All Things New (Romans 6:1-11, Psalm 119:33-48)
Rev. David Huffman, March 2, 2025Part of the Series On Romans series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
What does it mean to be a Christian? This is one who is a follower, a disciple, of Jesus Christ. This is one who believes and trusts in Jesus Christ as his redeemer, one who is in union with Christ. As such, he receives salvation benefits or graces. In this age of loosely held understanding, there are no adjectives or modifiers to be placed in front of “Christian.” Believers are united to Christ in a life-giving way; with them, all things are new. Believers have moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son. Believers no longer sin with impunity. God’s grace is greater than all our sin. Grace changes our status before God; we are no long in sin. We are no longer His enemy; we have peace with Him. Being in Christ is more than friendship with Him; we enjoy sonship as children of God. We have died to sin. By baptism in His death, we are walking in life by His resurrection power. In union with Christ, our unregenerate old self whom we were in Adam died; this self was crucified in Christ. We are no longer enslaved to sin. What is the old man? Who we were in Adam—unregenerate, and now crucified in Christ. The way sin affected us no longer does; we are set free from sin’s power. Sin, which bound us like a chain gang, is past. We are set free from this kind of bondage. We now enjoy the results of regenerating power. We live in the power of Christ’s resurrection. Christ’s righteous life has become ours; He has paid our debt. We can live for Christ, not for ourselves. How should we respond? We should consider ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ, living out that reality.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « United to Christ, Dead to Sin | None | Slavery & Freedom » |
Romans 6:1–11 (Listen)
6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
(ESV)
Psalm 119:33–48 (Listen)
He
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
Waw
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
(ESV)