https://youtu.be/0dbexAC-_Yo

God Forbid!

Romans 6

Romans 6 old flesh Adam v. New creation in Jesus, Romans 7- trying to fight against sin by obedience to the law, Romans 8- freedom over sin in the Spirit

These are the chapters that gave me victory over the flesh and sin- victory over our thoughts, anxieties, depression, all fear, any despair, our wicked desire and passions and our past….if you will receive it

What does this mean?

Do we continue to sin so that grace may abound? GOD FORBID. Many put grace and law opposed to one another, they are not in opposition but in apposition. A grace-filled relationship with God and an obedient commandment-keeping relationship with God are both part of a Spirit-filled overcoming, liberated lifestyle. Both are the fruit of love. 

Paul tells us the law can never justify us in the site of God because the law lacks the power to overcome sin and our fleshly desires. But, through the new life in the Spirit, we can have complete victory over our sin. Those who have been baptized into Christ were baptized in His death in order to walk in newness of life.

Paul refers to water baptism as a symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We show our kinship to His death by water baptism. My home church always referred to it as a “water grave”. It is a picture of us dying to our old man, old ways, the sinful flesh of Adam and being buried under the water of baptism and raised a new man in Christ. 

Galatians 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

There is something magical that happens in the waters of baptism. It is more than just symbolic- it is God’s will and plan as a tangible display of death to self. I remember actually having my eyes opened and seeing clearly. God does something in the waters of baptism. If you have truly been born again of the Spirit of God, water baptism will be more than just a religious activity.

If you have not been baptized, you need to be. It is a command of God- why would you not obey? Now, this does not save you, as many get baptized out of superstition. But are you really saved if you are not baptized? How can you deny this Scripture? God wants us to walk in the new man. (read v.4)

Our old man (the sinful flesh of Adam) was crucified with Christ (through baptism) in order that our body of sin would be done away with, so that we are no longer slaves of sin. A dead man is freed from sin.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

We are told that whatever nature we give ourselves over to- we become a slave to. If we give ourselves over to our sinful nature, the nature of Adam, we become slaves to our sinful nature. A slave has to obey their master. If you are a slave to sin, then sin is your master. Paul tells us that through our death and burial and resurrection through the waters of baptism- we are freed from sin because our old nature died and was raised a new creation in Christ. We take on a new nature- the nature of Jesus. We are then freed from our old nature- freed from sin. Sin is no longer our master therefore has no more authority over us.

Reckon yourself dead to sin, but alive to Christ. Reckon yourself means to “take an inventory”. Take an inventory of your life. Who is your master? Are you serving your flesh,