Book Study · Week 3 of 6

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Romans 6:1-14

Freedom from sin's power

Main Point

Grace doesn't give us a license to sin — it gives us the power to finally stop.

Application Ideas

What sin pattern have you accepted as 'just the way I am'? Believe that you are dead to it and alive to God.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to be 'baptized into Christ's death'? How do we practically 'count ourselves dead to sin'?

Detailed Sermon Outline

Primary Text: Romans 6:1-14

Supporting Texts: Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Peter 2:24, Galatians 2:20, Titus 2:11-12

Big Idea: Our old self—the self enslaved to sin—died with Christ. We're now alive to God and called to live accordingly.

Target Length: 35-40 minutes

Introduction

Here's an obvious question that haunts the gospel: If we're saved by grace and not works, what stops us from living however we want? Why not sin so grace can increase?

Paul addresses this head-on: 'By no means!' This is non-negotiable. And then he explains why. Because something radical happened in baptism—and in our faith. We died.

We died to sin. And we rose alive to God. That's not a free pass to sin—that's a complete reorientation of identity.

I. United with Christ in Death (Romans 6:1-10)

'Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?' Paul is connecting our baptism—our identification with Christ—with his death.

When Jesus died, his death was our death. When you entered into faith in Christ, you entered into the reality of his death. The you that was enslaved to sin—that person died.

'We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'
This isn't metaphorical. It's ontological. Your identity has changed. The old power of sin over you—it's broken.

'For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.'

Slavery to sin is the default condition. But once you're in Christ, that slavery ends. Sin has no legal claim on you anymore.

II. The Power of Sin Is Broken (Romans 6:6-10)

'Because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.' This is the logic: Death ends slavery. You can't enslave a dead person.

Christ's death was real. His resurrection is real. And because you're united with him, his death and resurrection are yours too.

'The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.'
Jesus submitted to death, conquered it, and rose. Sin had no final claim on him. And if you're in him, sin has no final claim on you.

This is why Paul can be so confident: Not because we're inherently strong, but because our union with Christ is real. His victory is our victory.

You're not fighting sin from a position of slavery anymore. You're fighting from a position of freedom, of resurrection life.

III. Alive to God, Instruments of Righteousness (Romans 6:11-14)

'In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.' This is a call to believe truth about yourself. You have a new identity.

And with that identity comes a new way to live: 'Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.'

Your body—your hands, your mouth, your mind—these are now instruments of righteousness. They can be used for God's purposes, not sin's.
This is a choice. Count yourself dead to sin—believe it's true. Count yourself alive to God—orient yourself toward him.

'For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.' Grace isn't permission to sin. Grace is power to stop.

The law said, 'Don't do this,' but it had no power to stop you. Grace gives you a new master, a new allegiance, a new identity—and that changes everything.

Conclusion & Appeal

You've died with Christ. That's not poetic language—it's your spiritual reality if you're in him. And you've been raised to new life.

So the question isn't 'Why can't I sin?' The question is 'Why would I want to?' You're alive to God now. Why would you go back to servitude?

This week, practice believing your new identity. When you're tempted to sin, remember: That's not who you are anymore. You're dead to sin. You're alive to God.