Title: Claim Your New Life!
Have you ever been in a grocery store and heard over the P.A. system -
“Attention shoppers! Right now in aisle 7, we’re giving away a free butcher knife just for stopping by our
product demonstration. Come see how our new Dunklebean cookware makes healthy meals faster and
easier, and you’ll receive your free gift—no purchase necessary! That’s a free butcher knife, just for
watching our quick 2-minute demo. Supplies are limited, so head over to aisle 7 now and claim yours while
they last!”
Or have you ever had to dodge the mall skincare kiosk as the person asks
“Hi! Can I give you a free sample of our moisturizer? It’s completely complimentary. While you’re here, let
me show you how it works—it only takes a minute. You’ll see how smooth your skin feels, and then I can
tell you about our special offer today.”
Maybe you’ve been snookered into a timeshare presentation:
“Hi there! We’re inviting couples to join us for a short 90-minute presentation about our vacation resort
packages. As our thank-you for attending, you’ll receive a free $100 restaurant gift card—no purchase
necessary. You’ll enjoy a nice meal on us, and who knows, you might discover a vacation option you’ll love.”
Kelly and I spent an entire Saturday for a 2 hour presentation all so we could get a free car TV.
We’ve learned that no promise of a free gift is worth the amount of time that we might have to give.
I’m not snagged by an announcement in the store telling us to come to aisle 7 to claim a free gizmo
But what if the offer what for freedom?
What if the person what encouraging you to come and CLAIM YOU NEW LIFE?
This morning, I want to encourage you to -Claim Your New Life!
This offer offer of NEW LIFE isn’t tied to some sales pitch in which you’re going to pay a monthly
maintenance fee for the rest of your life.
And it’s not only offered while supplies last.
This offer is found throughout the Bible.
But this morning we’re looking at Romans 6.
Pastor Josh and I are both preaching from Romans these weeks in honor of our small groups studies.
In those small groups, you’ll see that the first five chapters of Romans lay out an argument for God’s grace.
The saving grace of God that’s explained is solely based on the death and resurrection of Christ.
And it’s not dependent on any good works that any person does to deserve it.
It’s unmerited favor.
The question that’s addressed in Chapter six flows from the fact of salvation being only by God’s grace.
And the question is asked right in v. 1
So, let’s turn to Romans 6 and pick up with this rhetorical question that’s often sparked when confronted by
God’s Amazing Grace
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. 5 For if we
have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection
like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to
nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was
raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he
died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin
but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
From our verses this morning I first want to challenge you to -
1. REJECT THE IDEA THAT GOD WANTS US TO LIVE IN SIN. (1-5)
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. 5 For if we
have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Paul asks this opening question because he knew the gospel caused unsaved people to wonder about it.
“If Christians are free from the penalty of their sins, do they feel free to sin more?”
Actually, there were some who taught “Since he who is forgiven much loves much, Christians should sin
more so that they can experience more forgiveness and thus love God more.”
Jude warned of such teachers in -
Jude 4 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation,
ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus
Christ.
I’m not sure that we deal with this question very much - Do Christians try to sin more because they’ve been
forgiven by God.
But the fact that Paul’s gospel was open to this accusation could only mean that he definitely preached a
gospel of salvation by grace outside of any works.
I’ve got some shirts that certain members of my family try to tell me don’t fit me anymore.
I’m sure that it’s because of the time I put in at the gym.
But I’m also thinking it might have to do with the weight I’ve gained since purchasing the shirts.
Like clothes that don’t fit us right -
1a. Living in sin doesn’t fit a person who has died to sin.
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?
Paul speaks to the issue with the rhetorical question - How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Our answer is supposed to be, “Uh, we can’t.”
He’s speaking of a person having died at a point in time in the past and that was at their salvation.
He’s also talking about a person who’s continually living in sin as if nothing ever changed about their life.
This implication is that one or the other is taking place.
Either they have experienced the death of Christ personally in salvation
or they are continuing to live sinfully as if no death to sinning ever took place.
It’s one or the other.
I hate zombie movies intensely.
They freak me out.
I literally only made it about 45 seconds into the first episode of The Walking Dead.
I don’t’ even like commercials that feature zombies.
But at least I can take solace in the fact that zombies aren’t real.
I don’t have to worry about someone limping up to me and saying,
“Excuse my stench. I’ve been dead for 3 weeks.”
I don’t have to worry about that because a person is either dead or alive.
And that’s like the argument that’s being made here.
It’s impossible for a person to have died to the penalty and power of sin and still live in their sin as if
nothing has happened.
This isn’t talking about reaching some higher plain where we no longer sin.
This is talking about what Jesus warned of in -
* John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices
sin is a slave to sin.
And the Apostle John later writes-
* 1 John 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in
him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Can we still struggle with sin?
Absolutely, yes, but we shouldn’t feel at liberty to dabble with sin.
And We’ll experience greater freedom as we learn what it means that we’ve died to sin.
Our understanding of what this means is the next place that Paul takes his argument.
The reason why living in sin doesn’t fit a person who has died to sin is because -
1b. The person who’s been saved has been given new life.
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.
We’re told that God does the impossible when a person trusts Christ as their Savior.
He brings them from death to life.
This is a transformation that we’ll learn about in Ephesians 2.
And your awareness of the new life you’ve received makes all the difference in your battle against sin.
[SIDENOTE]
Now, I know that a number of you grew up thinking that it was your physical baptism placed you into Christ
But notice what’s being talked about as the substance we’re baptized into.
