Romans 6:1-7:6
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This is the tenth sermon in our Romans series looking at the first eight chapters of the book.
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
WARM-UP Questions
- Why do you think we so readily would prefer to follow our own desires rather than God’s?
Read Romans 6:1-11
- Why would some people think that we should ‘go on sinning’ in order to increase grace? Why would some have been concerned that this would have been people’s response to justification by faith alone?
- How would you – as per this chapter – explain to someone that Christians should not keep on sinning?
- Is it possible for us to not sin at all? When we sin, what should be our response? Does this mean – if we trust in Jesus – that our salvation is ever in jeopardy?
- What is Paul referring to when he talks about baptism? (Think about what he means along with the image that we are to have in mind.) How does baptism reflect botha death and a resurrection?
- What does it mean that we are ‘dead to sin’? What does this mean to you personally?
- How does being ‘alive to God in Christ’ have both a presentand future reality?
- If we are dead to sin, and if our resurrection is as certain as Jesus’, how should this change how we approach our lives (i.e., joys, problems, temptations) today?
- What does Paul mean by counting ourselves dead to sin but alive to God? What is one way, each day this week, that you could do this?
Read Romans 6:12-23
- If sin has been defeated and we know that we should not sin, why do we find it so difficult not to?
- If we no longer live under the reign of sin, under whose rule and in whose kingdom to we reside?
- Why are our sins bigger than just a personal moral failure? How does our obedience to sin point to a reign of a kingdom that has already been defeated?
- What does Paul mean by ‘instruments of wickedness’? Can you think of any examples of how – even your greatest gifts – can be used for evil instead of God?
- How is carrying on in sin like obeying an old landlord who has no power over us?
- In what way does Christianity involve a ‘taking on’ and a ‘taking off’? How have you experienced this?
- What does Paul instruct us to obey? What does he mean by this? What are some examples?
- How does our obedience to God point to the future that we await to be made complete?
APPLY (this week): Confess to God any area of sin that you have been holding back. What is an area of your life that can be transformed into an instrument of righteousness?
Prayer
Gracious Father, we are so sorry for the sin in our lives that reflects a disobedience to you. Please help us to submit our entire lives to your rule, seeking to live in accordance with your Word, that our lives might be for your glory and kingdom alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Going deeper resources
Video
Audio
- “Not Under Law by Grace” by Christopher Ash
- “Dead to Sin” by Kent Hughes (Romans 6:1-14)
- Dick Lucas on Romans 6 (two parts):
http://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/media-library/src/talk/3032/title/11
http://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/media-library/src/talk/3033/title/12 - William Taylor on Chapter 6 (in two parts), “Slaves of Grace”:
http://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/media-library/src/talk/7418/title/talk-3
http://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/media-library/src/talk/7439/title/talk-4
Helpful Books and Articles
- Two Very Helpful Books by Rory Shiner on what it means to be ‘in Christ’ through his death and resurrection (highly recommended):
Raised Forever: http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/raised-forever
One Forever: http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/one-forever - “Whatever Happened to Pursuing Godliness” by Matthew Payne
- Romans (Read, Mark, Learn Series) by William Taylor (St Helens Bishopsgate)
- Romans (The Story of God Bible Commentary Series) by Michael Bird
