Scripture:
Romans 6:1-14 NKJV
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? [3] Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? [4] Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, [6] knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. [7] For he who has died has been freed from sin. [8] Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, [9] knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. [10] For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. [11] Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. [13] And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. [14] For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Observation:
The letter written by Paul to the Romans has always been a go-to book for me. It’s the plan of salvation written in a way that people like me can understand. Salvation is a gift given by what Jesus did on the cross. Giving HIS life for the sins of all mankind. HE paid the penalty for what you have done. What kind of love does it take to do that? It’s a love that is very hard for us to understand. I have been studying the bible for several years and it still baffles me. HE knew everything we would do, even after we made HIM the LORD of our lives, and still said Yes, I will die for them. HE knew every time we would choose our flesh over HIM, and that didn’t change HIS decision. Although there is a lot of scripture that was chosen this morning, the point is quite clear, which is why it required so much context. I’m not trying to confuse anyone or take bits and pieces of what is said and build anything around my opinion. I just want the truth to be known, and that’s found in God’s word, not what I say or anyone else says. It’s GOD’S word. So as we look at what Paul says, he begins to confront what some might say about the grace of GOD. As that would use it as a license to continue in their sin and not do anything about it. He explains the difference that is seen when we put sin to death in our lives. His opening statement is powerful. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How can we who are dead to sin live any longer in it? I believe the keyword here is “live.” Paul knew the purpose of God’s grace was to draw us out of our sin. He knew that when we made Christ the LORD of our lives that we could not just freely live in sin. Changes would have to be made. As he continues to teach he begins to paint us a picture of what Christ did. Showing us that HE put HIS flesh to death, and was raised to new life. Which canceled the power of sin. But what is that power, and why is it so important for it to be canceled? The key is all the way back at the beginning of the book. In the garden. I believe in the first few chapters GOD revealed HIS plan to us. Four things entered the world that day, and honestly, I have been saying it for several years now. Guilt, shame, fear, and death. It’s honestly crazy how GOD concurred all of them in one single blow to the enemy’s head. It’s also crazy how HE spelled it all out at the beginning of the book and when the enemy thought he had won, he had lots instead. The power of sin, guilt, shame, fear, and death, had been crushed, and we were given the example. The things that at one point kept us separated from the LORD out of fear of penalty now send us running to HIM through grace. Paul’s description here is a life that has been changed, a life that is no longer a slave having to do what the master says, a life that has something take place. The old man was placed in a grave, and a new man has come out of that grave. Verses 11 through 13 say so much that it’s hard to put it all out there in the short time that I have in the morning. But it leaves me with this question for you: Are you able to get past the guilt, shame, and fear of your sin and run to GOD instead of from HIM? The grace that HE gave us is designed to allow us to do that.
Application:
I never feel like I have enough time to do justice to GOD’S word. I got up really early to get started, but by the time I’m less than halfway done, it seems like it’s quickly approaching time to leave for work. But this is what has happened for me as regards this scripture. I am no longer a slave to sin. GOD has given me a choice. The thing that used to keep me from going to him when I mess up is now the reason I run to HIM. I don’t want to sin, and I make every effort not to. Staying connected to GOD through Jesus, being around people who are of the same mindset, and allowing others to speak freely in my life. But if I am honest, there are still times when things like pride creep in, and it does it in such a way that you’re not even aware of it. The thing is, when those things are noticed, they have to be dealt with. They can not just have free rein in my life. I’m not a slave to them. But let’s look at what happens most of the time. When Adam had sinned he hid himself from GOD. The guilt, shame, and fear that is the power of sin was overwhelming, and if we are honest, that’s where most of us are. We become afraid of GOD because of our sin. I remember years ago. When I first got saved. My daughter had just learned how to walk and therefore run. We were standing outside the church talking to a couple of people and she was running around just enjoying herself. But there was a hidden danger she was unaware of. You see, there was a hill on the side of the church, and as she started running down that hill, I could see the wreck that was about to happen. So I started to follow her, and sure enough, she lost control of her legs and was about to fall on her face when, just in the nick of time, I swooped her up with no injuries. I think about that day often. She is 15 now and doesn’t require as much rescuing, and if I’m honest, I haven’t always been there to rescue her when she was learning to ride a bike. The story ended a little differently, and her knees got skinned up. But she knew she could run to me and I would comfort her. I see that as a picture of grace. If I had chastised her for almost falling as a baby when she was learning how to ride a bike she and wrecked she would have run from me and not to me. The thing is, she will be driving soon, and my prayer is that the bumps she felt from the bike wreck will keep her inside the boundaries when it comes to driving, and if not, she will know that she can run to her father. My point is this: God’s grace is made to shape us into the people HE made us to be. It’s not so that we can live in sin. It’s so that when we do sin we can run to HIM instead of from HIM. If you are using grace as an excuse not to change your view is wrong about why it’s given. GOD wants HIS best for you, and that dose not included being a slave to what HE has saved you from.
Prayer:
Father, we want to thank you for your grace. We pray that we would have a proper understanding of it. We want our lives to bring you glory. As you sanctify us through it we pray that we do not abuse it. We are saved by grace, and you shape us through that same grace. Drawing us away from that old way of life and into the new one that you sent your son to give us. May we never take that for granted. You are such an amazing father, knowing just what its going to take to get us where you want us to be. Leading us right back to you every time. Thank you. We love you, and its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.