A New Life

AMC

30th September, 2012

Written By Rev Lau Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Roman 6:1-14

Main Idea: A baptized Christian lives a new life

Objectives: a. To teach what is a new life.

b. To teach a few applications on a new life.

A. Introduction

- A lot of Christians after conversion, they live a life that may not be any different from before the conversion. The worst is he or she still continues to live in sin. He or she sins all the way till death. In his or her, you would not know what Christian life is all about.

- On the other hand, a person who is truly converted, baptized, a Christian who is born again, without he or she telling you, after you deal with him or her, living with her for a while, you will sense that he or she is a Christian. How do you know? The answer is very simple because he or she lives a Christian life.

- My sermon today deals partly with this Christian life. After conversion, Apostle Paul urged us to live a new life, new Christian life. Before going into the teachings on a new life, let us see the context of the passage today (6:1-14).

B. A New Life

- Chapter 3:21 to 5:21, Apostle Paul very much explains to us on how we are saved and justified in Christ, that is the reason we are accepted by God. Then, from chapters 6 to 8, he explained about the doctrine of sanctification, that is after our conversion, how we should grow into maturity in Christ. In Chapter 6, he explains about our Christian needs to be free from sin. In Chapter 7, we are freed from the law’s condemnation. In Chapter 8, Christians live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

- So, how do we live a Christian life after our conversion, or especially after our baptism or even our confirmation; or simply put, after we become a Christian?

- The concern that Apostle Paul raised in verse 1 is a very real question which every genuine church and all Christians throughout the ages must be concerned. Here and there in my sermons, I address it. Today, in this verse 1, Apostle Paul puts it clearly. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” He asked this question in view of his statement in 5:20, “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” The whole passage of today is dealing with the question: Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?

- I entitle my sermon as “A New Life” as I believe this summarizes Apostle Paul’s answer to his own question. I pray that you will always remember the answer because this empower you to live a victorious life.

- To the question, of course, Apostle Paul answered in verse 2, “By no means! We died to sin: how can we live in it any longer?” Then he gave a great elaboration of how we should overcome sin in order to live a new life. A new life is a life overcoming sin.

- Apostle Paul spelt our 3 steps towards overcoming sin, living a victorious Christian life. The first step is called dead to sin (verses 5-7) and alive to God (verses 8-10). The second step toward overcoming sin is we refuse to let sin to rule our life (verse 12). The third step is to offer ourselves to God. I pray that you say “Amen” all the way to all these powerful steps. I am very convicted by the Spirit of Jesus to preach to you these 3 steps as they would transform your life. This is something powerful that Christianity, or to be more exact, Jesus Christ offers to the sinful human beings. You and I no matter how long, how matured, we have a disciple of Jesus, we still need it.

C. Dead to sin and alive to God (A New Life)- the First Step

- After conversion and especially at the point of baptism, a Christian experienced a change of identity, it is from non-Christian to Christian. But it is not as simple as that, something deep inside this Christian change, Apostle Paul called this dead to sin and alive to God. I called it a twist deep inside his heart happened. We need to pray that this happened to a person at the point of baptism or conversion.

- At the point of baptism, in verses 3 and 4, it says, a Christian is baptized into his death, he is buried with Christ into death, and he is raised from the dead just as Christ was raised from the death, and then, he lives a new life. That is dead to sin and alive to God.

- How can that twist or change happen? That twist happened when we are united with Christ in His death (verse 5) spiritually; our union with Christ in death means the sins which the old self (before conversion) are carrying are done away (verse 6) with because anyone united with Christ has died with Him and he has been freed from sin. The union with Christ can happen when you pray to accept Him as saviour; when you are baptized like today; when you agree in your heart Jesus saves you and gives you eternal life; when you worship Him and Him only. This is the good news for you and me. This should happen to all Christians.

- Now, you may ask how the union with Christ can free you from your sins. How the twist or the change happened? How the sins which the old self are carrying are done away? How can a Christian be dead to sin? How can you be powerful to overcome the sins? What happened to the sins? There must be some power or some means coming from somewhere or someone to overcome the sins, right? Do you want to know the answer?

- The answer is found in verse 4, 8, 9 and 10. I pray that you will not miss the answer; and you will forever remember the answer. You will see that it is real and true in your life. Now, that power that free you from sins, sins are done away with, you are dead to sin, that overcoming of sin is coming from Jesus Christ.

- In verse 4, we are told that Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, that we may live a new life. Through the glory of the Father, it means the power of the Father (the power gives the glory), Jesus was resurrected. As we died with Christ, united with Him and live with Him (verse 8), we obtained this resurrection power from Him who has overcome death (verse 9) to overcome sins which Christ died once for all (verse 10). We become alive to God. No more dead spiritually. Once sins are overcome, we are alive to God; linked with God; entered into meaningful personal relationship with God through Jesus. You see why Jesus makes all the difference in my life and your life. You see you must never miss Jesus in your life. You miss Jesus, you miss everything in life. There won’t be any answer to the sins of your lives.

- Do you now know for sure how you overcome sins and live a new life? Basically, it is Jesus who gives the power to overcome sins.

D. Refusal to let sin to rule our life (verse 12) – the Second step to New Life

- As you died with Christ in baptism, your union with Him gives you the resurrection power to overcome your sins and you become alive to God in Christ (verse 11).

- Then, Apostle Paul directed you to the next step of new life. A step which I can see involves your own human will to make a decision not to allow sin to rule your life. That is why, you learn in verse 12, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” You see my point, it is your own decision not to allow your physical body to do sinful things like entertaining lustful desires, hatred, greed, gluttony, etc. Praise the Lord you have the power to overcome the sinful desires. That power is always available to you as you are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. You just have to come to Him in prayers and fasting, worship, in Holy Communion, baptism, fellowship, etc.

E. Offer your life to God (verse 13) – the Third Step to New Life

- It looks like for Apostle Paul, it is still not enough to live a new with those 2 steps, you need to add the third step, more holistic step, complete step of offering your life and my life to God (verse 13). No wonder he says in verse 13, “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” And all this is because sin is not our master anymore but we are not under law but under grace (verse 14).

- If we continue to sin wilfully after our conversion or baptism, how do claim we have offered our life to God? A life that is offered to God will make sure that in every way we please God and not offend Him.

F. A few applications of a new life

- (1). First application is this: is your union with Christ genuine or not? Is your prayer of acceptance of Christ in your heart as your saviour real or genuine or not? Is your repentance genuine or not? If you believe that Jesus can be manipulated, cheated, and He does not notice the sins of your heart, and you continue to sin against Him, I honestly tell you are not genuine. Next, of course you do not have the power to overcome sin; you will sin again and again. You may be acting as a Christian outwardly, but deep inside you, you never belong to Jesus.

- (2). This new life implies that we now become very sensitive to sins in our lives. It can be compared to a sheep which is sensitive to dirt. One who is not overcoming sin can be likened to a pig who is not sensitive to dirt which gets dirty all the time. Which are you and I?

- (3). We need to exercise our willpower to resist temptations to sin against God. When we sin, do not blame the devil or the environment. We need to bear the largest responsibility for our sins. We need to choose what is right and reject who is wrong to live a holy life.

G. Conclusion

- A new life is really a life that we offer ourselves to God and live to please God. Jesus always empowers us to serve Him and He gives us the empowerment to overcome sins. Therefore, do you know how to live a new life now?