Paul's Epistles Part 13 – Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Paul's Epistles

Part 13 – Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. We have already looked at who Paul was, our faith being reported around the world, not being ashamed of the Gospel, being Guilty of sin, Apostasy, the Results of Apostasy, You are Without Excuse, Jews and the Law, God's Faithfulness, No One is Righteous, The Remedy.

Last week we discussed Justified by Faith: Abraham.

Today we will take a look at Sanctification.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 6:1-14

6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ 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 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

                   I.            DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

a.      Because you have been baptized into Christ (not water baptism)

                                                                         i.      We need to remember that water baptism itself is an ordinance of the church which is an outward expression, representing an inward truth.

                                                                      ii.      The water itself does not wash away sin.

                                                                   iii.      It is an outward symbolic gesture to the world, of a spiritual truth which has taken place inside you.

b.     Baptized into His death

                                                                         i.      Jesus never told the disciples to celebrate His birthday

1.      Which is why we never see it happening in scripture.

                                                                      ii.      Rather, Jesus said at Passover, when they sat to the feast, "Do this in remembrance of me."

                                                                   iii.      Jesus wants us to remember His sacrifice on the cross, and the New Covenant, which was made available to us through His sacrifice on the cross.

c.      as if buried with Him

d.     And, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of God the Father

                                                                         i.      We too may live a NEW life!

                                                                      ii.      MAY...live a new life.

1.      We still have a responsibility to make the righteous choices in life.

2.      However, because of Christ, NOW it IS possible, where before, when we were under the Law, it was not possible.

               II.            IN THE SAME WAY AS CHRIST

a.      Count yourselves DEAD to sin, but ALIVE in Christ

b.     Do not let sin reign (control, sway, be in power, a period of influence, a time in power) your mortal body so that you obey evil desires.

                                                                         i.      Your MORTAL body will still die.

                                                                      ii.      And we may still sin.

                                                                   iii.      Paul makes it clear, while we are under the Grace of God, in Salvation, apart from the Law, we still have the ability to allow sin to reign in our Mortal bodies.

                                                                     iv.      But the scriptures tell us NOT TO!

1.      Which means we DO have the ability to NOT allow this sin to live in our lives!

c.      Do not offer ANY part of yourself to sin

                                                                         i.      As an instrument of wickedness

1.      There are many ways to live unrighteous; we must chose to live righteous.

                                                                      ii.      Rather, offer yourself to God as one who has been brought from death to life.

                                                                   iii.      And offer EVERY part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness.

1.      We can CHOOSE to let every part of our lives be a reflection of the Lord, and righteousness, or Sin and unrighteousness.

            III.            SIN SHALL NO LONGER BE YOUR MASTER

a.      BECAUSE you are no longer UNDER THE LAW!

                                                                         i.      The Law only brings condemnation

                                                                      ii.      No one has ever been saved by the Law

                                                                   iii.      If you try to live by the Law, you will be condemned.

b.     But under Grace.

                                                                         i.      This is the New Covenant, where salvation is.

                                                                      ii.      When we live here, in God's grace, we are free to choose our master, free to chow we live, and free from the bondage of sin and condemnation.

c.      Are you allowing sin to rule you, or the Spirit of God?

                                                                         i.      Mastered by Sin - Galatians 5:16-21 "¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

                                                                      ii.      Mastered by the Spirit of God through Grace - Galatians 5:22-26 "²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

CONCLUSION

How do you know if you are part of the New Covenant, or still under the Law?

Acts 16:25-34

²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. ³⁴ The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

To BELIEVE the Word, what Jesus taught.

            If you believe Christ paid your debt that sin requires by the law, death, and confess that you are a sinner, repent of your sin and you will be saved.

            ALL who call on the  name of the Lord will be saved.

           

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!