Study Guide: "Whose Side Are You On?"

Text: Romans 6:1-23

OPEN:

In this mini-series we've looked at: "More Than You Thought You Were" (Romans 8:26-39), and "Make Up Your Mind" (Romans 8:1-17).

Today, we will talk about how to win the war on sin. This presupposes that we're in a battle. How many here today have experienced the struggle of trying to be holy, and bear the scars to prove it?

Some may think it's impossible to win this war, but it's not. In fact, there's a promise in the sixth chapter of Romans that we all need to claim. It's in verse 14: Sin shall not have dominion over you. 

God has promised us victory over sin. 

In Romans 6, Paul shows us how to claim and experience that victory. To win the war against sin, there are three steps to take. Here they are...

I. Understand the Meaning of Salvation.

1. Becoming a Christian isn't a matter of turning over a new leaf. It's a matter of beginning a new life. 

It's not just that we think differently, though we do. And it's not just that we act differently, though we will. It's that we ARE different. Our souls, which were empty and lifeless, have been made alive through the power of Christ. This is what Paul referred to when he said, (v. 4) For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, God gave you a new life. He gave you a capacity for holiness you didn't have before. I want you to understand that Paul is not being allegorical, or metaphorical, or symbolic when he says you've been made alive in Christ. He's being as literal as he can be. Something supernatural happens at the moment of salvation. You are transferred from spiritual darkness to spiritual light, from spiritual death to spiritual life, and you now have potential to live a Godly life.

2. Because of God's gift of salvation, we have power over sin. We are, quite literally, dead to sin. That's how Paul phrased it. (v. 6-7) Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. He went on to say, (v. 11) So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Jesus Christ.

The Christian life isn't based on a feeling or a hunch. It's based on facts--the fact of God's love for you, the fact of his Word, the fact of the resurrection. Regardless of your feelings or hunches, these facts don't change. So, when Paul tells us to "reckon" ourselves dead to sin, he's not suggesting we attempt to manufacture a certain feeling. He's telling us to consider it so, because God has already said it is so.

3. God made you dead to sin and alive to Christ. Accept it. Consider it so. 

Don't wait for a feeling to confirm it. And don't doubt God's Word simply because your behavior hasn't caught up with your faith. Believing in the power of God is a prerequisite to experiencing the power of God. So, believe it. Understand the meaning of salvation. A second thing that will help you win the battle is...

II. Do the Math on Sin and Righteousness.

1. When you think about it, sin is really stupid. Nothing good can come of it. 

It only wreaks havoc for those who entertain it. You'll never hear someone say, "The smartest thing I ever did was embezzle from my employer...or cheat on my income taxes...or have an affair...or experiment with cocaine...or criticize my friend behind his back" and on and on. That's because sin does nothing but destroy. Paul reminds us of this when he says...

(v. 16) You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. (v. 21) And what was the result [of committing sins]? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. (v. 23) For the wages of sin is death.

In these verses, Paul mentions three things we need to remember about sin.

• It leads to death

• It leads to shame

• It brings about its own punishment

The best argument for avoiding sin is to do the math on sin. Nothing good can come of it. It leads only to misery.

2. On the other hand, what does righteousness lead to? Life. Joy. Peace. Holiness. Fellowship with God. 

Paul said, (v. 16) You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. He goes on to say, (v. 22) Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

Sin can take you in only one direction. It leads to death, shame, and misery. 

Obedience to God, on the other hand, takes you in a different direction. It leads to life, joy, peace, holiness, and every good thing God wants to give you. It's a non-negotiable reality. So, get the right perspective on sin and righteousness. Do the math, then make your choice. 

A third thing that will help you win the battle against sin...

III. Choose the Master you will Obey.

Paul said, (v. 16) Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. 

This goes against the grain of the American ideal--we like to think we're rugged individualists serving only ourselves, but it's not true. Paul says that every action is an act of obedience--an act of slavery, so to speak--either to sin or to righteousness. With every action you're becoming more holy or less holy. 

1. We serve the one we obey. 

The question is, whose slave do you want to be? 

Paul said, (v. 17-18) Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. 

This is what God wants you to be. A slave to righteousness--so resolutely committed to him that you cannot help but do what's right. He's your master, you're his slave; you have chosen to obey him and him alone. You don't have to be a slave to sin. Sometimes you may feel as though you are, but you don't have to be one. You can live a holy life. God made a promise, (v. 14) Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace.

2. This verse is translated differently in other versions because in Greek, the word "master" is a future tense verb. 

It means literally, Sin shall not have dominion over you. It's a promise. Paul is saying, "You don't have to be controlled by sin. You can have victory. But you have to decide which master you will obey."

When you became a Christian, you switched teams. Your loyalties changed. You used to be a slave to sin, but you don't have to be any more. You now have a new master to serve. Paul said, (v. 20,22) In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right....but now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Choose your master. Choose who you want to serve. It's either sin or righteousness; the devil or the Lord. The one you obey is your master. Who do you want your master to be?

CLOSE:

You have the capacity for holiness. That's what salvation means. You've been forgiven; you have a new life and a new master. If you continue to serve your old master, you will only experience shame and misery. But your new master offers you freedom, joy, peace and holiness. Choose your master. Whose side are you on?

(Dr. Dane Fowlkes)