Newness of Life

TEXT:  Rom. 6:1-11

INTRODUCTION:

A.      ROMANS IS A BOOK ON THE NEED AND MECHANICS OF SALVATION.

          1.       Rom. 1-3.  All are sinners( 3:23 ).

          2.       Rom. 3-5.  Saved by grace - not merit( 5:1-2 ).

B.      WHERE SIN ABOUNDS, GRACE ABOUNDS.  "SHALL WE CONTINUE IN

          SIN?"

I. "GOD FORBID!"

A.      WE HAVE DIED TO SIN( 6:2 ).  NO LONGER IN SIN'S BONDAGE.

          1.       The old master has no dominion over the dead servant.

          2.       Sin is the old master and we have died.

B.      CONSIDER PAUL'S LESSON( vs. 3-7 ).

          1.       Once we were all alive to sin but dead to God( Eph. 2:1 ).

          2.       We die to sin by repenting and submitting to God to obey Him( vs. 12-13 ).

                    a.       Buried with Jesus into his death( vs. 3-4 ).

                   b.       Raised to walk in a new life( vs. 4 ).

                   c.       United with Jesus( vs. 5 ) - Fellowship.

                   d.       In baptism we are crucified with him.

                             We experience Christ's death with him( vs. 6;  2 Cor. 5:14-15 ).

                   e.       To what purpose?( vs. 6 ).  That the body of sin might be done away.

          3.       Since the wages of sin is death, and we have died in the death of Jesus, we

                   have in a sense died, paid the price, and are justified from sin( vs. 7).

C.      RAISED FROM BAPTISM TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE!

          1.       No longer in bondage to sin - therefore we stop( vs. 16-18 ).

          2.       Alive to the hope of fellowship( vs. 8-11 ).

          3.       Dead unto sin - alive unto God - Newness of Life.

II.     "NEWNESS OF LIFE" EXPRESSED IN Col. 3:5-11.

A.      PUT TO DEATH YOUR EARTHLY MEMBERS - CONTROL THEM.

          1.       Involves ceasing activities of servitude( vs. 5, 8-9a ).

          2.       The result of such a life( vs. 6 ).

          3.       It is the old life( vs. 7 ).

B.      SUCH A CHANGE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A CHANGE INSIDE( vs. 9-10 ).

C.      THE RESULT IS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD( vs. 10 ).

D.      WHEN ARE OUR EARTHLY MEMBERS PUT OFF( Col. 2:11-12 ).

III.    "NEWNESS OF LIFE" - "RECONCILED"( 2 Cor. 5:17-6:2 ).

A.      "NEW CREATURES"( vs. 17 ).

B.      AT ENMITY - RECONCILED THROUGH JESUS. HOW?( vs. 18-19 ).

C.      "WE BESEECH YOU" - RECONCILIATION UP TO US( vs. 20 ).

          1.       God has done his part( vs. 21 ).

          2.       We have done our part( 6:1a ).

          3.       Now it is your turn( 6:1b-2 ).

IV.   WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF THIS NEWNESS OF LIFE?

A.      BOTH JEW AND GENTILE ARE UNDER SIN( Rom. 3:9;  6:23 ).

B.      THOSE WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE WALK IN HOPE( Rom. 6:23 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      HAVE YOU OBEYED?( Rom. 6:3-4 ).

B.      IF YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED, ARE YOU WALKING IN NEWNESS OF

          LIFE?