LIVING AS SET-FREE - Romans 5:18 - 6:23 Living The Gospel Everyday – Part 5 2/9/2025 "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men." Romans 5:18 ESV 1. The Problem: Sin Brings Bondage For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 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. Romans 5:19-21 ESV The Bondage of Sin: Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. John 8:34 ESV And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Ephesians 2:1 ESV For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 ESV For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV 2. Baptism: The Gateway to Living Set-Free What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. Romans 6:1-4 ESV The Role of Baptism: And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 ESV • Baptism is not just symbolic but a transformative moment of faith and obedience. Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12 ESV Why Baptism Matters: • Union with Christ 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. Romans 6:5 ESV United: sumphutos (σύμφυτος) grown together, united with. • Cleansing from Sin And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. Acts 22:16 ESV • A New Identity For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 ESV • A Response of Obedient Faith Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:21 NASB 3. Living Set-Free: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14 ESV How to Live Set-Free: So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 ESV • Consider Yourself Dead to Sin I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20A ESV Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Romans 6:12 ESV • Do Not Let Sin Reign Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. Romans 6:13 ESV • Offer Yourself to God For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 ESV • Walk in Grace 4. The Results of Living Free But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. Romans 6:22 ESV I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10B ESV For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 ESV Talk About It 1. What does it mean to you to be set free by Christ? 2. In what ways does sin still try to reign in your life, and how can you resist it? 3. How are you offering yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness daily?