Lesson 13
R
oman 6: 1-7, War of the flesh.
In this section, Paul spoke about the spiritual struggle of a Christian in facing the war between the flesh and the Holy Spirit.
VV 1-3, 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death
Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound?
Certainly not! Grace is not a license to sin, but a freedom to serve Christ. When we were baptised into Christ, we have died to sin and will no longer be a slave to sin.
Galatians 5:17, ”For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other”.
Romans 6:12, ”Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts”.
VV 4-5, 4, therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
At baptism, our old flesh life was buried and our new spiritual life emerged out from the water with Christ. At baptism, we identified with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Therefore, we are to walk in the new life of Holy Spirit.
2 Cor 5: 17, ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”
1 John 3:9, ”Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God”
VV 6-7, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Greek for done away is ”katargeo”, which means to render powerless. Through Jesus Christ, sin had been rendered powerless. We are no longer slaves to sin, but a slaves to Jesus Christ and we are to serve Him in freedom.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we claim the promise that it is by grace that we have been saved through faith. Sanctify us by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
