God Forbid (Romans 6)

Romans Chapter 6

God Forbid!!

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Roman chapter 6 believe it or not was the changing point in my life, years ago I had a lovely wife 2 kids, worked construction I believed in God I was saved. But every night or every time I had a moment to my self I became overwhelmed with guilt and most of the time I did not even know why. I remember one night in particular my heart was so heavy I just out of blue could not take anymore and feel to my knees crying, and I prayed Lord help me I know you are speaking to me but I cant hear you. A few minutes later my phone rang it was God. No just kidding it was however my sister from north Carolina, and she asked me if everything was OK. I kinda broke down and told her how I was feeling, and that I knew God was trying to reach me but I just cant seem to get there. And she said something to me that I will never forget with her North Carolina accent she said to me “ You know what brother? It sounds like you got some unresolved sin in you life and you need to repent to God.” Now when she said that I knew instantly she was right, she prayed with me, for me, then she said to me “ you got your bible there?” I said yes, She in return said to me “well turn to Romans chapter 6 I want to read it with you” and she did as she read the Holy spirit changed my life that night I was already saved I know that but through my sister he reviled some new truths about my salvation and I hope as we look at romans 6 today He will do the same for you. I remember after I had got off the phone with my sister that night I must have read romans chapter 5&6 at least 10 times. Let go to the lord in prayer before we begin

Now If we take a look at the first thing Paul says here notice the truth in his statement. So many of us he is speaking directly too in this passage this is how we live our lives every day. (Rom 6:1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? In the last chapter the apostle has shown that the existence of sin called out the grace of God in forgiveness. Were there is sin there is grace. Now the objection is raised. If that is so then why not continue in sin so that God's grace would all the more abound? Right , If Grace is more abundant when we are living in sin are we not better off continuing that way? We continually sin but yet we expect grace, forgiveness, mercy, etc.. we expect our marriages, and our finance everything in our lives to just fall into place. we want to live and compromise with sin yet we want Grace in all aspects of our lives to abound, Amen. Well whats the apostle say about it? To find out lets continue to read verse 2 . (Rom 6:2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? GOD FORBID!!! Listen up, if you are a Christian, if you truly accepted Christ as your Saviour, you are by the blood of Christ Dead to sin, and if you are dead to it what right do you have to live in it? You don't You are depriving God you are depriving Christ of His Glory. Death is a separation. Before we accepted Christ we were alive to sin sin was our master, we served sin to our full selfish desires did we not. Think about it did we not do what we wanted when we wanted how we wanted were we wanted and in the manner of which WE wanted to do it. But you see what Paul is saying here when we accepted Christ we became dead from sin separated from sin because Christ died and paid the price of our sin on the cross so sin is no longer our master but Christ is our debt is not to sin but to Christ but the debt was paid by his blood and given to us freely through His grace. Now If we have been cut loose from sin, how can we continue in it? How can we continually live in sin? The implied statement of the apostle is, that we should not continue in sin. See as Christians we know the grace is there to pick us up when we sin but does that mean just because we know Christ has paid that price we should continue. No GOD FORBIB!!! Why not? The grace is there. Look The reason is drawn from the fact that we are dead in fact to sin. Just as when someone physically dies they are dead to this world and can no longer live in it correct? It is impossible for those who are dead to act as if they were alive. It is just as absurd to expect that a Christian should live in sin as that a dead man should act as if he were alive. It is not to be!! GOD FORBIB!!! We are dead to sin. To be dead to a thing is a strong expression. It denotes that it has no more influence over us. A man that is dead is unaffected by the affairs of this life. When it is said, therefore, that a Christian is dead to sin, the point is, that sin has lost its influence over us. WE are not subjected to it anymore; When we are in the grave we have no cares of this life, so why in this life should we have any cares of the sin in which we as Christians are dead too? Amen. The apostle does not attempt to prove that Christians are dead, nor does he state in what way they become so. He assumes it a fact without argument by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us. Now All Christians are in fact dead to sin. Why Because of the blood of Christ. We do not live to sin; nor does has sin dominion over us anymore. Next we see the phrase Live any longer therein How shall we, We who are now born again Christians who have become aware of the evil of sin, and who have renounced it by our profession of Jesus Christ, how can we continue to practice ourself in sin? Continue to live in it?!! Let me will say this. it is against the very nature of a true Christian to do so. Are some of us trapped in our sin yes can we get out yes because Sin has no dominion over us except that which we allow it to. How do we allow it to? We compromise with sin. All Christians can understand that; but few of us actually dare to comprehend it. Yes as Christians we do still struggle with sin at times in our lives. It is our corrupt nature, we are weak, and too frequently we find occasions to fall. But Since we are of Christ's chosen now we do not live in a continual state of sin and if we do shame on us! It is not to be so GOD FORBID!!! When we do fall Christ is there to pick us up. He literary reaches His hand out to us but so often in our pride we shoe His hand away and try to get back up ourself s. Then what happens?? we just fall back down, and guess what? some of us stay down, just as a dead man ceases from the actions of life. Again God forbid - Let it not be; by no means; far from it; let not such a thing be! To Die to a thing or person, is to have nothing to do with it or him; to be totally separated from them: and to live to a thing or person is to be wholly given up to them; to have the most intimate connection with them. So do you understand as a Christian your full life is to be lived unto Christ Because you are not under sin anymore, which brings death, you are under Christ whom Gives life. There is a death for sin, a death in sin, and a death to sin; the latter is here mentioned, a death to sin is what Paul is speaking of. Christians may be said to be "dead to sin. Simply put Dead to sin means we are Freed both from the guilt and from the power of it in our lives. Paul does not explain away the free grace of the gospel, The grace is always there, but rather he shows that the connection between justification and holiness are inseparable. And the thought should be abhorred, of continuing in sin that grace may abound. True believers are dead to sin, therefore we should not to follow sin. We should not to live in sin,and we should not compromise with sin. No man can at the same time be both dead and alive. You are either one or the other. And he is a fool who, desiring to be dead unto sin, thinks he may live in it. Again let these Scriptures sink into the depths of your heart ( What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God Forbid. God forbid!!!!! Are you truly hearing Gods word today? Are you living in sin or are you dead to sin? Lets look at verse 3-7 (Rom 6:3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Rom 6:4) 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. Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Rom 6:6 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. Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Whats is Paul saying here? What does he mean we were baptized into His death? The fact that every follower of Christ has died to sin is shown by his baptism. All its symbolism points to death. To be baptized into Christ means to enter into a vital union with him, so that we are to be found in him. Look at (Gal 3:27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. But this baptism into Christ implies death, for it is a baptism into the death of Christ. That the subjects of baptism are partakers of his death is shown by the form of baptism. It is a symbolic burial. We are buried through baptism into death. first a burial implies death. Second a Baptism is a burial, third therefore as subjects we died. Just As Christ died through sin, we die to sin; as the Crucified Christ was buried, we who have died to sin through the gospel are buried with him. As death and burial separate from the natural life, baptism so separated us from our sin nature in life. Now That like as Christ was raised up from the dead. The glorious power of the Father lifted up Christ from the tomb. We, too, rise from the watery burial of baptism, with death and burial between us and the old life of sin, so that we may walk in newness of life. Just As a seed, planted, buried out of sight, rises again in a new life, so are we planted in the likeness of Christ's death when we are buried in baptism, and rise in the likeness of his resurrection, when we are lifted out of the water, and are seen we henceforth have a new life through the Salvation of Christ. Every man who believes in Christ, and receives baptism as the proof that he or she believes it, and has taken up the profession of it, is bound thereby to a life of righteousness. To be baptized into Christ, is to receive the doctrine of Christ crucified, and to receive baptism is a proof of the genuine faith in Christ, and that we accept the obligation to live according to Christ standards. There are three parts of this sanctification: that is, the death of the old man or sin, his burial, and the resurrection of the new man, descending into us from the virtue of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, of which our baptism is or was a sign and pledge of. Yes you are a new man in Christ You are freed from sin the price was paid on Calvary. so don't live as you did before. Your not the same person you know that in your heart.