I’ve never seen someone come up out of the baptistry covered in Christ or soaked in death.
Our baptism into water symbolizes the spiritual reality of being placed into Christ and experiencing His
death, which we’ll see soon was a death to sin.
Baptism into water isn’t a magical ceremony that makes a person saved - neither is a sinners prayer that
someone might pray.
God does a miraculously spiritual work that makes a person saved.
Our baptism into water is our follow-up obedience to what God has already done.
So, Paul argues for the Christian’s new life by explaining Christ’s resurrection.
Christ didn’t stay dead.
He rose again by the power and glory of God.
And He lives forever as our Savior and King.
Praise God, we serve a risen Savior.
I’m so glad that I’m not the pastor of some death cult.
It’d be pretty hard to convince people to follow in the likeness of Christ’s death if He wasn’t resurrected.
And this new life is meant to be LIVED, just as Paul tells us that we are to walk in newness of life.
And verse 5 is explaining that WE are joined eternally with CHRIST in His death and resurrection.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection
like his.
And this new life isn’t like being resuscitated.
It means to have a completely NEW life to live.
We all know of someone or have heard of someone being resuscitated.
If someone has a heart attack and is resuscitated, it’s likely they’ll live with damage to their heart.
In those horrible situations where someone drowns and is resuscitated, the question is whether there might
be permanent brain damage from the lack of oxygen.
There’s no clinic or specialist they can go to and get a totally new body or a new life to live.
But NEW LIFE is what we experience with Christ because He wasn’t resuscitated passively but resurrected
triumphantly.
And by trusting Christ as our Savior, we participate in His death and His resurrection.
We’re given NEW LIFE.
Would your practices or habits be described as sinful or dishonoring to God?
Have you laid claim to the new life that was purchased for you by Christ’s death and resurrection?
Is your Christianity limited to what you believe, or is it transforming your life as well (as in your thoughts,
speech, choices, habits, etc.)?
[claim your new life]
It’s easy for us to forget that our salvation means that we joined Chist in His death and also in His
resurrection to NEW LIFE,
Your new life in Christ is a free gift which you have to claim and cling to relentlessly.
The devil isn’t going to remind you of it.
The sinful world isn’t going to ask you, “Don’t you have new life in Christ. I don’t think you belong here.”
And so this brings us the idea that you must -
2. CLAIM THE LIFE THAT CHRIST HAS WON FOR YOU.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection
like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to
nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was
raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he
died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin
but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Verses 5-10 unpack the explanation given in verse 5
And the “so what” is laid out in verse 11.
In verse 6 Paul is expanding on what is said in v. 3-4 that we have died and been raised with Christ.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing,
so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we
died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
It’s not just that we’ve died to the penalty of our sins and are able to walk as a forgiven person.
We’re also FREED from our OLD SIN NATURE.
You see, when you’re united with Christ by faith, you’re treated as if you were crucified with him.
This is what the Apostle Paul proclaims for himself in -
* Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who
lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.
Illus - [A debtor faking their death]
This is like if a person who is deeply in debt might fake their death and go on living as another person.
They might do this because death frees a person from their debts - there’s no way to collect them.
Similarly, our old self/sin nature was crucified with Christ so that it no longer owe it our allegiance.
And we’re not just freed from our old sin nature.
7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live
with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has
mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
We receive Christ’s DIVINE NATURE.
Our death with Christ wasn’t just accomplished so that we could say no to temptation.
It was accomplished so that we could live a resurrection life as Christ lives.
We can live for what is important to God - His glory- using our time, talents, and treasure for His kingdom.
And we can take these truths to the bank - not because of what we see in ourselves but because of the
victory of Christ who empowers Christians to live for God’s glory.
Christ’s work was accomplished definitively on the cross and it was verified convincingly by His resurrection.
We can confidently derive our resurrected life from Christ’s resurrection life.
This is what the hymn writer meant when he wrote of the power of Christ’s work -
“be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure.”
Thus, we only need to apply His resurrection power when we’re undergoing trials or temptations.
Do you think Christ’s death and resurrection is only meant to change your eternal destiny, or do you know
it’s meant to change you life?
So, how can we definitively see Christ’s life changing work in our lives?
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The statement “count yourselves” means to consider it to be true or reckon it to be true.
It’s like if someone says they deposited $500 into your bank account, if you believe them, you don’t hesitate
to use your debit card to make a $500 purchase.
To count yourselves dead to sin means believing that you don’t have to surrender to temptation.
How would you fill in these blanks: “I know that I’m freed from _______, and I have been given new life to
__________ instead.”
We’re not talking about “playing make believe” or pretending to be something that we’re not.
This is about us, as believers, consistently counting on what God has accomplished decisively through
Christ’s death and resurrection.
It’s a call to daily claim and personally experience what Christ did as the Holy Spirit makes Christ’s work
effective in us.
For a sports team, practice is when they sharpen skills, learn plays, and get organized so that they do well
in a game.
During the game the coach is calling in plays or reminding the players about what they developed in
practice.
He might remind them of what they learned or call for the team to run a play that they drilled.
The truth of these verses must be practiced consistently.
These truths must be dwelled upon persistently.
And when you come to the “game-time” of trials or temptations you must fall back on the truth that,
because of your new life in Christ, you are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Often it’s difficult for us to face temptation on our own.
And this fact is why it’s so valuable to have an accountability partner that we can reach out to.
And like a coach, they can remind us that we’re dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus
How can you set up your life to get “coaching” when your under temptation?
I highly recommend you find a friend that can help you to remember that you’re
dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
