Living Out Salvation: Understanding Sanctification in Christ

 

Summary

In this exploration of Romans chapters 6 through 8, the focus is on understanding and living out the concept of "salvation lived" or "salvation experienced." This section of Paul's letter to the Romans is central, both structurally and theologically, as it addresses the criticism that Paul does not fully grasp what it means to live out salvation. Paul emphasizes that these chapters form a unified whole, despite the chapter divisions that were added later. This unity is crucial for understanding the process of sanctification, which is the journey of becoming more holy.

Paul warns against common misconceptions about sanctification. Some traditions have overemphasized sanctification to the point of suggesting that without it, one could lose salvation, while others have claimed that Christians can achieve moral perfection. Paul refutes these ideas, instead presenting a balanced view of sanctification that involves knowing who we are in Christ and living out that identity. The key to sanctification, according to Paul, is understanding our identity as people who have died to sin and are alive in Christ. This identity is symbolized through baptism, which serves as a sign and seal of our relationship with Christ.

Paul argues that knowing who we are in Christ is foundational to living out our new life. This involves recognizing that while we have died to sin, we still experience struggles in our mortal bodies. The battle between our essential self, which is dead to sin, and the remnants of our old self, is ongoing. Paul encourages believers to not let sin reign in their mortal bodies but to present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness. This struggle is part of the sanctification process, where the inner self, renewed in Christ, contends with the outer self that still needs transformation.

Key Takeaways:

- Understanding our identity in Christ is foundational to sanctification. We must remember that we have died to sin and are alive in Christ, which is symbolized through baptism. This identity is crucial for living out our new life in Christ. [16:00]

- Sanctification is not about achieving moral perfection or fearing the loss of salvation. Instead, it is a journey of becoming more holy by living out our identity in Christ, despite ongoing struggles. [05:18]

- The struggle with sin is a reality for all believers. Our mortal bodies remind us of this ongoing battle, but we are called to not let sin reign in our lives. This struggle is part of the sanctification process. [21:45]

- Baptism serves as a powerful reminder of our identity in Christ. It is a visible sign of our death to sin and new life in Christ, and it should be a constant reminder of who we are as believers. [13:21]

- The process of sanctification involves a battle between our essential self, renewed in Christ, and the remnants of our old self. This ongoing struggle requires us to live out our identity in Christ and resist the passions of the flesh. [23:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Romans
- [00:40] - Salvation Lived
- [01:10] - The Central Section
- [02:07] - Unified Section
- [03:54] - Understanding Sanctification
- [05:18] - Misconceptions About Sanctification
- [06:10] - Know Who You Are
- [07:30] - Live Out Your New Life
- [08:21] - Struggle and Triumph
- [10:14] - Grace and Sin
- [11:22] - Identity in Christ
- [13:21] - The Significance of Baptism
- [16:00] - Living Out Our Identity
- [21:45] - The Mortal Body and Sin
- [23:58] - The Battle of Sanctification

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 6:1-14
2. Romans 7:7-25
3. Romans 8:1-17

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul mean when he says we have "died to sin" in Romans 6:2? How does this concept relate to our identity in Christ? [11:22]

2. In Romans 6:3-4, Paul uses the imagery of baptism. How does he describe the significance of baptism in relation to our new life in Christ? [13:21]

3. According to Romans 7:15-20, what struggle does Paul describe, and how does it relate to the process of sanctification? [23:58]

4. How does Paul describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer in Romans 8:1-4? What does this imply about our ability to live out our new identity? [08:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding our identity in Christ as "dead to sin and alive to God" impact our daily decisions and actions? [16:00]

2. Paul speaks of a struggle between our essential self and the remnants of our old self. How can this ongoing battle affect a believer's journey toward holiness? [23:44]

3. In what ways does baptism serve as a reminder of our identity in Christ, and how can this understanding influence our spiritual growth? [13:21]

