Rom 6:1-14

The key message of Rom 6:1-14 is dead to sin and alive to God. According to Paul, one can only be subject either to God or sin. Paul asserted that life is a type of slavery. Therefore, one can only be either the slave of sin or the slave of God. In the ANE idea one can only be the slave of one master.  For as believers, who are in Christ it is impossible or they should not subject their bodies as instrument of sin because now their master is God not sin. Believers have no more business with sin rather they must live for their master. Paul used two ideas first “Slavery” and second “death and alive” in order to help believers to understand their new belonging and duty as the people of God. It seems that some believers have difficulties to understand the extent of the effect of God's grace. Some people has mistaken that people who sin more received greater grace. Therefore, Paul addressing with the rhetorical questions to point out that God's grace is not there for believer to sin more. Paul said it is impossible to sin again since believers are already died to sin. Paul used the picture of baptism as baptized into the death of Christ. Basically, Paul’s questions are should a believer continue to remain in sin to increase the flow of grace. According to Paul the answer of the questions is “no.”  Paul's exaltation in verse 11 to consider themselves as dead to sin and alive in Christ carry the same message of living for God since they are already dead in Sin. The model of Paul's message is Christ himself. In verse 10 Paul said, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.” To consider themselves to death in sin and alive to God means living to glorify God the father just as Christ who touches no sin but live a life to satisfy God the father. Therefore when Paul says “sin should not rule over you, for you are not under the law but under grace” it means believers should live a life to satisfy God. Since believers are not the slaves of sin therefore they must not subject themselves to please the lust of the flesh or to satisfy sin. On the other hand slavery to sin means freedom from God but slavery to God means death to sin and living a life of holiness. The following is sermon outline from this text.

Topic: Dead to Sin, Alive to God

1.  Believers are saved through faith in Jesus

     a. Those who believe in Jesus follow after Him

     b. Jesus become the absolute owner

2. Believers stop living for sin but living for God

     a. Sin is no more the master but Christ is the master

     b. Believers are death to their old sinful way of life

3. Believers has been given a new life

    a. Believers are transformed and totally different

    b. Believers stop living to please sin but start living to please God