Romans 6: Victory Over Sin Through Sanctification

My mentee and I agree that Romans 6 has been one of our favourites so far. There is just something about the way Paul describes our victory over sin that is just amazing! Anyway, friends, enjoy! 

Main Ideas:

We are no longer under the law, but under grace
We are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness
We are dead to sin, but alive in Christ
Sanctification leads to eternal life

Summary:

Up until this point, Paul has dealt primarily with the issue of justification. He has talked extensively about how man can be justified (made right with) God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. In this chapter, however, we see Paul begin to transition to the issue of sanctification. Sanctification is essentially the act of becoming holy or more like Christ, or as we like to call it, changing from one degree of glory to the next. Another critical aspect of sanctification is the ability to resist sin. Sin is not suddenly acceptable because we are under grace; in fact, it’s still utterly detestable and sickening to God (and so should be to us too!) So nothing has changed in that regard. We still need to follow the law, but it’s the grace of God that allows us to pursue sanctification. We couldn’t do it alone. It’s important to note that sanctification is not instantaneous. It’s a process that every believer will undergo through out their walk. 

In verse 3-4 Paul talks about how Christians have been baptized with Christ in His death and have been buried in order that we too may rise again and “walk in newness of life”. The term “newness of life” refers to a believer dying to his or her old self (the self that sought the desires of the flesh) and changing into the image and likeness of Jesus. In short, we are dead in sin and alive in God (verse 11) and there is no place for sin among God’s chosen. Possibly the most reassuring verse here is the verse 14, which reads: “sin has no dominion over you, since you are not under the law but under grace!” This means that we are no longer slaves to sin as we were in our previous state. Instead, we are now slaves to righteousness, and this righteousness will helps us in the journey of sanctification, and as we read in verse 22, sanctification leads to eternal life! 

Most Christians in today’s society have this all wrong. They think that they can continue on in a cycle of sin-forgivness-sin-forgivness and that God will just oblige. But this is not the case. God demands that His chosen live a life of sanctification. Sure, we will fall time and time again, but our default should be to run from sin and deny themselves for the sake of the cross. For as the final verse in Romans 6 says “the wages of sin is death!”

Discussion Questions: 

Do you understand the term sanctification? 

What has your journey of sanctification been over the past few months? How are you growing from one degree of glory to the next? What are some areas that need improvement? 

Living Word:

2 Timothy 2:21

2 Corinthians 5:17

Hebrews 13:12

John 17:17