Lets go now to verse 8-11 (Rom 6:8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (Rom 6:9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (Rom 6:10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Rom 6:11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. OK now since we have established we are dead to sin that means what? We are alive unto Christ. Just as death has no dominion over Christ Sin now has no dominion over us. And unless we propose this fact in our hearts we will fail in our walk with Christ. The cross of Christ slew our old sinful nature. Now The gospel was the power that moved us to separate from sin, and cling to Christ. When this old nature was crucified, we died to sin. Paul is specking of us taking Grace for granted. So we, believing in Christ Jesus, and having a death unto sin, and a life unto righteousness, should sin no more. Correct. Now If we be risen indeed with Christ, we should seek the things above the thing of Heaven, and set our hearts on things above, and not on the things of the earth. A man who walks in humble, and loving obedience, to Christ, Guess what sin has no more dominion over his soul than death has over the immortal and glorified body of our Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen Now our proof is That Christ risen from the dead, is a certain fact, well attested to, thoroughly known, and firmly believed by Christians; the prophets prophesied of it, Christ himself foretold it, angels affirmed it, and the apostles were witnesses of it, as is also the Holy Ghost whom He has sent to dwell in our hearts. Christ was raised to an immortal life, and will live for evermore; there is no need of his dying again, his death was a full atonement of all the sins and transgressions of the world. Now death once had dominion over Christ; it held him under its power for a short time, according to His divine determination, and by his own consent: but it was not possible he should be holden of it longer than He was, both on account of the divinity of his person, as the Son of God, and the virtue and efficacy of his sacrifice. Christs death was a voluntary act. He gave up His life to pay for our sins. He died to sin - To atone for and abolish it. He liveth unto God - A glorious eternal life. This is our new standard to measure ourself s by Christs example. There are two clear points that Paul is making here first consider yourself dead to sin, second Set your standards to those of Christ's.

As we close if you know Christ as your Saviour why are you living in sin still? God forbid As Paul said in(Rom 6:11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. When you go about the days work ahead don't compromise with sin, it has no power over you, you are dead to it, separated from it therefor put it far from you, live unto Christ for He is you master, your lord, your savior, your friend. He has more love for you than anyone here on earth ever could. If you don't know Christ as your savior you might be feeling this overwhelming feeling in your heart today thats Christ calling out to you with His Grace, He wants you to know he has paid the price for your sin, He wants you to open your heart to him and let him in, it not hard, theres no strings attached His gift of salvation is free to anyone whom believes in Him, Confess to him you are a sinner, tell him lord I believe you died on the cross for me, I know you paid the ultimate price for my sins, come into my heart forgive me make me yours lord. Lets close in prayer.