Scripture References: Romans 6:15-23; Romans 7:1-6; Romans 5:1; Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:7-8
Intro: Continuing our journey through Romans, having celebrated the amazing good news of justification by faith and peace with God (Rom 5:1), we hit a critical question Paul addresses in Romans 6:15: "Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?" Does God's free grace give us a license to live however we want?
Key Points:
- Always a Slave to Something (Rom 6:15-16): Paul's answer is "By no means!" He argues we're never truly autonomous; we are always slaves to whomever or whatever we obey. The only options are being slaves to sin (which leads to death) or slaves to obedience/righteousness (which leads to holiness/life). "Freedom" to do whatever we please is actually slavery to sin.
- Identity Change: Freed from Sin's Mastery (Rom 6:17-18, 22): The glorious truth is, through faith in Christ, our master has already changed. "Thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin... you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness/God." 1 God performed a heart transplant; our core identity and allegiance are new. We want to obey from the heart.
- Grace is Not License, Sin Still Kills (Rom 6:21, 23a; Gal 6:7-8): While freed from sin's mastery, choosing to indulge sinful desires ("sow to the flesh") still brings destructive consequences ("death," "corruption"). Grace empowers us against sin; it doesn't excuse it. Feel the weight: sin leads to death.
- Freed from the Law's Condemnation (Rom 7:1-6): Paul uses a marriage analogy for those tempted by rule-keeping. We were married to the Law – a perfect but powerless husband who constantly pointed out our failures, leading only to condemnation. Through Christ's death, we died to that legalistic marriage, releasing us from its demands and condemnation.
- Joined to Christ, Serving by the Spirit (Rom 7:4, 6): Having died to the Law, we are now free to "belong to another," Jesus Christ, our new, gracious Husband. We now serve "in the new way of the Spirit," not the old way of the written code. Relating to "Mr. Grace" (Jesus) involves compassion, empowerment, and relationship, not constant condemnation.
Conclusion: Grace radically frees us – not to sin, but from sin's mastery and from the Law's condemnation. Our identity is transformed; we are now slaves of righteousness, joined to Christ. Empowered by the Spirit, we can now joyfully obey our loving Master, not out of fear or duty, but from a new heart motivated by His grace.
Call to Action: Embrace your true identity: freed from sin, slave to righteousness, joined to Christ. Reject the lie that grace permits sinning. Stop trying to earn God's favor through rule-keeping (living married to the Law). Live confidently "married to Christ," relying on His Spirit's power for obedience. Receive communion remembering the death that freed you and the life you now have in Him.
*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
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