Bible Studies

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Romans 6:1-4 – “Should we keep on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin, how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that we were baptized into Christ Jesus and were baptized into His death. When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared His death. So just as Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Father, we also can live a new life.”

Thesaurus Fun
Dead – finished, obsolete, over, ended, done with, inactive, unresponsive
New – different, fresh, pristine, brand new

Be Dead to Sin - Live a New Life

We know that God forgives us through the blood of Christ when we ask Him for it, but what then? Do we continue on as we were before, living in sin and merely being forgiven? Of course not! When we receive God’s forgiveness through Christ, we are united to Christ, we are “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) so that our old, sinful nature – which causes us to sin – might be put to death so that we can be free from it and free from sin. To be truly dead to sin is to be finished with it so that we are unresponsive to its call. God gives us a new nature, a new life in Christ so that we can live in an entirely different and fresh new way as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This death and new life is wonderfully symbolized in baptism. When you are baptized – being completely submersed in the water – this symbolizes your union with Christ in His death and burial. When you come back up out of the water, this symbolizes that you are also united to Him in His resurrection that you might “live a new life” (v4). For Christ’s death and resurrection is meant to do more than offer forgiveness and the hope of heaven (where we will finally be perfect), but the gift of God is life – new life. You are to “consider yourself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11).” This means that you count on it and act according to this truth. It is to be settled in your own mind and lived out in your life.

Why is death to sin and freedom from its power so important? Isn’t it enough to be forgiven? Absolutely not! We have a far too soft view of sin. God wants to destroy every trace of sin in our lives because it hinders our relationship with Him. All sin, whether great or small, whether intention or not, is rebellion against God. As those whom God loved so much that He sent His own only Son to die for us (John 3:16), how can we continue to live in rebellion which thereby shows contempt for His love, grace, mercy, and sacrifice? Perhaps if we saw more clearly what sin is really like, then we would run from it like we should. God has called us to be holy. As Scripture says, “Be ye holy for I am Holy (Leviticus 11:44&45, 19:2, 20:7&26)”. God is jealous for all of our affections. As Scripture also says, “You must worship nothing else for the Lord, whose very name is jealous, is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.” (Exodus 34:14) how do we return His love that way that He wants? Jesus said, “the ones who know my commands and obey them are the ones who love me (John 14:21)” and again, “If anyone loves me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love Him and we will come to Him and make our home with him. Thos who do not love Me, do not obey My teaching. (John 14:23-24)”. If you would show that you love Him, you must obey Him. If you would be close to Him, you must obey Him and flee from sin.

Point to Ponder

Do you want to be free from all sin so that you can be close to God? Or are you ok with just being “forgiven”? Does God’s call to holiness bother you? Excite you? Worry you? Frighten you? Frustrate you? Are you ready to count yourself dead to sin so that you might be truly alive to God?

Let us pray, “Our Father in heaven, most holy God, we thank You for Your word and the revelation of truth so that we can know how You want us to live. As we are Yours, Lord, we know that we have been united with You in Your death and resurrection (Romans 6:5) that we might be dead to sin and alive to You (Romans 6:11), our God. Help us to remember this truth and to live accordingly. Help us to see all sin as it is and to flee from it as we should. Work in our hearts that we would love You with all our hearts that we would obey You out of that love. Draw us closer to You, Lord, and make us more like You every day. We pray this in the name of the One who saved us, redeemed us, and freed us – Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

See these songs: Starting Right Now, A New Way to Love You

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