SUMMARY

Paul has already established that we are justified freely by the grace of God when we believe by faith in Jesus Christ. At that point, we are now “righteous”…..we have right-standing before the Father in relation to our sin.

How does that change who we actually are? Paul says in Romans 6 that our identity is that of being set free from the power of sin. “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We have been set free from sin, how can we live in it any longer?” Paul reminds us of our identity. By faith, we have been united with Jesus in his death and his resurrection. The body of sin in us has been put to death, and we have come out of the grave with Jesus in triumphant victory to new life.

But it does not stop there. Because of our new identity, we now have some obligations. As a new person, we are to begin to act like it. We are no longer offering ourselves to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but we now offer ourselves to God as an instrument of righteousness. We are no longer enslaved to sin, but our lives are defined by a certain “slavery” to the life of righteousness. All of our life revolves around how we may be used by God for His glory and the building of His kingdom.

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Key Bible Passage(s)

• Romans 6:1-23
• 1 Samuel 15:22

Weekly Discipleship Practice

• Use this “Covenant Prayer” in your prayer and devotional life this week:

  “I am no longer my own, but thine.

  Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

  Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

  Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

  exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

  Let me be full, let me be empty.

  Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

  I freely and heartily yield all things

  to thy pleasure and disposal.

  And now, O glorious and blessed God,

  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

  thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

  And the covenant which I have made on earth,

  let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

Full Sermon

https://share.transistor.fm/e/a2240db4

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. When is the last time in your walk with Jesus that you remember internally making the rationalization for going back to the “old you” and picking up the sin that God has set you free from?
2. What circumstances in your life typically make you look back to that “old you?” Is it when you are tired? When you are stressed? When you are alone, or under a lot of pressure?
3. Consider this week having a conversation with a close friend or someone in your small group about something that you desire to experience more freedom from, but are having a hard time moving forward with. Ask them to pray for you and check back in with you after awhile.