Notes from a message preached on Romans Chapter 7 - The Battle for Holiness by Dr J Stewart Gillespie There are 3 great enemies of the believer (James 3:15): 1.The World 2.The Flesh 3.The Devil Romans 6 the apostle speaks on the subject of consecration, of a life given over wholly to the service of God, particularly 6:12-20. As the apostle turns to look at impediments to that consecration in chap 7 it is to the flesh that he devouts this section to!

The Devil may well be a smarter enemy The world may well be a bigger enemy but The flesh is the weakest enemy and paradoxically therefore perhaps the most significant! The flesh provides the final common pathway for the attack of the other two: 1.If it were possible to remove the flesh then the Devil would be unable to gain a foothold in my life? Is that correct? Consider: “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” (Joh 14:30) 2.If it were possible to remove the world then the Devil would be unable to gain a foothold in my life? Is that correct? Consider: “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life...” (1Jo2:16) 3.If it were possible to remove the flesh then sin would be unable to gain a foothold in my life? Is that correct? Consider Rom 7:5, 23. The flesh then is the final common pathway of the world, sin and the Devil. A hit on the flesh scuppers the effects of all 3! One of the greatest discoveries, practically in the Christian life is that the battle to be fought is primarily internal rather than external. There is within my person – 2 distinct pulls: 1.Flesh – pulls to the physical, the material, the sensual, ties me to earth, self ward 2.Spirit – pulls to the spiritual, ties me to heaven, God centred The pursuit of the one is the persecution of the other Very practical, I need to sit down and analyse my behaviour and ask does this pursuit / behaviour promote the one or the other (6:13) That will empower me with a level of discernment beyond mere rules or 'what's the harm in it?' Gods desire for you is not simply to preserve you from committing gross evil but it is the active pursuit of holiness: 6:19,22. This appreciation of the battle is critical in the pursuit of holiness. The High Priest dressed in garments of glory and beauty had: (1)Written on his heart – on the breastplate, the names of the 12 children of Israel. Consider his sympathy. (2)Written on his shoulders – on 2 stones, the names of the 12 children of Israel. Consider his support. (3)Written on his head, upon his miter – holiness to the Lord. Here is the highest calling and ambition of the High Priest: Holiness. To miss that goal is to miss the point to our salvation! Not service, not sacrifice but sanctification!

Romans 7 then is the front line in the battle for holiness That front line is internal and not external If I view my spiritual battle as primarily external then I will pursue / be dominated by certain ideas:

1.Separatism – because – you are the problem, you are the hindrance to my spiritual growth – this is rarely the case. Often behind schism lies pride! You're my problem! Usually I'm my problem! 2.Monasticism – because – it is the problem – the world is the hindrance to my spiritual growth. 3.Exclusivism – because that teaching is the hindrance to my spiritual growth. 4.Mysticim – because the Devil and his emissaries are the hindrance to my spiritual growth. 5.If the problem is my flesh then what is the solution? Consecration to the Spirit (8:1). The world and the Devil, find a friend in the flesh. All the time you are trying to battle the flesh is selling you out, double dealing behind your back with the enemy! I need to start here! Depending upon how you view the battle determines how you go about the fight! If I view the battle as primarily external what I need is another meeting! If I view the battle as primarily internal what I need is to put into practice the things I heard at the last meeting. If I view the battle as external; I may be heard to say: 'great preacher, great meeting.' If I view the battle as internal; I am more likely to say: 'challenging message.' If I view the battle as external; I will be looking for the perfect church! If I view the battle as internal; I will be looking for a closer walk with Christ! In chapter 7 we move from: Death and sin in chapter 6 - death frees us from sin to Death and law in 7:1-4 - death frees us from law 3 sections in chapter 7: 1.Death and Law - Freedom (7:1-4) 2.Law and Flesh - Failure (7:5-13) 3.Flesh and Will - Frustration (7:14-25) Death and Law - Freedom (7:1-4) i.The Rule of Law (v1) "The law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth" - the principle stated The rule or dominion of law extends only to death, as does sin (Rom5:12) In eternity there is no sin and can be no sin for there is no law either! On the surface, a point that is straight forward enough! But the apostle seems to chose a very complex parable as the means of conveying this truth. So complex that some would suggest that Paul has bitten off more than he can chew! That he has mad a bit of a mess of the illustration! In the chapter the believer is freed (7:4), just like the woman but it isn't the woman who dies it is her husband! But the parable illustrates something more than just the basic truth! So some have said the parable is a bit mixed up! A kind of mixed metaphor! Maybe Paul has overstretched himself! Others holding to the inspiration of the Word of God wouldn't maybe just go as far as saying that but would perhaps tacitly acknowledge it by saying, 'don't look too deeply into the parable,' or perhaps that the parable is only meant to illustrate the basic truth, perhaps indicating that underneath the surface the whole illustration is a bit of a mess! But this is the inspired Word of God and "not one jot or title shall pass away" "the Word of God is living and powerful..." Interestingly there are plenty of simple examples that Paul could have used to illustrate his point that the rule of law extends only to death and then law has no more demands upon us: a)Ahithophel - was he ever called to account for betraying the Lord's anointed? No he wasn't! Why? He hung himself! b)Naomi's two sons were they ever dealt with by the law and put out of the congregation of Israel for marrying Moabite girls? No! Why? They both died in Moab! c)Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were they ever broad before the law for fornication? No! Why? They both died in battle! d)Samson and his fornication and adultery? But he doesn't chose a simple illustration, for as we shall see a simple example of this principle just would not have done, it would have been critically lacking in at least 2 perhaps 3 key areas. Pauls example illustrates at least 4 key principles: i.The Rule of law ii.The Release from Law iii.The Role of Relationship in the release from Law iv.The Result of Release from Law The Rule of Law (v1) "The law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth" - the principle states The rule or dominion of law extends only to death, as does sin (Rom5:12) The principle stated is simple enough The Release from Law (v2,4) Death releases me from the rule of law In the parable however the death is not my death, the death of the woman, but the death of another! Has Paul got mixed up? Actually this point is quite consistent with the context of Romans so far In chp 3+4 we came into blessing; the blessing of justification by faith, through death, the death of another! In chp 5 Divine Grace was poured out, through the death of another. In chp 6 our consecration to God was made possible because of our identification with Christ in His death – the death of another. Not only is it the case that death frees from the law but that death is significantly the death of another! Notice how that release by death occurs. Our simple illustrations would again be inadequate here. This is not release from the law in the same way that perhaps Hophni and Phinehas, Ahithophel, Naomis sons or Samson were released from the law. This is not the release of a guilty party because of the weakness of the law, unable to pursue the sinner beyond death. In our parable, significantly, it is the release of a guiltless individual who is now regarded as having fulfilled all legal obligations and death has now brought the claims of law to an end. This is the release of the righteous rather than the unrighteous! “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Co 5:21) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Rom 3:28) The Role of Relationship in the release from the law: My relationship with another who is dead to the law in certain exceptional circumstances can affect my status before the law too! The death of another to the law can release me! I think in the context of Roms 4 to 6 this is highly significant! The nature of that relationship is also very interesting: marriage relationship! Right the way through the NT scriptures the relationship between Christ and His church is consistently viewed as a marriage relationship: (Eph 5:24ff; Rev21). In verse 4 we are "dead to the law" but it is by the "body of Christ" - the death of another! Notice the logic of verse 4: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” Notice that nothing less than the “body of Christ” is needed to break me free from the demands of the law! The theme of redemption in scripture: the person of Christ, the work of Calvary, the sacrifice of the lamb, the sufferings of Christ (Ps22; Ps69; Isa53) all of this mighty work and sacrifice impacts upon my life at this point! To release me from that which binds me that I might be free to “bring forth fruit unto God.” What is this fruit? “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Rom 6:22)

