LOVE
	Bible Church
	Madison, Tennessee

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Romans 6:1-23

Sermon Delivered by Thor Carden
March 28, 2004
Love One Another Gospel Church
Madison, TN

INTRODUCTION

Romans 6:1-8 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"

Verses 3 thru 8 are talking about our unity with Christ and sites several things that we have gone or are going thru together with Him. It is like the little chart on the left hand inside page of your notes called the "seven togethers." These are the same ideas that are in verses 3 thru 10 of Romans 6 but arranged in chronological order.

]Read the following emphasizing how we were all with him through the whole Gospel story. Talk about sun "with" or "together with" (See http://www.tcarden.com/coursework/ExegesisPaper.htm for a discussion of sun) ]

If Adam’s sin was imputed to us it is certainly within the prerogative of God to impute Christ’s righteousness to us.

My older brother, Jarvis, died when he was 29. He left behind one daughter, 10 years old at the time. Jarvis did not get to give her away at her wedding. I did that. Jarvis did not get see his two oldest grandsons get married or get to know their wives. I have done that. I try to be a grandfather of sorts to his six grandchildren. Soon he will have a great-grandson. In a some sense, I am living Jarvis's life for him. In kind of the same way we are living Christ's life. Warn against carrying this analogy too far. How does the Bible say we are to live "together with Christ?" Let’s read on in Romans 6.

KNOW THAT CHRIST IS RAISED AND DIES NO MORE

Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Hebrews 9:27 "…as it is appointed unto men once to die,…"

As we just read in Romans 8 " and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" We will one day rise again and live together with Jesus forever. [Elaborate on how wonderful that will be.]

RECKON YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN

Romans 6:11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

My parents have not sinned today. They did not sin yesterday either. It has been over a decade since either of them have sinned. My mother and father are out off Gallatin Rd. in the veterans cemetery. They are dead and buried. They can no longer sin. We should follow their example. But how?

DO NOT LET SIN REIGN

Romans 6:12 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."

Just say "No." Don’t make a big theological discussion about it. You are living for Christ. Just go "No thanks." "Sounds real nice, but nope."
[Elaborate until they get the point.]

YIELD TO GOD INSTEAD

Romans 6:13-14 "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. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

You know how to sin. You know it is bad for you, you don’t want to do it really, you know the consequences will be bad but you just can’t help it. You give in.

Give in to God the way you used to yield or give in to sin.

You know it is good for you, you don’t want to do it really, you think it will make you look like a fool, you are afraid of what you might lose, but just give in to God. Don’t wait until it "feels" right. Don’t wait until you can figure out how to mitigate the discomfort of being foolish. If you feel the urging of the Holy Spirit, just give in.

We know how to give in really well. We have been doing it long enough in our sinfulness. Well put all that practice to good use. Give in to God instead.
[Elaborate]

OBEY GOD, NOT SIN

Romans 6: 15-23 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 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? 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. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 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. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Think about how to please God. [Talk about some of your jobs and how you served your bosses. They were paying for my time. I made suggestions but if they still wanted to do it the stupid way, they paid you for my labor. I let them have it.]

It is the same way with God. Christ paid for your life with His much more precious divine and righteous life. What do you care how he spends your life? It does not belong to you. Do things His way and let him worry about the future consequences.
[Elaborate]

INVITATION

If there is anyone here who is not yet together with Christ now is the time. It begins with sacrifice. Give yourself to Him. Die to your old life. Follow that with Baptism, being buried with him under the water, and raised in the likeness of his resurrection. Follow that with living for Him, with Him, and as His servant. Once you do you can be assured that you are His joint heir and will some day be glorified with Him in Heaven.

If you are ready to start this process now is the time. Please come forward when we begin to sing.

If you are already walking with together with Him this may be the time for you to renew your submission to His will.

It may be you have some other reason to visit the altar and pray this morning.

Berean List
(Acts 17:11)

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