Dying To Live 

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:1-14.

Memory Verse: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

Introduction: How can those of us who are living under grace live without being characterized by sin? How can we live lives of victory, rather than defeat? If we understand the nature of 'being identified with Christ,' and accept this identification without any reservations, and completely yield to Christ, with whom we are so wonderfully identified, then we can truly live under grace, free from sin and its bondage.--R. Kent Hughes, Romans, Righteousness From Heaven, p. 122.
  In his early teens, John Newton ran away from England and joined the crew of a slave ship. Some years later he himself was given to the black wife of a white slave trader in Africa. He was cruelly mistreated and lived on scraps and wild yams he dug from the ground at night. After escaping, he lived the most ungodly life imaginable. But after his miraculous conversion in 1748, he returned to England and became a selfless and tireless minister of the gospel in London. He left for posterity many hymns that are still among the most popular in the world. By far the best-known and loved of those is "Amazing Grace." He became pastor of a church in England, and his headstone carries as part of its epitaph (that Newton wrote of himself):

. . .Preserved, restored, pardoned,
And appointed to preach the faith
He had long labored to destroy.
--John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8, pp. 311-313.   How could someone who had been an enemy of the faith eventually believe in the author of that faith and seek to live a holy life?
  Paul, after extensively discussing man's sinfulness and man's redemption through Jesus Christ in the beginning chapters of Romans, answers this question. He continues on with a discussion of holiness and how it can be accomplished in a believer's life. God demands a life of obedience to His Word and He also provides the power of His Holy Spirit.
  In Galatians 2:20 Paul summarizes the idea of "dying to live" with this statement: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me."

Lesson Questions:

1. By what sound reasoning does Paul refute the belief that God's abundant grace gives anyone a free reign to sin? Romans 6:1,2; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 1:4; Colossians 3:3.
The person who has truly died to sin cannot possibly still live in it.--John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8, p. 317.
God does not give 'gratuitous righteousness' apart from newness of life.--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Freedom, Vol. 3, (Romans 6:1-7:25), p. 12.

2. What is the significance of being baptized into Christ? Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:4,5; Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:27.

3. What is the great benefit of being "crucified with Christ?" Romans 6:6,7; 2 Timothy 2:11; Colossians 3:5-10; Galatians 5:16-25; 2:19-21.
Thayer set forth as the first definition of katargeo [destroyed, as in Romans 6:6] "to render idle, unemployed, inactive, inoperative . . ." Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Freedom, Vol. 3, (Romans 6:1-7:25), pp. 94,95.

4. What specific work of Christ gives believers assurance and confidence that they will live with Christ forever? Romans 6:8-10; 2 Timothy 1:9,10; Hebrews 2:14,15; John 5:24.

5. In what spiritual condition should those who are "dead in Christ" consider themselves? Romans 6:11; Luke 9:23; 1 Peter 2:24; Luke 20:38; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Galatians 2:20; 6:14,15.
To live so that sin does not reign, we must conform to the knowledge of our place in Christ. Our relationship to sin is precisely the same as Christ's relationship to sin. When that fact is seized by faith, sin can no longer be king in our mortal bodies or make us yield to its passions.--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Freedom, Vol. 3, (Romans 6:1-7:25), p. 120.

6. Must the Christian continue to resist sin after receiving Christ? Romans 6:12; John 5:14; Matthew 5:29; Romans 13:14; 1 Peter 4:1,2; 5:8; 2:11; James 4:7; Ephesians 6:11-13.
In verse 11 is described the attitude we must have toward sin. Here is discussed the action we must take about sin. And it has to do with the will--"let not sin . . . reign" appeals to an action of the will. The will is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision or of choice.--Thomas A. Davis, Romans for the Everyday Man, p. 79.

7. Describe the depth of commitment a believer should make to righteousness. Romans 6:13; 12:1,2; 1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 6:17-20;                 2 Corinthians 6:15-17; Ephesians 5:11.

8. What declaration does Paul make concerning sin's dominion? Romans 6:14; 8:2; Galatians 5:1,18.