Holiness is no add on to Christianity Holiness is no after thought on Gods part to Christian experience Holiness is the very essence of Christian experience! Holiness is the impression of Calvary upon my being! The Result of Release from the Law: In this complex parable of death releasing us from the law we see illustrated a point that could not be illustrated by a simple example of the death of the accused releasing him from the rule of law: (a)Ahithophel - what happened next? - Nothing he's dead. (b)Naomis' two sons - what happened next, after they were released from the law? Nothing - they were dead! (c)Eli's two sons - what happened to them next after they had been released from the law? Nothing - they were dead. But in the parable of Romans 7 after the release from the law there is a 'what happened next...' The woman released from the law is ready to move on and be married to another (7:4) And in our case: "that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (7:4) So this death is not simply an end but a beginning! Only because of the complex nature of this illustration is this point possible! Some take 7:1-4 to indicate that divorce and remarriage effectively exclude people from assembly fellowship (7:3) That interpretation sheds more light on the thinking of those who teach it than it does on the teaching of scripture on divorce and remarriage! The teaching in this section relative to the woman marrying another is whilst she is "bound by the law." There is no provision in the law for operation of Divine Grace. Those who draw their teaching on divorce and remarriage from this section likewise draw no provision from Divine Grace. The conclusion of this section brings us to our true standing today of being "dead to the law" (7:4) and in our dealings with men and women we must likewise recognise that there is likewise "therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." There is good indication elsewhere that people from a background of divorce and remarriage were received into assembly fellowship: 1 Tim2; 1 Co7, John 4. Salvation isn't the end it is the beginning! Once you are save, you haven't 'done it' but rather God has 'begun it.'

Taken from a message preached on: Romans Chp 6 Vs 12 to 20 : 'Because I Serve Another' by Dr J Stewart Gillespie “Shall we continue in sin?” (Rom6:1) We considered 4 reasons:

1.We are Dead to Sin (6:1-6) 2.We are Alive to Christ (6:5-11) 3.Because I Serve Another (6:12-20) 4.Because Sin remains Sin (6:21-23) Because I Serve Another: It is instructive by way of contrast to compare Romans 6 with Deuteronomy 6. In Deut 6 why shouldn't I sin? Why shouldn't I serve other gods: Deut 6:13ff – reason not to sin – because God will wipe you out if you do (Deut 6:15) That's a good reason mark you! The theme continues in Deut 7:4; 11:13-17. The reason not to sin was really very clear! The OT scriptures don't only present the rod mind you they do also present the staff – leading us into blessing The bulk of Romans 6: verses 12 to 20, though deals with a positive reason not to sin. How do we “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” (6:11) Only by being: “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (6:11) If I am 'dead unto God' none of this will work. Sin will no longer “reign in your mortal body” (6:12) as I yield that body over to the practical service of and devotion to Christ (6:12-20) Being “dead indeed unto sin” (v11) means not giving sin its way / freedom to use our body for its purpose / ends (v12), not to allow sin to use me for its purposes, to achieve its goals, but rather to take my body and give it over to Gods service (v13) The best protection against sin is the practice of sanctification! The best defence is attack Amongst the armour of God in Eph 6 are the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel – not only defence but attack and progress! The best protection against sin is the practice of sanctification! What do I mean by sanctification? I mean being actively, positively as well as negatively being set apart for the service of God! (1)There's a man who struggles with alcohol. What are you going to tell him to do? Go to the pub with his pals and drink lemonade instead or go to the prayer meeting and pray fro the Spirits power to overcome the flesh? You see the different approach? That is the practice of sanctification: leaving the sin behind – the negative and cleaving to Christ – the positive!

(2)There's a sister who struggles with her relationship with another sister. What do you advise her to do? Avoid the sister? The world would advise that! How about pray for her? Positive sanctification. You're just making these up Stewart! This is the Biblical approach: “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12:20-21)

(3)There's a believer with a growing awareness that he is wasting a lot of his time on the TV / internet / Bebo / twitter / face book – what do you advise him to do? Switch off the TV / internet – that will just leave a gap that he may fill with something even less profitable! What did the Spirit counsel Timothy to do? “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1Ti 4:13-16). This is the positive practice of sanctification. The best protection against sin is the practice of sanctification! How do I begin then to reckon myself dead indeed unto sin (v11)? This is a deliberate exercise of the will! I need to do it! A man, his master, his motive and his members! Consider how the whole body is used in service: 1.Our master (6:12) – Our Head 2.Our mortal body (6:12) – Our Human Desires / Lusts of the Body 3.Our members (6:13) – Our Hands 4.Our motive (6:17-19) – Our Heart 1.Our master (6:12) – Our Head Know your master We can say no! We don't have to obey sin! Sometimes we do things because we have always done it! You don't have to! Who is in charge? Who is my master? There are only 2 possibilities: i.Sin (5:21) ii.Christ (5:21; 6:10,11) Who is my head in this action? The head controls the body – what the head says the body obeys, even when we don't want to: seizure, spasms, jerks, migraine There are 2 great spiritual realities which are above us, we do not control them rather we choose between them – Christ or Sin! Being “free from sin” and “dead to sin” we are now able to choose where before we had no choice I no more control sin and Satan than I control Christ and righteousness. There are many such examples in scriptures of men who thought they could control their sin but their sin controlled them:

