NGH BIBLE STUDY-ROMANS-OUTLINE #12
The Process of the Believer’s Sanctification (Romans 6:1-14)
We are moving now into the third major section of the book of Romans – The first section (running to Rom 3:20) dealt with the Proof of Man’s Sin and the second section (running from Rom 3:21 to Rom 5:21 ) dealt with the Principles of God’s Salvation. Paul now turns in chapters 6-8 to the subject of Sanctification – a very practical section of the book touching the ongoing relationship of the believer to sin. Justification is the great theme of chapters 4&5- God has declared me righteous – and sees no sin in me because of Christ and his work. But the fact is there IS still sin in me and I wrestle with it every day. Chapters 6-8 deal systematically with how a believer can live a victorious life over sin and its power. In our 14-verse section tonight we will be looking at “freedom from sin”.
Outline
Rom 6:1-2-A Crucial Question Concerning Grace and License
- If sin gives grace a chance to abound – does that mean we’re free to sin?
- A healthy perspective on grace and a healthy perspective on sin are both vital
Rom 6:3,4,5 – Baptism is a symbol of our Identification with Christ in his death & resurrection
- “Christ died for me” is the key to justification (Rom 5:6, Rom 5:8) while “I died with Christ” is the key to understanding sanctification.
Rom 6:6-7,8-9,10 – KNOWING the truth – When Christ died, the man I was in Adam died with him.
- This is a fact I need to KNOW
Rom 6:1 1 – RECKON myself to be dead to sin
Rom 6:12,13,14-YIELD (or PRESENT) myself to God, not to sin
- This will be the major theme in our next study from Rom 6:15-23
Key Points/Questions for Discussion
1. How should we understand the distinction between “Freedom to sin” and “Freedom from sin”?
2. Rom 6:9 says of Christ that “death no longer has dominion over Him” – how do we understand this verse? Did death ever have dominion over Him – the author of life?
3. Explain the key distinction between “being sinless” and “no longer being slaves of sin” (Rom 6:6) or being “freed from sin” (Rom 6:7)
4. Why is the progression from KNOWING to RECKONING to PRESENTING so important?
5. In verses Rom 6:11-12,13 we have three things the believer is to do – (1) “Reckon” (KJV/NKJV) or “Consider” (ESV/LSB); (2) “Let not” sin reign; (3) “Yield” (KJV) or “Present” (NKJV/ESV/LSB). While these are all active verbs – is there a “passive” sense to the final one? In “presenting” myself – am I “yielding” or “surrendering” to God?
6. Rom 6:13 speaks of “our members” – how is this understood in an intensely practical way? (my eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc. being either “instruments of unrighteousness to sin” or “instruments of righteousness to God”)