Breaking the Power of Cancelled Sin
Winning the War Against Sin (Romans 6-8)
Text: Romans 6:1-14
- We are starting a new section in our journey through the greatest letter ever written – Romans (“How and Why God Saves the World”)!
- The chapters in this section (Romans 6-11) are the most important chapters in the entire Bible regarding how we who have been saved from sin can live in consistent victory over sin in our daily lives.
- Now that we have been saved from the penalty of sin, how can we stop practicing the sins that continue to tempt us and, at times, enslave us?
- The answers we seek and the help we need are in this section of Romans.
- What I want to do this morning is survey the chapters above to give us a clear picture of the terrain Paul is about to take us through, so that we understand what we are looking at and don’t get lost, distracted, or confused along the way!
- I am especially interested in what Paul has to say in chapters 6-8 because these three chapters contain the details of a powerful battle plan that, if we follow carefully, prayerfully, and consistently, will help us win the war against sin and strengthen us in the daily battles and constant personal skirmishes we will inevitably face throughout the duration of this war!
- To make sure we start our journey well this morning, I would like to outline several observations we need to make, the realities we must embrace, and the important questions we need Paul to answer as we navigate this vital section of Romans.
I. ___________ About Grace We Must See and ___________
- Observation 1: Our ___________ in the Journey (5:20-21)
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.- Justification accomplished for us by Christ and applied to us by His Spirit.
- Observation 2: Our ___________ at the end of the Journey (8:28-30)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.- Glorification promised to us and commenced in us.
- Observation 3: Our ___________ during the Journey (12:1-2)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.- Consecration of our bodies to God so that we become people who consistently discern and do the good, acceptable, and complete will of God for our lives.
- Observation 4: Our ___________ throughout the Journey (7:14-18)
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.- Afflicted by and conflicted with ongoing sin that we thought salvation would deliver us from, since grace reigns over us and we now possess a righteousness that leads to eternal life.
- Despite salvation granting us grace and righteousness for eternal life, we still struggle with persistent sin. How do I break the power of canceled sin?
- Answer – Grace! Grace does this through the biblical processes of progressive sanctification, enabled by grace, superintended by the Spirit, and accomplished by God’s life-giving Word!
- Observation 5: Our ___________ for the Journey (8:10-12)
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.- A grace-enabled fight against sin’s use of our bodies that will last for the rest of our earthly lives.
- These three chapters contain the most concentrated biblical truth on our sanctification and victory over sin.
- Chapter 6 tells us how to win the war against sin because now that we are in Christ, we are dead to sin.
- Chapter 7 tells us how to win the war against our flesh because we now have a new nature in Christ.
- Chapter 8 tells us how to win the war against the world and the effects of the curse. Now that we are in Christ, we are a new creation, indwelt by the HS, who enlightens our understanding, empowers our will, strengthens and sustains us in suffering, superintends our glorification, and delivers us from all the hostile powers of sin, death, the world, and Satan himself!
II. ___________ About Grace We Must Believe and ___________
Theme of 6-8: Grace that is Greater than all our Sin!
- These are the three most important chapters in the NT on living the Christian life in victory over sin by means of Grace that breaks the power of canceled sin and frees us from the chains of its bondage!
- Chapter Six – Grace grants us a new ___________: dead to sin so there is no more dominion (so sin no longer can lord itself over me), no more obligation (so I no longer have to slave for sin); and no more condemnation (even though I still struggle with sin in my flesh).
- Chapter Seven – Grace grants us a new ___________: in my mind (inner man) I serve the Law of Righteousness even though in my mortal body, I struggle and suffer (serve) under the ongoing effects of the Law of Sin and Death
- Chapter Eight – Grace grants us a new ___________: the Holy Spirit who helps me walk after righteousness in my inner man; intercedes for me as my outer man struggles and groans; glorifies my inner man through the food of God’s Word and the process of suffering; and will one day fully glorify my body.
This chapter begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation. Between those two realities, there is no need for desperation in our struggle against sin or suffering because the Holy Spirit himself is making Divine Intercession on our behalf, which is why there is no spiritual subjection to the tyranny of sin! We are more than super-conquerors through Christ!
III. ___________ We Must Answer and ___________
We need a roadmap to help us navigate the complexity of these chapters, so we understand them properly, believe them personally, and apply what they teach successfully.
Paul answers four important questions believers like us often ask:
- What is my relation to _______ now that I am justified? (6:1 – 7:6)
Note the preponderance of the term “sin” in this chapter (17x)- Shall I remain in (under the power of) sin that grace may abound? 6:1-14). Paul’s answer: “May it never be!” (v. 2)
- Shall I continue to practice sin since I am no longer under the Law but under Grace? (6:15-18) Paul’s answer: May it never be! (v. 15)
- How should I deal with the propensity toward sin that remains in me? (6:19-7:6) Paul’s answer: “Just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification (more righteousness)!” (v. 19)
- Will the ___________ help me win the war against sin that is going on in me? (7:7-25)
Note the preponderance of the term “Law” or “commandment” (24x)- While the Law continues to be God’s just representative and holy voice to a sinful world, it is as powerless to deliver me from the ongoing practice of sin as it was to deliver me from the power sin held over me or the penalty sin earned for me!
- So, just as the Law was powerless to save me, it is powerless to sanctify me! (7:7-25)
- Which is why legalism is so devastating to our souls!
- Who will ___________ me from this struggle against sin going on in me and at times by me? (8:1-30)
Note the preponderance of references to the “Holy Spirit” (20x)- God sent His Son to defeat the power of sin and death, to make atonement for the sins of the world that would satisfy the justice of God, and to fully obey the righteous demands of the law on our behalf! God imputed all of this to our account when we were justified by faith by repenting of our sin and turning to Jesus!
- Now He sends His Spirit to dwell permanently in us to accomplish four important things: 1) He strengthens us to resist sin; 2) He sustains us through the suffering we are called to endure in and from the world; 3) He supplicates and continually intercedes for us before the Throne of Grace; and 4) He secures for us all the outcomes of salvation God promised to us, from our election to justification to sanctification to our final glorification.
- What should be my committed, confident ___________ to all of this? (8:31-39)
- I had no idea that I would continue to struggle with the same sins as a committed disciple of Jesus that I had battled before my salvation. This isn’t at all what I thought I signed up for!
- Help me navigate all of this – I need help and hope!!
- Paul notes four things that will give us help and hope:
- Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! (8:1)
- If God is for us, who can stand against us? (8:31)
- We are more than super-conquerors through Christ, who loved us! (8:37)
- No one can separate us from the love of Christ or distance us from the love of God (8:35, 39)
Conclusion: How should I respond to these truths Paul has revealed?
- I must ask God to help me to truly and accurately understand the truth Paul presents in these three chapters. I need to understand them.
- I must ask Christ to help me to cultivate an unshakable belief and conviction in the realities these truths reveal. I must believe them.
- I must ask the Spirit to strengthen me in my inner man and to help me resolve to apply these truths consistently throughout the course of my life. I must live in light of them.
Given what is at stake, what is the best approach I can take as we go through these chapters?
- Read Up – read these chapters every week thoughtfully.
- Show Up – don’t miss these services if possible.
- Listen Up – take notes, use the additional materials, and use a journal Bible for this section. Go back and listen to the sermons in this series more than once.
- Look Up – pray and ask God for help in understanding.
- Act Up – put what you are learning into practice right away.