i.Noah and his wine – Lost his dignity ii.Lot's wife and a love for the world – Lost her home, family and life iii.Achan and materialism – Lost his life iv.Solomon and his wives – Lost his Kingdom v.Israel and her idols – Lost the Glory of God vi.Judas and his love of money – Lost his soul Who exactly was in control? We have a great advantage here, we are able to look back on these biblical characters and take in the whole scope and panorama of their life! Our freedom lies in our ability to choose not in our freedom from the consequences of those decisions we make! 2.Our mortal body (6:12) – Our Human Desires Know your mortal body What is driving the activities of my mortal body? The body itself was created by God and has God given desires that are good and right: i.Appetite for food ii.Thirst iii.Sexual desires iv.Appreciation of beauty v.Love of art So all of these things are good aren't they? So surely we can just follow our desires can't we? The human body and its desires are not on 'automatic pilot' we are not computers preprogrammed and set to run automatically! Our bodies are subject to our human nature and that nature is a fallen human nature corrupted by sin – referred to as the “flesh” The flesh constantly pulls me in the direction of gratifying the natural desires of the body, those desires are physical and earth bound and keep me tied to earth. Only with conversion and the power of Gods Spirit can I rise any higher that the desire to simply satisfy the natural desires of the body and only with His Spirit do I really appreciate that there is anything beyond the material to aim for and desire! Rom 8:5-13 The desire and goal of the believer goes beyond simply enjoying the stimulation of bodily appetites satisfied: Rom 6:19, 22 – we have fruit to bring for God – our goal is “holiness”! Is it the flesh driven by “lust” which is using: i.My hands for its deeds? ii.My eyes for its satisfaction? iii.My lips for its message? Are these desires lusts or: i.Sinful desires (1 John2:16) ii.Selfish desires (James 4:1-4) iii.Satanic desires (Jo 8:44) iv.Sanctified desires 3.“Our members” (6:13) – Our Hands Know your members Think about what you do and why you do it! We often correctly regard laziness and slothfulness as an attribute worthy of condemnation and so it is: i.2 Thess 3:6ff ii.1 Tim 5:13ff iii.Prov 6:6: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” and because of that we then wrongly deduce that any business is a virtue! This section and other scriptures prompt us to look beyond mere activity. Not only what are we doing but what are we achieving? When I use my: i.Time ii.Treasure iii.Talents what am I actually achieving? Consider Mary and Martha (Lk10:38-42) Paradoxically when we apply the teaching of this section we may find that to be truly productive in the things of God we need to stop doing some things as we consider what they are actually achieving! I am a believer in that principle, of stopping service in a particular sphere as well as starting it! (Matt10:14; Mk6:11). “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin... your members as instruments of righteousness unto God... whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?...as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” (Rom 6:13-19) We are looking at outcome not only occupation! Outcome in terms of “righteousness” - does it promote righteousness and “holiness” - does it further my pursuit of deeper holiness to God and encourage others in their pursuit of holiness, and “unto God” - is it acceptable to God? But you say I am busy! Busy but barren? Tests of worth / value: 1.What is the cause of my actions / activities (6:12-13). Is sin and the flesh the cause or is God the cause of this kind of action / activity / these words? If an ungodly person would do what I am about to do, say what I am about to say, go about tackling the problem the way I am about to tackle it, it is probably sin and the flesh that is the cause of my actions rather than the Spirit of God. 2.What is the character of my actions? Could I categorise it as “righteous” (v13) and consistent with Gods Word (v18) or is it “unrighteous”? 3.What are the consequences of this action (v19)? Where does it lead to? Is it “unto iniquity” (v19) or is it “unto holiness” (v19). This is a profound truth that certain actions / activities / conversations/ language / behaviour / interests can draw me towards God, ie. They promote “holiness” and certain actions / activities / conversations/ language / behaviour / interests can draw me away from God: “unto iniquity.” “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?” (Psa 24:3) 4.What about the conclusion of these actions? Do they end in death and with death (v16,21) or do these actions have eternal and enduring consequences (v22)? There are some things I can engage in, in time that have consequences that endure for eternity: “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” (Luk 16:9) “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”(Mat 6:20) “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1Co 9:25) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”(1Th 2:19) “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”(2Ti 4:8) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”(Jas 1:12) “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”(1Pe 5:4) “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”(Rev 2:10) 4.Our motive (6:19) – Our Heart What is our purpose in this? Holiness (v19) What fruit have you? Is it fruit unto holiness? (v22) What fills my heart and drives me forward? The word is sown: “form of doctrine” Sown in the heart An army doesn't fight on an empty stomach To fight I need food The food for the fight is “that form of doctrine” Faulty doctrine results in faulty behaviour Satan attacks the doctrine and disables the believer

