin and grace. (continued from previous Class Follow Up)

2. (6:9) What, according to 6:9, is the significance of Jesus’ resurrection? (cf. Heb 2:14-15)
a. Physical death was Sin’s most power weapon and since death could not hold Jesus the weapon’s power was no longer master.
3. (6:10) According to 6:10 why did Jesus die to sin?
a. Jesus died once to sin so He could live forever to God [cf. 1Co 15:28?].
4. (6:11) Why does reckoning or considering apply to Paul’s response to Rom 6:1?
a. “Reckon”; “Consider” = G3049. logizomai; to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over.
b. These followers of Christ are to consider their legal status as dead to sin and consider their new legal status as alive to God.
5. (6:11) What does dead to sin mean — does it mean sin does not pull at them (has no influence)?
a. Dead to sin is a legal status because of Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection...
(1) Sin no longer has a claim on them, thus, they are to consider themselves as dead to sin.
b. Sin is not their master even when they feel the pull of sin and even when they slip and fall.
c. Baptized believer do what they do because Christ Jesus not Sin is their master — they run to open the door for Master Christ not Master Sin.
OBSERVATION: Paul does not mean act of baptism makes one mechanically dead to sin and alive to God. Baptism is the physical act confessing we have died to sin and the Lord is our new master. The plea being made by Paul is a baptized believer has a goal of living up to the ideal of the significance of baptism — the believer is at the beginning point of a new life.
C. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What is the goal of those freed from sin?
1. To live their new live in Christ as one having died to sin — to not continue in sin.
D. Conclusion — The gospel does what law could not do — obey God because we want to not because we have to (Rom 3:31). We are justified by grace (God’s part) then we live sanctified by choice (our part). The gospel is for those with the mentality ability to understand being buried with Christ means we change masters — our master is no longer sin it is now God.
When the readers were immersed they knew the significance of being baptized. They knew the significance of Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection. They did not know all of the doctrinal ramifications of Jesus’ death but they did know without the cross of Christ they could not be saved. If any came to Christ with the intentions of still living in sin they had not really come to Christ.
Salvation by law means you live sanctified so you can be justified; salvation by the gospel means you are justified (made righteous} so you can now live sanctified to a new Master. The law is for the spiritually immature (children) the gospel is for the spiritually mature.

III. {Rom 6:12-14} Christian’s Relationship to sin and grace.
A. Introduction
1. Review — In response to the question (rhetorical?) of 6:1 Paul has established baptized believers know the significance of Jesus’ death— they are spiritually dead to sin, thus, they are not slaves to Mr. Sin. (Sin is personified [given human characteristics], however, sin is still an action, or lack of action, that is a deviation from God’s will.)
2. Preview — The consequences of being a baptized believer, i.e., of being justified.
3. Question For Discussion? Why will a Christian not obey lust?
B. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (6:12) Lust (epithumia; G1939) is defined as desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust. Is lust, according to Rom 6:12, sin?
a. No, it becomes sin when it is obeyed, i.e., when it is in control.
2. (6:12) Besides being dead to sin (acquitted from sin) what else is a baptized believer?
a. They are alive to God in Christ Jesus (see 6:11) [cf. Luk 11:24-26]
3. (6:12) Why does a baptized believer continue sinning (obeying the desires of the mortal body, i.e., the flesh.)?
a. They allow sin to be king for they do not consider themself dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ
4. (6:12-13) The world “yield” (6:13) [KJV] is G39366 hoplon; means to place beside, i.e. to put at the disposals of another. The word is Active voice (subject is doing the actions, Imperative mood (positive assertion) , and Present tense (actions that is going on). What might be taking place among the Christians in Rome?
a. Some of these Christians are engaged in activities suggesting they do not understand the requirement of living with Christ (6:8)
b. Maybe the reason some are wanting to add the “do and don’t” of the law to the gospel is an effort to keep some from presenting their members to unrighteousness.
5. (6:13) Some hold the position a born again person (1Pe 1:23), i.e., a Christian, cannot sin, thus, their body may sin but not the inward man (the spirit). How does Paul respond to this position?
a. The body is neither good or bad it is the way the member is used by the spirit (inward man) making the body good or bad — if the body sins it was the result of inward man weakness.
b. A gun is neither good or bad it is the way the gun is used determining if it is a good or bad action; likewise lust.
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A LOOK AHEAD

6. (6:14) There are only two master (Sin and Grace [6:1-22]; who determines the one Paul’s readers (Christians) will serve?
a.
7. (6:14) According to this verse what allowed the readers to reject Sin as their master?
a.
C. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — Why will a Christian not obey lust?
1.
D. Conclusion —

IV. {Rom 6:15-19} We serve the one to whom we belong.
A. Introduction
1. Review — Has established because of Christ death Christians have been set free [justified], thus, do not have to allow sin to rule, i.e., they are now free to make the choice to serve Christ and it is Paul wish that they not the desires of the body [outward man, flesh]...
a. Paul does not teach it is impossible for them not to sin but it is his very strong desire they not serve sin.
2. Preview — An example [a visual] is presented explaining why it is illogical for one buried with Christ to desire to continue in sin.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. Why does a Christian not wish to continue in sin?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (6:15) What is the attitude toward or understanding of what Christ has accomplished for a person to ask this question?
a.
2. (6:16) Paul states an axiom (a proposition that is self evident to be true) that should be obvious to all — what is the axiom?
a.
3. (6:16) What are the two choices that are obvious?
a.
4. If a person continues to sin who is their master?
a. Sin
5. (6:16) Base on this verse is it possible for one who has stopped serving sin to again serve sin?
a.
6. PONDER: (6:16) One having been justified can chose who they will serve, does one not justified have a choice who has a legal claim on them?
a.
(6:17) OBSERVATION: “Form of teaching” may refer to all of Paul’s teaching (gospel of Christ) or what is mentioned in 6:3-4 (baptism). I am inclined to think the form mentioned in 6:3-4 fits better than what is mentioned in Rom 1:16 (the gospel).
7. (6:17-18) What three things were required for the readers to be set free from sin?
a.
8. (6:17-18) According to these two verses what was the results of the above actions?
a.
9. (6:19) Those being addressed are Christians (Rom 1:7-8) and considering the question Paul is discussing, what is mean by “flesh”.
10. (6:19) What is the foundation or assumption behind for the words “so now”?
a.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — Why does a Christian not wish to continue in sin?
1.
E. Conclusion —

V. {Rom 6:20-23}