Romans: Theology for Everybody (6-11)Sample

We recommend that you complete Pastor Mark’s plan on Romans chapters 1-5 before beginning this study, as it will help provide more context for the book as a whole.

A major theme in Romans 1-5 preceding this chapter has been the fact that God’s grace is really gracious. The question that Paul anticipates is whether or not God’s grace is too gracious (Romans 6:1-2). The concern is that, if God’s grace covers any and all sins for His people, will that not encourage some to abuse God’s grace? Sadly, some have done this very thing. As sinners, we need to use God’s grace. However, in considering if we should abuse God’s grace Paul says, “By no means!” Various English translations say “God forbid”, “Absolutely not”, “Of course not”, “No”, and “That’s unthinkable”. 

Paul then summarizes what it means to be a Christian to show that our primary motivation to obey God is not a fear of what He might do to punish us but love for what He has done to bless us. 

1) God works for you: Justification (Romans 6:3-4). The Christian is supernaturally connected to the life, death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through our connection with Jesus in the Spirit, we are able to walk away from our old life and walk with Him in “newness of life”. In mentioning baptism, we are reminded that there are two kinds of baptism. Baptism in the Spirit happens at conversion and is our internal private connection with God. Baptism in water is our public confession of our relationship with God. Water baptism reminds us that our old life is now dead and buried with Jesus Christ. Our Spirit baptism reminds us that we now live a new life by God’s power. 

2) God works in you: Regeneration (Romans 6:5-11). Just as your old life was grafted into the death of Adam, so your new life is grafted into the victory of Jesus. As a new person born again in Christ, you are set free from sin, and set free to God. This is because God’s love forgives you, changes your nature, changes your desires, and gives you the Spirit’s power to change how you live because God has changed who you are. Lastly, since we love Jesus the most, and sin killed Him, we can no longer love the sin that killed the Person we love the most. 

3) God works through you: Sanctification (Romans 6:12-14). As a Christian you are new, not yet perfect, but in a process of progress called sanctification that ends in eternal perfection. The language Paul uses is imagery taken from battle. To “Let not sin...reign” means that we are able to surrender to the Spirit instead of sin when the battle for our behavior rages. Furthermore, the “members” of our body (e.g. mind, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, heart, etc.) are “instruments” or weapons for war that we use to worship God by warring against sinful temptation. 

In regard to sin, the Christian does not need to celebrate it, tolerate it, work around it, excuse it, hide it, or fight to keep it alive but under control. Because Jesus died for your sin, you can put your sin to death. 

Reflection:

1. Which of these three works of God (justification, regeneration, sanctification) are you most and least familiar with? How can you learn about and apply God’s grace to the work of God you are least familiar with? 

2. Which of your body “members” is currently your biggest battle (e.g. mind, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, heart, etc.)? 

3. How can you give more of God’s grace to the people who are closest to you (e.g. spouse, child, parent, friend, coworker, church member, etc.)? 

4. What area(s) of your life have you seen the most changed by God’s grace in the past year? If you had to pick one area of your life where you could use more of God’s sanctifying grace, which would that be?