1 Samuel Chp 30 David finds an Egyptian in the field A strange incident – the Egyptian appears and then disappears from the pages of scripture What is it all about? There are too many pictures, patterns and prophecies of Christ links with David for it not to mean something! David is full pictures of Christ: i.1 Samuel 16: David “anointed” : “mâshîyach” from the Hebrew word Messiah ii.1 Samuel 16: David, now the anointed one, heads out to the valley of Elah: the valley of the oak tree iii.1 Samuel 16: David heads out to the valley of Elah with bread in one hand and wine in the other! iv.1 Samuel 16: oh yes and transport has been provided as he heads out to the valley of the oak tree: an ass (16:20) v.1 Samuel 17: at the valley of the oak tree David will meet Goliath of Gath, a giant of a monster, marked by 666 – 6 items of armour, the spears head weighing 600 shekels, his height 6 cubits and a span vi.1 Samuel 17: at the valley of the oak tree David will slay Goliath with his own sword (Heb 2:14). vii.1 Samuel 18: The victory in the valley of Elah brings him a bride: Michal viii.1 Samuel 19 - 31: Such a victory ought to bring David the throne but instead he now knows rejection ix.1 Samuel 19: David in rejection ascends to Naioth : 'the residence' in Ramah 'high place' x.1 Samuel 19: David having ascended to Naioth : 'the residence' in Ramah 'high place' there is a descent of the Holy Spirit and a pouring out of the Spirit of prophecy in 3 distinct waves xi.1 Samuel 25: David will call his bride by missionary endeavour announcing a 3 fold “peace” to those who are afar off by sending his representatives to Nabal (25:6) xii.1 Samuel 25: those like Abigail who have a heart for and an appreciation of David will respond with repentance (25:28) xiii.1 Samuel 25: Abigail exhorts the person, power, privilege and purpose of David in terms reminiscent of Psalm 110 (25:28) xiv.1 Samuel 30 – having called his bride in chp 25, David will now come for and claim his bride in chp 30. xv.2 Samuel 5 – David will be crowned with his bride and will reign over all of Israel after a gap of 7 years – difficult years of tribulation for Israel. It is hard in view of all these pictures and pointers to Christ to lack the desire to ask why and what is the purpose of this Egyptian in the field? This Egyptian, a man of the world , is found in a “field” in 1 Sam 30. The “field” sometimes occurs in the language of parables as a picture of the world (Matt 13) Consider the Egyptian and: 1.His master (6:12) 2.His mortal body (6:12) 3.His members (6:13) 4.His motive (6:19) The Egyptian is brought to David (30:11,12) David will: 1.Refresh his thirst with water to drink cf. John 4. 2.Feed his hunger with bread to eat cf. John 6. 3.Bring fruit; figs and raisins cf. John 15. This Egyptian has been left for dead by the Amalekites like the man left by the side of the road in the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke chp 10. This man has known death to the flesh and sin. There has been a gap of 3 days and 3 nights The phrase 3 days and 3 nights only occurs on 3 occasion in scripture: 1.Jonah 1:17 2.Matt 12:40 3.1 Sam 30:12 On the other 2 occasions it is linked with resurrection and specifically the resurrection of Christ, of which Jonah is a picture. This Egyptians death and burial and resurrection is then followed by Life at the hands of David, sustained by: 1.water to drink cf. John 4. 2.bread to eat cf. John 6. 3.fruit; figs and raisins cf. John 15. Do you think Amalek would ever have had a clue as to how David found them? I doubt it – for as far as Amalek were concerned that Egyptian was dead. This man had been left behind sick (30:13) and with no food and water (30:12) – he had been left to die! Is this not how the world still leaves us? This Egyptian was once a “servant” of the Amalekites (30:13): i.“we made an invasion” (30:14) ii.“we burned Ziklag” (30:14) Now that he is restored to life and brought back by david will he return to serve Amalek? This man sees a change of status from serving Amalek to serving David. Not only will he serve David but he will destroy Amalek (30:15-17) I don't continue in sin because: I am happy not to sin. https://graceinchrist.org/romans

Taken from a message preached by Dr J Stewart Gillespie:

'The Body of Sin' (Romans Chapter 6 verse 6)

In response to the question of Roms 6:1 “shall we continue in sin?” we saw 4 reasons why we should not continue in sin:

1.We are dead to sin
2.We are alive to God
3.We no longer serve sin – we serve God
4.Sin remains sin

1.because I'm dead to Sin (6:1-7)

What does it mean to be “dead to sin”?
Does it mean to be unresponsive to sin?

Dead people are unresponsive, aren't they?
In this case then the bulk of Roms 6 would be redundant – the middle section (6:12-20) and 3rd reason for not sinning (cf. Vs 11-13).
If we were “dead to sin” in the sense of being unresponsive to sin there would be no possibility of : “yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin” (v13) and we would hardly require to “reckon” ourselves “dead indeed unto sin” for we would be “dead indeed” (6:11) unto sin!
Be careful what you use to interpret the scriptures!
Personal experience, common sense or even a reliable medical text book is not appropriate!
We only have Divine warrant for using scripture to interpret scripture (1Co2:13; 2 Tim2:15; Rom15:4; 2Peter1:19) guided by the Spirit of God (John 16:13; 1Jo2:27)
This death is positional 'in Christ' (Rom6:3, 5, 6, 8)
What is the significance of being “dead to sin”?
Death is the boundary line for the rule of 'king sin' (5:21)
I have been taken out of the realm / rule / reign of sin by the death of Christ
I am no longer under the absolute authority of King Sin
Every Kingdom has a boundary and the boundary of sin is death (Rom5:21)
By virtue of my position in Christ I am “dead to sin”

Man in creation was able to sin
Man after the fall was unable not to sin
Man in redemption is able not to sin
Man in eternity is unable to sin

I don't continue in sin because:
1 - I don't have to sin
2 - because I'm alive to God (6:8-11)

We saw that we were definitely dead in Roms 6:

(a)v2 - “dead”
(b)v3 - “baptised” + “dead”
(c)v4 - “buried” + “baptised” + “dead”

We are definitely dead!
This seemed a rather strange thought until we realised that in fact it was a very familiar truth but viewed from an unusual perspective – from the back!
We noticed a transition in v5: “planted” - that's burial with a future!
To be dead to sin is the other side of being alive to God!
We though that we ought to stretch ourselves a little and try to understand what this meant practically!
Keeping my feet firmly planted on earth what does this actually mean?
We looked at 2 Kings 4 and the son of the Shunammite

I see through His eyes:

This gives the believer a different perspective on others!
Isn't it amazing how callous the unsaved can be about others?
Referring to some as useless, as the dregs of society, as a waste of space and finding individuals to look down their nose at.
We look at others not through the eyes of the critic but through the eyes of Christ!
This would revolutionise fellowship in the local assembly.

I speak with His lips

I work with His hands:

Some things I just do not see, I cannot imagine the hands of Christ turning to:

Dealing drugs
Rolling a joint
Holding a can of beer
Punching someone's lights out
Filling in a lottery form
Flicking through a pornographic magazine

Then we turned to Colossians chp 3 and we saw that it wasn't just vivid imagination on my part that saw in the hands, eyes and mouth of the resurrected lad of 2 Kings 4 a picture of our dependence upon Christ as the source of life for our new life but rather these are the very features of a NT believer whose life is given over to Christ!
I don't continue in sin because:
I don't like to sin.

These 4 reasons for not continuing in sin are not an unconnected 'list' but rather they follow on from one another in a logical spiritual order.
We have seen already the connection between the 1st 2 reasons – they are really just opposite sides of the same reason!
Between the first 2 reasons and the last reasons there is a crossroads: 6:6.
An important verse and perhaps the most difficult verse in the chapter.
If we fail to understand this verse:

i.we will miss the connection between these reasons
ii.we will fail to see the chapter as one integral whole and probably only see a load of disjointed thoughts
iii.we will most likely fail to understand the reason why we ought not to serve sin any longer
iv.we will miss the main reason in Roms 6 behind our sanctification ie. The reason 'WHY' we ought not to sin.
v.we will probably thus find that our own personal holiness will suffer – if we lack a reason for holiness we will lack motivation to holiness!



Romans 6:6 presents a complete view of holiness:

1.Past: “our old man was crucified”
2.Present: “that henceforth we should not serve sin”
3.Future: “that the body of sin might be destroyed”

Notice in this list I have given these tenses in their chronological order, according to time but this is different from the order in the verse!
Herein lies to key to understanding the verse!
Paul gives us 2 great events – past and future, consider what has happened in the past “our old man was crucified” and consider what will happen in the future: “that the body of sin might be destroyed” and now live your life in the light of that!
The believer lives out his life between what has been completed and what will be completed and ought to make intelligent decisions in the light of these 2 great events!

