Explore the Bible: October 4
Freedom • Romans 6:1-14
By Laura Lee Leathers
Our guest speaker for the morning session at Yates City Bible Camp delivered a powerful sermon on sin and being separated from God. I was brought under conviction and realized that I needed to repent and trust in Jesus.
As a twelve-year-old girl, with tears flowing down my cheeks, I saw my sinful heart, repented of my sin, and placed my faith in Christ. I had been set free from the rule of sin.
I couldn’t wait to share my good news and ask my parents when I could be baptized. Unfortunately, I was told I had to be sixteen before it could happen.
When the designated age came, the Illinois River served as the baptistry. That day symbolized death to sin and being made alive in Christ.
Dead to Sin (Rom. 6:1-7)
Go back and read Romans 5:20-21 along with this passage. Paul begins the chapter by expanding on the statement, “But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more,” with a rhetorical question.
“Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?” His answer is an emphatic no. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:17; believers are a new creation, the old way of living has passed away, and the new life in Christ has come.
“When an individual accepts Christ in faith, the sinful desires of the old nature are put to death, and the believer receives a new nature through Christ’s resurrected life. God does not need more sins to reveal His grace; He desires more lives to reflect His righteousness and goodness.”1
Furthermore, a believer is “baptized into his death.” What is baptism? “It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus” (Lifeway, Personal Study Guide, p. 42).
Gratitude should be overflowing from a believer’s heart for the grace God bestows. Our old self was crucified; sin has been rendered powerless; therefore, a believer is no longer a slave to sin.
Alive in Christ (Rom. 6:8-11)
“What does it mean to be dead to sin and alive to God?”
If someone asked you this question, how would you answer?
I would begin with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Because of Christ and as a believer, I am in Christ (vv. 11, 23, and nine additional times in Romans). His resurrection has given me assurance of eternal life. One day, I will live with Him.
His once-for-all sacrifice (v. 10; Hebrews 7:27; 20:10) means freedom and abundant life (John 10:10) for believers.
Take a moment to listen to David Phelps sing, “He’s Alive.” Are you shouting, “Hallelujah?” Because He is alive, you and I can live in His presence and power.
Instruments of Righteousness (Rom. 6:12-14)
Therefore means “a conclusion or result based on previously stated facts or arguments” (BibleHub.com). Paul warns the believer, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body.” It’s an imperative, meaning you and I have both a choice and a responsibility. Simply stated, don’t obey its desires.
In verse 13, two different tenses of the word “offer” or “yield” are used. The first time it’s used is in the present imperative. It means “stop an ongoing habit or sin so it is not a recurring routine.” (OpenBible.com and Biblehub.com)
Later in the verse, Paul writes, “Offer yourselves to God.” Here the Greek word is an aorist imperative. It means a “decisive, once-for-all-time choice.” It’s making a decisive commitment, an exercise of our will. Surrendering your life to God’s authority is the same in Romans 12:1.
Paul reminds believers they are in spiritual warfare. Notice the “weapons for unrighteousness” versus “weapons for righteousness.”
A promise is given in verse 14, “sin will not rule over you.” Why? Because sin’s dominion over the believer is broken. We are no longer under the demands or condemned by the law. Believers are under grace, and because of this grace we want to live a life of righteousness. The more we grow in Christ, the deeper our sanctification — our fellowship with Him.
We offer our lives to Christ, knowing this is the only way to find freedom from sin!
Leathers is a member of First Baptist Church, Lexington.
1The Woman’s Study Bible, Patterson & Kelley, Thomas Nelson Publishers 1995, Study notes, pg. 1872.