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Romans 6:4-7; 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through
baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5
For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His
death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His
resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him,
that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer
be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
Since 9/11 we have seen our country look deeply into its soul in an
attempt to understand what occurred and why on that dreadful day. How
could anyone hate us that much? Could it be that America is despised by
some because she is great and powerful and good? America is great because
she is good. She is good because she is free, and she is free because of
her God-given heritage. Take that away and she will fall as others before
her. The passage we want to look at today has to do with another kind of
freedom. It is expressed in vs. 7; “for he who has died is
freed from sin.
A. The Price of Freedom
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we have been buried with Him through
baptism into death . . .” Romans 6:5 “ . . . we have become
united with Him in the likeness of His death . . .” Romans 6:6
“knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, . .
.” Just as the price of our freedom as a Nation involved bloodshed
and death, so the freedom of our souls comes with bloodshed and death.
Paul says that we in effect, died with Jesus Christ when He gave up His
life for us at Calvary.
1. His Death was Literal Involving Substitution
Romans 5:8,9; 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much
more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from
the wrath of God through Him.
2. Our Death was in Likeness Involving Imputation
Romans 6:5 “ . . . we have become united with Him in the
likeness of His death . . .” and Romans 5:17 For if by
the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more
those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
B. The Principle of Freedom
Romans 6:7 “for he who has died is freed from sin.”
1. Freedom from the Body of Sin
Romans 6:6 “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him,
that our body of sin might be done away with, . . .” The KJV is
the preferred translation here where it keeps the definite article “
. . . that the body
of sin might be destroyed, . . .” or “done away.” By
God’s wonderful grace we have been moved from “the body of sin” to
“the body of Christ.” Where we were once governed by our “ in Adam
(old) nature;” we are now governed by our “in Christ (new) Nature!”
AMEN TO THAT ! ! !
2. Freedom from the Slavery of Sin
The word “freed” in the text (Romans 6:7) is the same
word translated “justified” and means to be acquitted, declared
righteous and therefore set free! Romans 6:6 “knowing this,
that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin
might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;”
We still must struggle with the
sin-presence in our lives, but
we no longer serve it as the sin-potentate
of our lives. What a blessed
relief!
C. The Practice of Freedom
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we have been buried with Him through
baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of
life.” This is the practical application of the doctrine of
Substitutionary Atonement! It affects us eternally, but it also applies to
our daily lives here on planet earth. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says
“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature;
the
old things passed away; behold,
new things have come.” The person who has been crucified with
Christ will manifest His likeness in their lives! See Galatians
2:20; “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered
Himself up for me.” Jesus put it this way: Matthew 7:16-19; 16
“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes,
nor figs from thistles, are they? 17
“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad
fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot
produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire.”
Have you had your fruit checked recently? 
If you have never entrusted your life to Him, why not come to Him today
for Salvation.
"And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men, by which we must be
saved." Acts
4:12
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