1.“the old man” - What we were before we were saved, our old life as ruled by the flesh drawing us to constantly live a life taken up with satisfying the apetites of the body, lusts of the flesh and the cares of this world (Eph 4:22; Col3:9)

2.“that the body of sin might be destroyed” - is this:

(a)Sin Personified – Sin viewed as a person dieing on the cross? - John Calvin and Hodge, JN Darby all had this view of the verse – that in this verse I am looking back at Calvary, I see Christ hanging on the cross, I see Him dieing for my sins (Col 2:14) and I see their my sins hanging with Him, judged at Calvary.

Sin was certainly judged at Calvary but we notice:

i.That in vs 1-5 and again in vs 7,8 it is not sin that dies but me!

ii.If sin died or was crucified at Calvary would this be a reason for not allowing it to “reign in your mortal body” (v12) or to no longer “serve sin” (6:6)? Surely if sin was crucified at Calvary there is no longer any sin to serve for it is dead! I would expect the argument in the rest of the section to be: 'don't serve sin because sin is dead' but actually the argument is that I ought not to serve sin because I am dead!

iii.The means of destroying the body of sin was by crucifying “the old man” - would crucifying my old pre-christian life really bring about the death of sin itself? People die of cancer every day but that doesn't bring an end to cancer itself!

(b)Sin Neutralised - The Power of Sin over the Body? - Promoted by Albert Leckie and James Currie.

i.This interpretation immediately runs into a problem with the word “destroyed” because if this interpretation is correct the power of sin has been “destroyed” over the body, this is practically untrue! So these interpretors tend to change the translation of the verse to “anulled” - a valid translation elsewhere of this word when used in a legal sense elsewhere in Romans (Rom 3:3; 3:31; 4:14; 7:2) but perhaps not in a very similar contexts in 1 Corinthians (1 Co6:13). Even if we do translate the word as annulled we still have a problem as to what we mean by annulled. Here the commentators become a bit unstuck: 'Because the old man has been, in the reckoning of God judicially put to death as the result of the death of Christ, sin's power has 'been made of none effect' in relation to the believer. Henceforth he need not, he should not, serve sin...' (James B Currie p101) – actually if Mr Curries interpretation is correct it is hardly a case of 'need not' or 'should not' serve sin it would be really a case of 'cannot' serve sin!

ii.This interpretation seems to take inadequate account of the word “body” - the object of the destruction is not “sin” but the “body of sin”

iii.As already mentioned it is not “sin” that dies in any of the surrounding verses but rather self (6:2-5, 7-8,11).

iv.What is the effect of Calvary on my present human body? This interpretation suggests that Calvary liberates the body and frees it from sin. If this is the case how do we explain Rom 8:10 which seems to suggest that Calvary instead of liberating the convict puts him on death row! There is sin back again, the same sin that supposedly was 'anulled' at Calvary and it has killed the body!


(c)Sin Externalised- The Body as the instrument of sin

i.“body” has its usual meaning – the human body!

ii.At Calvary and by the work of Christ, sin was dealt with, a completed work completely saves (Heb10:14)

iii.In our experience we already see the fruit and consequences of that work, for from conversion we are the recipients of:

(1)A new heart (Ezek 36:26; Heb8:10)
(2)A new spirit (Ezek 36:26; John 3:5)
(3)A new mind (Heb8:10; Rom 12:2)
(4)A new creature (2 Co 5:17)
(5)There remains only one part of my being which has not been renewed by Calvary – my body! All that is left untouched from Adam. This too must one day be changed! A body once used to serve sin will be replaced by one fitted to serve Christ (1Co15:42-50). This new body comes as a consequence of Christ's resurrection, the subject of the previous verse (5:11).
iv.The effect of Adam is seen in tracing sin through Romans. From Rom1:1 to 5:11 there are 9 refs to sin, from 5:12-21 there are 9 refs to sin, in chp 6 there are 17 ref to sin and in chp 7, 15 ref to sin. With the introduction of Adam in 5:12 there is in Romans an explosion of sin!
v.The “body of sin” thus refers to my literal body, used to pursue the desires of the flesh and corrupted by sin. Calvary first condemns this body as it does condemn the whole of the person corrupted by sin: body, heart, mind, soul and spirit (Rom8:10), before the saving work of Calvary then renews the person, one day to complete that renewal with a new body (1Co15:42-50).
vi.Therefore I am currently a 'new creature' in a condemned house. A regenerate person in a degenerate body. This leaves me with a question: how should I live? As though the house was not condemned, pretending that there is life in the old man yet? Pretending that all of those activities I once indulged in with my body actually and finally achieve anything? Or do I live not for the old body now dead because of sin but rather I live for the new self who does have a future, unlike the old body? It is this that forms the crossroads between the 1st 2 and the last 2 reasons of Romans 6 for not continuing in sin.

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These notes are from a message preached at Bridgend Gospel Hall, New Cumnock by Dr J Stewart Gillespie.

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“shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (6:1)

