Romans 6 15 23 You Have to Serve

Romans 6: 15 -23 You Have to Serve Somebody by Eric Douma Gospel of Grace Fellowship November 27, ggf. church 2016 0

Paul’s Refutation of His Opponents Romans 6: 1 -2 a Romans 6: 15 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in so that grace may increase? May it never be! What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Should we sin to gain more grace? Should we sin because we are under grace? Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 1

Everyone Serves Either Sin or God Romans 6: 15 -16 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Point in vs. 15: Not that believers are free from God’s law (ethical demands) but we are free from sin connected to the Mosaic covenant! § Remember: under law = Mosaic Covenant under grace = New Covenant § Death = eternal separation from God (lake of fire) § Righteousness = eternal glory reigning with God (Kingdom) § Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 2

Believers Are Obedient From the Heart Romans 6: 17 -18 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Mosaic Covenant Characterized by: 1. Disbelief/Sin 2. Religious formalism Gospel of Grace Fellowship New Covenant Characterized by: 1. Belief/obedience 2. Devotion from the heart ggf. church 3

Be Slaves of Righteousness Romans 6: 19 -20 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 1. 2. 3. 4. Before the fall: able to sin, able not to sin After the fall: not able to not sin After conversion: able to sin, able not to sin After glorification: not able to sin Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 4

The High Stakes Romans 6: 21 -23 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 5: 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. ” Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 5

Applications § We must know that believers in Christ transcend religious formalism and truly obey God from the heart. § We must be convinced that salvation is by faith alone, but we must also realize that true faith necessarily yields obedience. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 6

The Need to “Obey From the Heart” Romans 6: 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed… The Problem with Religious Formalism: Isaiah 29: 13 -14 Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, 14 Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed. ” Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 7

The Need to “Obey From the Heart” The Remedy of the New Covenant: Ezekiel 36: 25 -27 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. ” Romans 6: 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 8

Truth Faith Yields Obedience Hebrews 12: 14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4: 3 -5 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God… 1 Corinthians 6: 9 -10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 9