Romans 6 11 14 Are You a Weapon

Romans 6: 11 -14 Are You a Weapon for God or the Devil? by Eric Douma Gospel of Grace Fellowship November 6, ggf. church 2016 0

Romans 6: 11 -14: Act on What You Are! Romans 6: 1 -10 Indicative: § Baptized with Christ § Dead with Christ § Alive to God Romans 6: 11 -13 Imperative: § Consider yourself dead to sin § Don’t let sin reign in the body § Don’t let body be a weapon of sin § Let your body be a weapon for God Romans 6: 14 We are under grace not under the law! Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 1

Don’t Let Sin Reign! Romans 6: 11 -12 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, “do not let sin reign” = sin is depicted as a power (Rom. 3: 9) § “mortal body” = emblem of the sinful realm § Present Age Sin + Death Gospel of Grace Fellowship Life now in Christ Age to Come Obedience + Resurrection ggf. church 2

Be a Weapon for God, Not Satan Romans 6: 13 -14 …and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. § § § “presenting” (paristemi) = military metaphor “instruments” (hoplon) = weapons “members of body” = the whole person “under law” = the power of the old era that killed us “under grace” = the power of the new era that gives us life Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 3

Applications 1. We should know that being “under the law” is not a form holiness, but bondage to sin and death. 2. We can rejoice because Christ has freed us from the bondage of law and sin. 3. We should be intentional about fleeing from sin and using our talents for God. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 4

Under Law: Bondage, Not Holiness Romans 3: 19 -20 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Roman 4: 13 -14 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified… Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 5

Under Law: Bondage, Not Holiness Romans 5: 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more… Romans 7: 8 -11 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 6

Christ Has Set Us Free Sin Nature The Law Sin Romans 6: 14 ESV For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 8: 2 -3 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh… Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 7

Flee From Sin, Use Talents for God Flee, Pray, Obey: 1 Corinthians 6: 18 = flee from immorality 1 Corinthians 10: 14 = flee from idolatry 2 Timothy 2: 22 = flee from youthful lusts Luke 11: 4 And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. James 4: 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 8

Flee From Sin, Use Talents for God We must use our talents for God: Romans 12: 6 a Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly… 1 Peter 4: 8 -10 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 9