This verse might seem to present a bizarre idea, a strange suggestion At times grace shields from our horizon the full consequences of our sin God remains a Holy and Righteous God – He has not changed It is possible however for this kind of idea to creep into our thinking Am I trading on Gods Grace? Would my behaviour change if: i.If I thought that my lie / deception would be dealt with the same way as Ananias Saphira's was? (Acts 5) 2 believers lie to the Holy Spirit, maybe a little ½ lie – they sold the land and gave 'most' of it for the work of the Lord and said that they had given 'all' of it. Just a slight exaggeration? Did it really matter? Ananias executed on the spot by the Spirit of God and his wife executed 3 hours later! God has not changed! ii.If I thought that my greed / materialism would be dealt with in the same way as Achan's was – Joshua chp 7. Jericho has just fallen, and explicit instructions have been given by God that the city and all in it are cursed, nothing to be taken for any private use. The gold, silver, brass and iron can be used for the sanctuary but everything else is to be left. Achan – just one man amongst millions who obey, takes 3 items: “...a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight...” (Jos 7:21). Whats the big deal? A few items which were going to be wasted anyway? The righteousness of God was the BIG deal. “...a goodly Babylonish garment” - “a trendy outfit from the high street.” Because of this disobedience of one man the entire army of Israel is defeated at Ai and Achan and his sons and daughters and animals are stoned and burned! iii.If I thought that my grumbling would be dealt with the same way as Miriam's was (Num 12). Miriam and others had an issue with Moses leadership and wanted to push him out and move in (Num12:2). They take a round about approach to manoeuvring Moses out and attack him from the side – his wife (12:1) – not really the issue! Be careful how we approach a ministry that challenges us! iv.If I thought that discord with my brethren would be made as public as that of Euodias and Syntyche's was (Phil 4) – Paul wrote of it in a letter, sent it to the church, copied it around the world and published it for 2000 years! Way to go! If every email I wrote were copied to every recipient in outlook express, if every text message was copied to every number in my phone book, if every telephone conversation were recorded and made public, would I say / write or text the things I do? If it would change my behaviour to anticipate my sin being dealt with in these ways then I am trading on Divine Grace! I am banking on Gods Grace to allow me to continue in sin! 4 reasons why we don't continue in sin: 1.because I'm dead to Sin (6:1-8) 2.because I'm alive to God (6:8-11) 3.because I must serve God (6:11-21) 4.because sin remains sin (6:21-23) Dead to Sin This may seem a strange idea, awkward thought, after all I am alive, am I not? Positional truth – true because of my position in Christ, not because I hold the Bible at a strange angle! Positional truth is not the opposite of real truth either (as was once suggested by a preacher at a conference)! Positional truth is very real but not always fully realised! Positional truth is true of me because it is true of Christ and I am in Christ, I have a relationship with Him! Compare the benefits which the people of God had in the days of Samuel and David: they were in the land, with an inheritance, towns and homes to dwell in, but had they fought for them? Their forefathers had won them in the days of Joshua and because of their relationship with their forefathers what had previously been fought and won by another was now theirs! This is no new idea for us in Romans, should already be familiar with it, cf. Roms chp 3 +4 – justification by faith. I have been declared righteous! Am I righteous? God has said you are! How can I be righteous? Because of my position in Christ (3:26) Dead to sin doesn't mean unresponsive to sin (6:12-13) I have moved out of the realm / sphere of sin I have left the boundary within which king sin reigns (5:21) Sin reigns to death and no further! There is no sinning in heaven and there is no sinning in hell either! i.Adam as created was able to sin ii.After the fall man was unable not to sin iii.After the new birth man is able not to sin iv.In eternity man is unable to sin Does this idea of death to sin seem a strange truth? That Christianity begins with an end. This is the truth emphasised in the opening 8 verses of Romans chapter 6: i.death (v2) ii.baptism + death (v3) iii.burial + baptism + death (v4) iv.planted (v5) Does it all seem a bit odd – a bit strange? Actually its very familiar. It is a very familiar truth but viewed from an unusual angle – from the back This is familiar truth The truth of being dead to sin is the other side of being alive in Christ and alive to God! This is one truth, connected together for example in v5 “planted” - the seed sown in the autumn, dead and lifeless and unexciting shoots up in the spring. Burial and growth are 2 sides of the one truth! Planting is death with a prospect! Alive in Christ / Alive to God: 3 tremendous aspects: 1.Present Experience (v4) 2.Future Expectation (v5) 3.Eternal Enjoyment (v8) We notice the pattern that future hope is founded on present help This was the pattern noted previously in Rom 5:1-5 Future expectation was founded on present experience The same is true of life in Christ: future expectation is founded in present experience This is no subtlety of exposition This is no fine point of interpretation This is no needless digression This is why, as believers we have at times such a hard time! “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:” (2Co 5:1-2) “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2Co 4:16) It's not a pleasant thing to perish! The 2 truths go hand in hand: death to the old life and new life in Christ Our strength is taken that we might rest in His (Jer 9:23) The day will soon come when time and sense and wealth and strength have been long gone and all that abides is Him! In that day we will be grateful for all that the Lord stripped from us of earth prematurely that we might be drawn more closer to Him! What does it mean to be: “Alive to God” (6:10,12) “Alive through Jesus Christ” (6:11) 2 Kings 4: The chapter concerns a child of promise (4:16), just like Isaac (Gen18) and just like us (Gal4:28) This child of promise experiences a death, whilst busy in the field (4:18) and whilst reaping for his father Consider the chapter practically: what do we do when we hit a period of barrenness in our service for Christ? 1.Recycle: The approach of preachers gone stale. Some hark back to a day when things were fresher, when Christ was closer and draw from better and brighter days! I used to wonder what motivated so many dispensational preachers to affirm with such confidence that this was “the day of small things” (Zech4:10), until I realised that there were really speaking personally of their own spiritual experience. They could look back on better days when Christ was real and fresh to them! 2.Resign:

There was a day when faith was bright, Before the sun had reached its height (v20) But now beneath a darkening evening sky, With head so heavy and about to die (v19) I drop the scythe, the field I leave behind (v18) For from my Father's service I resign A better comfort I have found upon my bed (v21) Alas this is the place but for the dead!

3.Raised again / restored: Refreshed with the life of Christ again The Shunammite comes to Carmel (fruitfulness) She heads to Elisha, personally, only he will do, not his servant and not his staff, only Elisha personally. She would make it a priority to lay hold of Elisha (4:27,30)! The one who was the source of life would be the sustainer of life She would follow the pattern and path of Job and Jacob: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15) “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” (Gen 32:26) A priority to pursue and lay hold of Him! Determination is needed to lay hold of Divine blessing (4:27,30) Restoration and revival (4:34) i.mouth to mouth ii.eyes to eyes iii.hands to hands The new life in Christ: i.mouth to mouth (Col 3:8) ii.eyes to eyes (Col 3:12-14) iii.hands to hands (Col3:9) Practically what is the new life in Christ? It is to: i.see with His eyes ii.speak with His lips iii.work with His hands Then I am living the life of Christ This is not works righteousness by the back door! This can only be achieved in the power of His Spirit! i.see with His eyes: Looking at one another not through the eyes of a critic but rather through the eyes of Christ (Col 3:12-14)! ii.speak with His lips (Col 3:8-9) iii.work with His hands (Col 3:9) When man sinned and left the service of God in the garden of Eden these 3 aspects of mans being were were consecrated to sin (Gen3:6): i.“woman saw” / “pleasant to eyes” - eyes ii.“she took” - hands iii.“did eat” - mouth The same pattern re-echoes in 1 Sam 14:27 in Jonathan as he partakes of the forbidden honey, hands eyes and mouth going in the wrong direction. In the fall Satan captured man's life with his: i.Action – hand ii.Appetite – month iii.Attention – eye In salvation Christ restores man's life with its: i.Action – hand ii.Appetite – mouth iii.Attention - eye One part of the anatomy I noted was missing in 2 Kings 4 – what about the feet? Why no mention of the feet? Very important part of the body for service – the walk! How do you take a dog a walk? Tie a rope around its feet and drag it? A collar and a lead – if you control the head the rest of the body follows on after! If he has my hands, my eyes and my mouth the rest will follow on after! I will live out the life of Christ! These notes are from a message preached at Bridgend Gospel Hall, New Cumnock by Dr J Stewart Gillespie. https://graceinchrist.org/romans

Taken from a Message Preached on Romans Chapter 6 Verse 2 by Dr J Stewart Gillespie

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It is possible to miss the simple message of Romans 6, to get away from the simplicity and clarity of it!

