A New Life in Christ

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Prayer: Father God thank you for scriptures the builds the wisdom we need to live. Thank you for your grace that has been lavished on us. Thank you for dying for our sins giving us hope to live. Thank you for your gospel, in your name I pray amen!

In the text today Paul asked the church four questions.

1. What shall we say then?
2. Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
3. How can we who died to sin still live in it?
4. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into his death?
Today let me ask you four questions to work through today or as long as you live...

1. Will you allow sin to reign or grace to reign? And why? 2. Will you continue to live in sin?
3. Will you commit to live eternally with God the Father? 4. Will you commit to being baptized?

Here is the big idea that grace trumps and tramples over the power of sin. The law does not and cannot conquer sin, but the grace given to followers of Christ triumphs over sin and death.

1 What shall we say then? Paul concludes chapter 5 by answering this question:

“20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

Point 1- Don’t misunderstand God’s Grace.

Paul challenged the church with this question, allowing them to see themselves in a spiritual mirror. It is the mirrors that reflect who we really are. It is the argumentized question of the century. Shall we continue in sin? Constantly missing the mark of God, allowing a life full of detours, allowing the people, places, and the things in our lives to have and be in control, constantly living outside of God’swill and perfect plan for our lives. So, should I continue? so should you continue? Is it worth being dominated by pride, lust, envy, strife, jealousy, illicit sex, drugs, alcohol, and whatever else that exalts itself against grace and provokes grace to work for you.

Paul did not ask this question to rationalize sin. Instead, Paul's opponents argued that his gospel must be mistaken since in their view, it led people to continue in sin. Paul will now show why their interpretation of his gospel is mistaken.

Don’t misunderstand God’s Grace.

2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Point 2- An authentic death to sin, counters a lifestyle of sin.

Paul's gospel does not lead to more sin, since those who belong to Christ have died to sin.

This calls us to self-reflect... what was my life then and what it is now...

“By no means”

Authentic death, a real encounter, does not lead to a perpetual lifestyle of sin it leads to eternal life

Gospel encounters lead to us having hope in the righteousness of God, and faith in Christ alone.

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Point 3- It is through baptism that we partake and gain knowledge of his death

Don’t forget that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death

Today we can experience his baptism with the baptism of the holy spirit. As believers we died to sin when we were baptized into Christ. Paul is not arguing that the baptism magically destroys the power of sin. Baptism is an outward, physical symbol of the inward, spiritual conversion of Christians.

To the unbelievers listening or watching: When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Point 4- By his resurrection we can walk in a new life

This symbolizes the persons union with and incorporation into Christ by the action of the Holy Spirit. You now have the power to live a new life

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Close with this scripture:

18 Therefore, as one trespass[f] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[g] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Communion:

1 Cor 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[g] 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.