Romans 6 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"

                              Chapter Six

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To understand what takes place in baptism

2) To appreciate the freedom from sin which we may now enjoy in Christ

SUMMARY

In chapter five, Paul made the statement "where sin abounded, grace 
abounded much more" (5:20).   Aware that some readers might misconstrue
what he said, Paul quickly points out that grace is no excuse to sin
since through grace they have died to sin (1-2).  To emphasize this, he
reminds them of their baptism into Christ, in which they experienced a
burial into the death of Christ and rose to walk in newness of life,
having died to sin (3-7).  Dead to sin, they are now free to live as
instruments of righteousness for God (8-14).

Another reason not to continue in sin is explained in terms of 
servitude.  We become slaves to that which we obey, either sin or God 
(15-16).  But Paul is grateful that the Romans had begun to obey God 
and were free to become His servants (17-18).  How important it is that 
they continue to do so is to be seen in the outcome of serving sin 
contrasted to serving God.  Serving sin earns death, but in serving God 
one receives the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus (19-23)!

OUTLINE

I. WE ARE DEAD TO SIN! (1-14)

   A. THROUGH BAPTISM WE DIED TO SIN (1-7)
      1. Shall we sin, that grace may abound? No, we died to sin! (1-2)
      2. In baptism we were buried into Christ's death (3-4a)
      3. We should walk in newness of life, having been united together
         in the likeness of His death, crucified with Him, no longer
         slaves of sin, but freed from sin (4b-7)

   B. DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE TO GOD (8-14)
      1. Having died with Christ, we may live with Him over Whom death
         has no dominion (8-10)
      2. Alive to God, we should not let sin reign in our bodies
         (11-12)
      3. But rather present our bodies as instruments of righteousness,
         for we are under grace (13-14)

II. WE SHOULD BE SLAVES TO GOD! (15-23)

   A. WE BECOME SLAVES TO WHOM WE OBEY (15-18)
      1. Either of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness
         (15-16)
      2. Through obedience to God's Word, those who were slaves of sin
         become slaves of righteousness (17-18)

   B. THE MOTIVATION FOR SERVING GOD (19-23)
      1. Serving righteousness produces holiness (19)
      2. Serving sin produces death (20-21)
      3. Serving God produces the fruit of holiness, and in the end,
         eternal life (22)
      4. The wages of sin is death, but God gives the gift of eternal
         life in Christ Jesus our Lord (23)

WORDS TO PONDER

baptism - from the Greek word "baptizo" meaning to "immerse", it most
          commonly in the New Testament refers to the burial in water
          in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins

sanctification - the process of "sanctifying" or "setting apart for a
                 devoted purpose"; in the New Testament it begins with
                 baptism and continues on as we grow in Christ

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) List the main points of this chapter
   - We Are Dead To Sin! (1-14)
   - We Should Be Slaves To God! (15-23)

2) Why are Christians not to continue in sin? (2)
   - Because we died to sin

3) What happens when one is baptized into Christ? (3-7)
   - They are baptized into His death, being buried with Him and united
     with Him in the likeness of His death, where the old man is
     crucified with Him and the body of sin is done away, making it
     possible to be freed from sin and to rise to walk in newness of
     life

4) How should we present the members of our bodies? (13)
   - As instruments of righteousness to God

5) Why does sin no longer have dominion over the Christian? (14)
   - Because the Christian is not "under law", but "under grace"

6) What was necessary to become free from sin? (17-18)
   - To obey the doctrine of God from the heart

7) What is the result of presenting your members as slaves to right-
   eousness? (19)
   - Holiness, or sanctification

8) What three steps are described that eventually lead to eternal life?
   (22)
   -  1) Being set free from sin  2) Becoming slaves to God  3) Bearing
      the fruit of holiness

9) What is the just payment for sin?  But what does God give us in
   Christ? (23)
   - Death.  Eternal life.
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