The Christian life begins with a conversion – an end to the old and a beginning of the new!

There would hardly be a more clear cut, a more dramatic way of putting it: black and white, right and wrong, life and death!

This is an absolute!

Salvation isn't doing a course, saying a prayer or filling in a form.

Salvation is a life changing transaction between me and God, which I enter into by faith:

F – Forsaking

A – All

I

T – Trust

H – Him

As I look back at that experience and as others look on – what should they see?

What can they see?:

1. Can't see faith – that's a spiritual thing

2. Can't see my thoughts

3. Can't see my turmoil

4. Can't see my feelings

5. Can't see the peace in my soul

But what they ought to be able to see is a change in my life!

Important to get the order right:

1. Salvation – by grace and through faith (Acts 16:31,John 3:16), because of that trust in Christ

2. Change – by the Spirit

3. 
   

Important to get the order right, or we can run into bother!

It's not me changing my life that forces God to save me but rather it is receiving Gods son as Saviour that changes me!

There ought to be a real before and after transition!

This before and after Grace contrast comes out in the chapters we have before us:

Romans 5 tells me that by relationship with Christ I am linked to His life

This comes out in the content of the text but also in the pattern or structure:

Rom 5:15 “free gift... grace of God...the gift by grace” - 3 times in the verse we have either the word for “grace” or the cognate word “gift”

Rom 5:16 “but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.” - verse 16 takes us on from the free gift to imputed “righteousness”

Rom 5:17 “they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one” verse 17 takes us through “grace” to “righteousness” and then further on to “life”

Rom 5:18 “justification of life.” - emphasises “life” again

Rom 5:19 “shall many be made righteous.” - back to “righteousness”

Rom 5:20 “grace”

Rom 5:21 “grace...righteousness...life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” - all 3 themes in the concluding verse

Notice the pattern then:

A – Grace (v15)

B – Righteousness (v16)

C – Life (v17)

C – Life (v18)

B – Righteousness (v19)

A – Grace (v20)

A chiasmatic structure / symmetry to the later half of chapter 5. Why?

1. As an aid memoir? In days of low literacy and expensive parchments by the time the local church had finished reading and preaching chapter 5 the saints would have memorised it? Do we have low expectations of the Lords people as preachers? Do we have passive expectations of the ministry of Gods Word? Do we come expecting to allow the ministry to wash over us? The ministry meeting isn't a sauna – allow the warm comforting mist of ministry to waft over us and clear out our blocked pours whilst we slumber and relax! The ministry meeting is a school room where we need to focus down on the word of God, coming with an exercise to glean from the Lords word.

2. As part of the structure of the passage it focuses our attention on the key thought: “life” at the centre!

   In chapter 5 I am linked by relationship to Christ with His life!

Romans 6 begins by telling me that by relationship with Christ I am linked with His death!

Death is mentioned in every verse from 6:2 to 6:11.

Last week we noted that Romans 6 presents 4 reasons for not continuing in sin:

4 reasons why we don't continue in sin:

1. because I'm dead to Sin (6:1-7)

2. because I'm alive to God (6:8-11)

3. because I must serve God (6:12-20)

4. because sin remains sin (6:21-22)

1. because I'm dead to Sin (6:2-8)

In this section the Spirit doesn't so much use symmetry as repetition and a building up of an idea by piling one linked word to the next:

v2 – Death

v3 – Baptism and death

v4 – Burial, Baptism and Death

v5 – Planted – an extension of the idea of burial – this is burial with a future

Why say “planted” - why not say “buried” in v4?

Because “planted” is “buried” with a future”

If you dig up dandelions with all of their seeds, how do you dispose of them?

You don't take a handful of dandelion seeds and bury them? Why not? If you do you know they will have a future! That kind of burial is a planting!

The 2 ideas of spiritual death and resurrection in verse 4 and physical death and resurrection in verse 5 merge together here.

v6 – Body - “old man”, execution - “crucified” and destruction - “destroyed”

It becomes hard to miss the thought that I am “dead to sin”

vs2-3 – we are dead to sin

What does it mean to be “dead to sin”?

Notice “dead” is an aorist tense – point tense and usually past, a completed action

What does that mean?

Does this mean that we have lost the desire to sin?

Some point out that a dead body is an unresponsive thing, having the lost the ability to respond to light, touch, hearing and pain.

Having died to sin does that render us unresponsive, to sin, lacking any desire to sin?

This is inconsistent with 6:11-14 – for if being dead to sin renders us unresponsive and with no desire to sin and lacking the capacity to sin then Paul would hardly have to exhort us not to allow sin to reign in our bodies (6:12), not to obey sin (6:12) nor to give our bodies over to the service of sin (6:13)!

This interpretation is also inconsistent with Col 3:5 ff and Galatians 5:16ff.

We need to be wary of interpreting the scriptures with medical text books rather than using the scriptures to interpret themselves!

To understand 6:2 I think we need to look back at 5:21.

Before my conversion 'sin was King' (5:21)

I lived under the domain, the authority, the rule, the tyranny of King Sin (5:21)

Now I am saved I live in another Kingdom (5:21) the Kingdom of Grace under Jesus Christ our Lord (5:21).

I have at some point left the one Kingdom and come into the other.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Col 1:13)

Every Kingdom has its boundary, its border to which the rule of the sovereign extends and thus no further:

Illust: Coming into Scotland from England, M74 sign “Scotland Failte ”

The boundary marker for the Kingdom of sin isn't a sign on the road or a line on the map, it is a boundary marker appropriate to sin.

Sin cannot cross the boundary marker of death!

That link between sin and death cannot be broken:

The Kingdom of Sin has a boundary: “as sin hath reigned unto death.” (5:21)

After death sin has no more claim upon me!

Does this mean there is no sinning in hell?

Sin is a falling short of Gods standard it is the rejection of or rebellion against the self revelation of God, but in hell, apart from the experience of Gods eternal judgement there is no revelation of God to reject, revile or rebel against:

• God is Light – and sin is described as a rebellion against and a rejection of that light (John 3:19), but eternal judgement is “outer darkness” it is the “blackness of darkness forever” - Jude 1:13.

