A NEW MAN
1. according to 2 Cor. 5:17, the passage just was read, those who are “in Christ” are new creatures.
2. When we think about who Christians are, this verse provides us with another illustration.
3. Christians are people who have brand new lives.
4. This new life is explained in some detail in Rom. 6, today’s text.
5. We were asked to hold this passage in readiness and we are now ready to study it.
6. I want to break this chapter into sections.
7. We will start with the state of someone prior to becoming a Christian.
8. The first verse to pay attention to is Rom. 6:2 – READ.
9. I have heard people question whether or not someone can “live in sin.”
10. This verse answers this question.
11. We can live in sin.
12. It is not only possible to live in sin, every unsaved person is living in sin.
13. Before someone becomes a Christian he or she is existing in a state of sin.
14. When we hear this expression used, it is generally applied to specific situations.
15. Paul used the expression in a general way.
16. Every single person who is not a Christian is in sin.
17. This is what he said but this is not what everyone believes.
18. We may be, by the standards of the world, a good person.
19. Even by the standard of the New Testament we may live a decent life.
20. Rom. 6:2 says that before we become a Christian we are living in sin.
21. In the 6th verse of this chapter the depth of this sin is described.
22. Let’s read this verse as well – READ verse 6.
23. Some who are present have done the hokey pokey.
24. A few of us may have probably done this on roller skates.
25. This song requires participants to put their body parts inside an imaginary circle.
26. The right arm comes in and it comes out.
27. Attention is then shifted to other body parts.
28. God says that prior to becoming a Christian, we were living in sin.
29. How much of our being was involved with sin?
30. According
to
31. Paul says we have a “body of sin.”
32. Sin is not limited to our eyes, ears, and nose.
33. It is not something that only affects our arms and feet.
34. Sin affects our entire being.
35. Before becoming a Christian people are saturated with sin.
36. The problem is so bad the end of this verse says we were in “bondage” to it.
37. The power of sin is further explained in 12b – READ.
38. Sin is associated with “lusts” (strong desires).
39. Sin’s temptations lead to accountable people to becoming “instruments of unrighteousness” (13a).
40. This all sounds pretty serious. God says this is the right conclusion.
41. Sin is like a terrible disease. Since our whole body is affected by it, we must be concerned.
42. Does the text tell us about the result of having a body which is filled with sin?
43. What are the consequences of sin?
44. Verse 23 says that sin provides people with a wage.
45. Sin entitles us to a spiritual paycheck.
46. The payment amount is described in the concluding verse of this chapter — verse 23 – READ.
47. Why does sin result in spiritual death?
48. The answer is found in Rom. 6:20 – READ.
49. This verse has been misused by a lot of people.
50. If it is kept in the context of Rom. 6, it is not hard to explain.
51. There are two paths in life: the path of sin and the path of righteousness.
52. When we are on the path of righteousness, we cannot be on the path of evil.
53. Those who are not on the path of God and right are on the path of sin and Satan.
54. In verse 20 Paul had in mind the way of life described as living in sin.
55. When someone is living this way he or she is “free in regard of righteousness.”
56. That is, they are not following the righteous way.
57. A person has shrugged off any desire to follow God and His will.
58. The end of verse 21 says this way leads to “death.”
59. This way of life often causes people to later be “ashamed” (21a).
60. Still, many pursue this course.
61. They do not want to be associated with God and His will.
IF WE HAVE NOT BECOME A CHRISTIAN IN THE WAY THE NEW TESTAMENT DESCRIBES, WE ARE LIVING IN SIN AND THERE IS A PAYCHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF SPIRITUAL DEATH WHICH HAS OUR NAME ON IT.
1. The people described in this chapter discovered what they were entitled to and they troubled.
A. They did not want to be paid what they deserved.
B.
They wanted to become a “new creature” (2 Cor.
C. In this chapter Paul says his readers were successful.
2. Since we know how these people received help we can follow the same procedure.
3. For the second part of this lesson let’s examine the results which followed conversion.
4. The starting place is verse 2 – READ.
A. Those who were “living in sin” died to sin.
B. The body which had sunk into sin was removed from the slime pit.
C. As I read this a question comes to mind.
D. How did this occur?
E. Furthermore, if these people were spiritually filthy, how clean did they become?
F. How complete was the change they underwent?
5. We need to turn our attention to the end of verse 4: newness of life.
6. These people were not rinsed off or partially cleansed.
7.
They were so fully altered they had a brand new life
just like 2 Cor.
8. The life was new for several reasons.
9. In addition to being freed from sin, there were other benefits – READ verse 5.
10. When someone becomes a Christian he or she is “united” with Jesus.
11. We do not become close to the Lord; we become completely connected to Him.
12. In verse 6 Paul added the “body of sin” is “done away with.”
13. The horrible problem we had is cut away and buried.
A. The bondage to sin is ended (6b).
B. We will live with the Lord (verse 8) for eternity (verse 22).
THESE
ARE ALL GREAT THINGS EACH PERSON NEEDS.
HOW DID THE PEOPLE IN THE FIRST CENTURY ATTAIN THEM?
A. The answer to this question begins in verse 2 – READ.
B. The recipients of this letter had “died to sin.”
C. They learned about God and wanted to do what is right.
D. In other parts of the Bible this is described as repentance.
E. In Jn. 3:5 Jesus described this as being “born of the spirit.”
F. We learn God’s will and then decide to follow it.
2. Belief and a desire to do what is right are essential.
3. Yet, these two elements do not result in salvation.
4. Paul said something else is necessary – verses 3-4 – READ.
5.
The New Testament says salvation is “in Christ” (2 Tim.
6. If we want to be saved we must be “in the Lord.”
7. How does a person who is out of Christ get into Christ?
A. The answer is found in Rom. 6.
B. We are “baptized” into Jesus.
C. Jesus explained this is Jn. 3:5.
D. We are born “of water.”
E. This is why Jesus said what He did in Mk. 16:16 – quote.
F. This is also why Peter commanded baptism on the Day of Pentecost – Acts 2:38 – quote.
G. After
baptism people have forgiveness of sins and “newness of life” (
8. When someone believes and repents they are not saved. Baptism is also necessary.
9. When we ask who a Christian is, Rom. 6 provides us with several answers.
10. A Christian is someone who used to have a body of sin.
11. A Christian is someone who used to live in sin.
12. A Christian is someone who has exchanged this former life for something which is brand new.
13. This exchange comes by faith, repentance, and baptism.
14. One a person has made the change, other things are true of them.
A. Verse 1 – READ.
B. Christians do not “continue in sin.”
C. They stumble from time to time but sin is no longer a way of life.
D. The saved see sin as something to avoid.
E. The Christian seeks a life which will allow him or her to live with Jesus (verse 8).
15. Life is seen as an existence which is “alive unto God” (verse 13).
16. The Christian life is obedience from the heart (verse 17).
17. This is how we become a Christian and it continues to characterize our Christian lives.
18. Instead of saying “my will,” our motto is “thy will be done.”
19. A Christian has a brand new life in this world.
20. In the next life another existence a very pleasant life is waiting for them.
21. Being a Christian is the most important decision we will ever make.
22. Is there anyone here who is not a Christian?
23. You may be so close to the
24. Being close to the kingdom and being in the kingdom are not the same.
25. The Christians described in this chapter were baptized into Christ.
26. This morning you can do just as they did.
27. Your old lives and sins can be erased. You can have a fresh start.