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

Rom 8:1-17

For those who are in Christ, the Holy Spirit substitutes their sinful nature by directing their path and correcting their behavior through His power. Therefore, the Holy Spirit functions as the person who continues the work of regenerating for those who are in Christ. His works of regeneration is to lead believers away from sin and closer to Christ-likeness. Paul described the work of the Spirit at least in two ways. Firsts, those who have the Spirit of God will crucified the flesh and the Spirit will give them life. It means they will be death in Sin and live with Christ. Second, those who received the Spirit will share the suffering of Christ as well. One of the key messages of the text is to demonstrate life in Christ as the Children of God means living “in” or “by” the Spirit. On the other hand, the text is clear that the Spirit of the flesh and the Spirit of God cannot be co-indwelling. Paul firmly concluded that if the Spirit of God lives in a person the spirit of the flesh cannot be co-exist. In verse 9 Paul Said, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”  Paul’s repeated emphasis in this text is about dying to the flesh and living in the Spirit. There is no life and a person will not be able to please God without the indwelling of the Spirit. In verse 10 Paul said, “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”  From the beginning God send His son to condemn sin. God dealt sin through Christ and those who are in Christ receive the Spirit in order for them to walk according to the Spirit. In another word, those who do not have the Spirit of Christ do not belong to Him (V. 9b). And only those who are in Christ have hope for resurrection from death. Therefore, there is no hope for resurrection for those who do not have the Spirit of Christ but live according to the flesh. Only those who have the Spirit and live according to the Spirit of God who raises Christ from death will have resurrected life though their body is subject to death because of sin. Base on this text it is impossible to build the Church without the power and guidance of the Spirit. The text clearly demonstrated the active participations of the Spirit in individual salvation and walk with God. The works of the Spirit remind us the sensitivity and seriousness of God's plan for saving people from Sin. Christ not only saves us from sin but he invites us to have intimate relationship with him and to walk with him. Paul demand physical, outward changes for those who believe in Christ. Those who believe in Christ will received the Spirit of Christ who will lead them to live a life that pleasing God the Father. Faith is not just a confession but active obedient to follow the leadership of the Spirit of Christ. The indwelling of the Spirit of God must be actively manifest in believer's lifestyle. Therefore, the Church shouldn't preach the gospel just merely as saving from hell but rather a journey to haven. Christians must always acknowledge the active participation of the Holy Spirit of their daily walk with God.