• God is Love – and sin is a rejection of or a cutting off of the love of God into our life and experience (1John4:7,8) but eternal judgement is a “fearful looking forward to...” (Heb10:27) – a place dominated by fear because there is no love there (1 John4:18).

• God is Life – man's greatest outrage against God was to kill the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15) - but eternal judgement is the “second death” (Rev20:14)

• God is the source of Hope – but eternal judgement has no hope, it is eternal! (Heb6:2)

• God is Peace – but eternal judgement knows no peace - “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Rev 14:11)

• Christ is Saviour – John 16:9 compare Heb 10:26 – in eternal judgement there is no opportunity to reject Christ! There remaineth no more forgiveness of sins.

There is no revelation of God in hell to sin against!

At some point I came to the boundary of that kingdom of sin and crossed over into the Kingdom of Grace.

Being “dead to sin” represents a change of address from the Kingdom of Sin to the Kingdom of Grace

That link between sin and death:

It is an inevitable link – sin is a rebellion against God and a rejection of God, “in Him is life” therefore sin separated from the source of life and brings death

It is an inviolable link – that is a link that cannot be broken – because God has also decreed this link:

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Eze 18:4)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)

There is an exit from sin but that exit is labelled 'death'

The only way out of the Kingdom of Sin is by way of Death.

On the other side of that door marked death the door is labelled either deliverance or damnation!

This is an interesting idea that death marks the boundary for the Kingdom of Sin but do you have any clear cut evidence of it?

Rom 6:7 “For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

That word “freed” is very interesting because it is the word “δικαιόω” - justified!

How can death justify us from sin?

Does it not take the work of Christ to justify us from sin and make us right with God and bring us into a living relationship with God? (5:11-21)

Of course it does and I suspect that is why the word has been translated “freed” in this verse to avoid confusion!

This is “justify” in a different sense.

This justify does not have the positive thought of being declared righteous by a God satisfied with the work of Christ and being brought into a living relationship with God but this is the “justified” of a criminal, found guilty of a crime who takes his punishment and serves the sentence meted out.

He has done the crime and now he does the time.

Should he complete his punishment then the demands of righteousness are satisfied.

Sin demands death, once death has been reached sins demands have ended!

God doesn't defraud sin, He doesn't say 'I know that sin demands death but I'm going to bend the rules here.' Rather He pays the price for that righteous demand in the death of His Son!

We are therefore declared to have satisfied or fulfilled the Divine decree concerning sin:

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Eze 18:4)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)

So are you saying then that once we die then the demands of sin are satisfied and because we have suffered death for our sin we are then free from guilt?

Are saying that every sinner therefore who dies is justified and goes to heaven?

Who said anything about heaven?

The punishment for and the consequence of sin is death and without a Saviour death is simply not an event is an eternal state.

Hence eternal damnation in the lake of fire is referred to as the “second death” (Rev2:11; 20:6; 20:14; 21:8) for the just demands of sin against an eternal being is eternal death and separation.

But were there not in scripture those who have left the domain of sin without dieing?

1. Enoch (Gen 5:24; Heb11:5)

2. Elijah (2 Kings 2:11)

3. The saints of 1 Thess 4 and 1 Co 15:51

How is this possible?

The work of Christ involves not only Christ bearing my sin (Isa 53; 1 Peter 3:18) but also dieing my death and entering into that deep experience of separation from God: "My God, My God why hast thou forskaen me?" and experiencing that thick darkness:

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb 2:9)

Albert Leckie: “Here it is dead to sin as governing my life”

Martyn Lloyd Jones: “Christ died to the realm and to the rule and to the reign of sin...we are dead to sin in the sense that we are no longer under its rule, being out of the territory and the jurisdiction of sin”

Free from the Domain of sin (5:21) from the Demands of sin and from the Domination of sin (6:9-12)!

This identification this union with Christ not only in His Life but also in His death allows me to move out of the Kingdom of Sin and to move on from the Kingdom of Sin, it sets me free from the Domain, the Demands and the Domination of sin.

Union with the death of Christ frees me from the POWER and PLACE of sin and one day from the PRESENCE of sin.

As far back as Job this truth appears:

“If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” (Job 14:14)

Job saw death not simply as an end or termination but as a transition, not just a barrier but a boundary to something else, a transformation, a change!

Notice in this section we have a:

1. Burial

2. Baptism

3. Body (v6) – we have an old man hanging like a corpse on a cross

One of the reasons people don't come to Christ: we have too much invested in the Old Man

We make excuses that what the old man did was ok:

• well I had to do it

• my hands were tied

• I was advised to do it

• under the circumstances...

• I couldn't have coped any other way...

• It was different in those days...

• The pressures were such that...

The Christian is a person who has faced the facts that what he or she has done is wrong, sinful, offensive to God and deserving of eternal condemnation in hell.

These were not little blips, imperfections, difficulties – they were sins, I was wrong and I confess them, I see my need of cleansing and forgiveness and I understand that Christ dies for me and my sin!

To that cross of Christ my “old man” - my pre-conversion life is crucified!

It is a painful, pitiful, shameful and embarrassing thing to watch the crucifixion of the “old man” (6:6) and so often I shy away from it.

What is the “old man”? (6:6)

What is the difference between the “old man” and the “flesh”

1. The “old man” dies at conversion (Rom 6:6), ends, on a cross, dead and crucified at conversion. The old man is the pre-conversion life lived out under the power of the flesh

2. The flesh continues even after conversion (Col 3:5ff; Gal 5:16ff)

3. After conversion we live according to the Spirit and live as a “new man” (2 Co5:17; Eph4:24; Col3:9,10; Rom8:1ff)
   

I have been to the cross,

I have seen dyeing there,

Thy Son tortured and bleeding for me,

And as I moved to depart,

My direction had changed,

I could see myself hanging with thee.

Having left all I was,

At Calvary's tree,

I stand empty and barren and bare,

A new life I must live,

For the old life has gone,

By His life there is a new me.

To serve that 'old man'

Hanging dead on the tree

Would be to still live in the past

But to serve a risen Lord,

Who sits high above all

Gives life meaning and purpose that lasts

To live still in sin

Just cannot be done

Now that sin is condemned in the flesh

For if sin was once wrong

Before Calvary's tree

How much more

Since it cost God His Son?

Not just an offence

That is bitter to taste

Reaping death, disaster and loss

But now it is clear,

It was the reason that Christ

Shed His blood,

Gave His life on the Cross.

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