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Romans 6: Freedom from Sin
What reasons do Christians have for continuing to do something other than what they know is right?
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Romans 6:1–3 What do you think? To increase the value of God’s forgiveness, should we continue to sin? Absolutely not! If Christ really has set us free, then sin must be dead, with no power over us, so it cannot continue. Are you not aware than when you were baptized, you made a total commitment to Jesus Christ, even unto death?
King James
Romans 6:1–3 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
What changes do we have a right to expect in baptism?
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Romans 6:4–5 Just as Jesus was laid lifeless in the tomb, your self-serving desires were put to death in the waters of baptism so you could be raised up with him and have a new relationship with God, living without sin. If we have become like Christ in his death, so committed to pleasing God that we are willing to sacrifice our lives for his sake, then we will also live in the likeness of his resurrection, without sin.
King James
Romans 6:4–5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
When we are tempted, wanting to do what we know isn’t right, what should we do?
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Romans 6:6 We should regard our old nature to be like Jesus when he was nailed to the cross, so the wrong desires we once had are forever put to death, having no power over us.
1 Corinthians 10:13 You are subject to the same kinds of temptations as everybody else, but God is always faithful to those who rely on him. The choice is yours. He won’t allow temptation beyond what you can bear, but with your surrender to him, he will bring the victory.
James 1:14 People are tempted when their desires take them in a direction different from where God would have them go.
James 4:7–8 Completely surrender your will to whatever God wants. Then your resistance to the devil is an absolute no, and he has no reason to hang around. Move closer to God, and he will move closer to you. Wash your hands of wrongdoing and purify your hearts with good motives. Don’t live a double-life, but have a single focus upon what the Lord wants.
King James
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 4:7–8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
If we are tempted to sin, what do we know about our desire?
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Romans 6:7 If the desires that separated us from God are dead, then we have to be free from sin.
King James
Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Why do some Christians think sin is something they must live with until they die?
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Romans 6:8 As we follow Christ in his commitment unto death, we walk with him in resurrection, with transformed, sin-free lives.
King James
Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Why did death have no power over Jesus?
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Romans 6:9 After Jesus was crucified and buried, he arose from the grave, never to die again, because death had no power over him.
King James
Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
What must we do to overcome Satan and live in complete agreement with God?
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Luke 14:26 “Any man who follows me must be willing to forsake father and mother, wife, brothers and sisters, and children. You must even be willing to give up your own life or you cannot be my disciple.”
Romans 6:10 When he died, sin died with him. In resurrection, he lives in complete agreement with God.
Revelation 12:10–11 A loud voice from Heaven shouted, “Salvation and power has come through God’s dominion and Christ’s authority. Satan, who has been accusing the people day and night, is now cast down. The people have overcome Satan (1) by the sacrifice of the Lamb, (2) by giving their testimonies, and (3) by complete surrender to God’s will, even unto death.”
King James
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Romans 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Revelation 12:10–11 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
By what means can we make ourselves “dead unto sin,” refusing to allow sinful desires to govern our behavior?
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Romans 6:11–13 In the same way, you should make yourselves dead unto sin, but be resurrected to hear and follow God the same as Jesus did. Don’t let sinful desires govern your behavior or let any part of you be used for any wrongdoing. But submit yourselves to whatever God wants from you. Delivered from sin and death, you are to be used entirely for his purpose.
King James
Romans 6:11–13 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
How can God’s love and forgiveness have greater force than Law in changing our desires?
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Romans 6:14 God should be your master, not sin, because God’s love and forgiveness, not the Law with its many regulations, should be the driving force in your lives.
King James
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
What should be our attitude toward sin when it persists in our Christian lives?
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Matthew 26:75 and he remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went outside and broke down crying.
Romans 6:15 What do you think? Should we continue to sin because we are not bound by rules and regulations but live under his forgiveness? Absolutely not!
2 Corinthians 7:8–10 If my letter hurt your feelings, I do not apologize, although I did regret causing you pain, even if it was only for a little while. I’m rejoicing now, not because I hurt you, but because your godly sorrow led to repentance. A change in your ways shows that we did you no harm. The world’s sorrow is only grief and regret that results in death. But godly sorrow brings salvation, a change in our ways that has no need for repentance.
King James
Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
2 Corinthians 7:8–10 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Why are we a slave to what we obey?
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Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that you are a slave to whatever you obey? Either you serve sin and will die, or you serve God in complete obedience, choosing to do what is, to the best of your knowledge, most pleasing to him.
King James
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
What is the consequence when we follow our desires as opposed to what the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts?
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Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that you are a slave to whatever you obey? Either you serve sin and will die, or you serve God in complete obedience, choosing to do what is, to the best of your knowledge, most pleasing to him.
King James
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
What benefit might we gain by thanking God for something we have not yet fully obtained?
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Romans 6:17 Be thankful to God, accepting the fact that you were at one time a slave to sin, but now you are free, following different desires according to Christ’s teaching that has been made clear to you.
Philippians 3:11–12 and somehow be among those who are raised from the dead. I’ve not yet achieved the relationship that Jesus had with the Father when he walked on Earth, but I’m moving in that direction. I’m not yet perfect, but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me.
King James
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Philippians 3:11–12 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
How well do you think most Christians understand what Jesus taught?
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Romans 6:17 Be thankful to God, accepting the fact that you were at one time a slave to sin, but now you are free, following different desires according to Christ’s teaching that has been made clear to you.
King James
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
What must we do to be entirely free from sin?
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Romans 6:18 You can be entirely free from sin when you have entirely become God’s servant, wholeheartedly seeking to please him.
Galatians 5:16 Let me make this perfectly clear: if you listen to God’s Spirit within, you will seek to please him and to benefit others, not to satisfy your selfish desires.
James 4:7 Completely surrender your will to whatever God wants. Then your resistance to the devil is an absolute no, and he has no reason to hang around.
King James
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Why should Christians seek to eliminate all unclean thoughts?
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Matthew 5:27–28 “You have heard it said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say that anyone with a lustful look has already committed adultery in his or her heart.”
Romans 6:19 I speak in this way because I understand the weakness of human nature. Unclean thoughts have enslaved you, but it doesn’t have to be that way, not if you become a slave to do what you know is right.
King James
Matthew 5:27–28 e have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
What obstacles do Christians face in becoming completely free from sin?
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Romans 6:20 How do we know this is true, that we are completely free from sin? While we were slaves to sin, we were under no obligation to be righteous. The reverse is also true. If we are completely committed to pleasing the Lord, we are under no obligation to be unrighteous. We are free, able always to make the right choice.
King James
Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Why are some people unconcerned about the consequence of wrongdoing?
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Romans 6:21 Concerning the deeds in which you now feel ashamed, be honest with yourself. Did you really benefit from your sin like you thought you would? No, that’s impossible because the ultimate result of sin is always death.
King James
Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
How would you describe the consequence of sin and the benefits of living without sin?
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Romans 6:22–23 Free from sin, you can make God your exclusive employer. Your feeling of self-worth will soar when you know your actions have pleased him and your employment will last forever. Sin’s paycheck is death, but God rewards us with eternal life because of Jesus Christ our Lord.
King James
Romans 6:22–23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.