4. How does the concept of not letting sin reign in our mortal bodies challenge common misconceptions about sanctification and moral perfection? [19:54]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own understanding of your identity in Christ. How can you remind yourself daily that you are "dead to sin and alive to God"? [16:00]

2. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel the struggle between your new identity in Christ and the remnants of your old self. What practical steps can you take to address this struggle? [23:44]

3. How often do you think about your baptism and its significance in your life? What can you do to make it a more integral part of your spiritual journey? [13:21]

4. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more attentive to the Spirit's guidance in your daily walk with Christ? [08:21]

5. What are some practical ways you can prevent sin from reigning in your mortal body? How can you present yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness? [19:54]

6. Think of a recent situation where you felt challenged in your faith. How did your understanding of your identity in Christ help you navigate that situation? If it didn't, how might it have helped? [16:00]

7. How can you support others in your small group or community who are struggling with the process of sanctification? What role can you play in encouraging them to live out their identity in Christ? [23:44]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Identity in Christ
Understanding our identity in Christ is foundational to sanctification. We must remember that we have died to sin and are alive in Christ, which is symbolized through baptism. This identity is crucial for living out our new life in Christ. Paul emphasizes that knowing who we are in Christ is the key to living out our new life. This involves recognizing that while we have died to sin, we still experience struggles in our mortal bodies. The battle between our essential self, which is dead to sin, and the remnants of our old self, is ongoing. Paul encourages believers to not let sin reign in their mortal bodies but to present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness. This struggle is part of the sanctification process, where the inner self, renewed in Christ, contends with the outer self that still needs transformation. [16:00]

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How does your understanding of being "alive in Christ" influence your daily decisions and interactions with others today?


Day 2: The Journey of Sanctification
Sanctification is not about achieving moral perfection or fearing the loss of salvation. Instead, it is a journey of becoming more holy by living out our identity in Christ, despite ongoing struggles. Paul warns against common misconceptions about sanctification. Some traditions have overemphasized sanctification to the point of suggesting that without it, one could lose salvation, while others have claimed that Christians can achieve moral perfection. Paul refutes these ideas, instead presenting a balanced view of sanctification that involves knowing who we are in Christ and living out that identity. The key to sanctification, according to Paul, is understanding our identity as people who have died to sin and are alive in Christ. [05:18]

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel the tension between your old self and your new identity in Christ? How can you invite God into that struggle today?


Day 3: The Reality of Struggle with Sin
The struggle with sin is a reality for all believers. Our mortal bodies remind us of this ongoing battle, but we are called to not let sin reign in our lives. This struggle is part of the sanctification process. Paul argues that knowing who we are in Christ is foundational to living out our new life. This involves recognizing that while we have died to sin, we still experience struggles in our mortal bodies. The battle between our essential self, which is dead to sin, and the remnants of our old self, is ongoing. Paul encourages believers to not let sin reign in their mortal bodies but to present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness. [21:45]

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific sin or habit that you struggle with. What practical steps can you take today to resist it and present yourself as an instrument of righteousness?


Day 4: Baptism as a Reminder of Our New Life
Baptism serves as a powerful reminder of our identity in Christ. It is a visible sign of our death to sin and new life in Christ, and it should be a constant reminder of who we are as believers. Paul emphasizes that these chapters form a unified whole, despite the chapter divisions that were added later. This unity is crucial for understanding the process of sanctification, which is the journey of becoming more holy. Baptism symbolizes our identity as people who have died to sin and are alive in Christ. [13:21]

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your baptism or the concept of baptism. How does it serve as a reminder of your commitment to live a new life in Christ today?


Day 5: The Battle of Sanctification
The process of sanctification involves a battle between our essential self, renewed in Christ, and the remnants of our old self. This ongoing struggle requires us to live out our identity in Christ and resist the passions of the flesh. Paul warns against common misconceptions about sanctification. Some traditions have overemphasized sanctification to the point of suggesting that without it, one could lose salvation, while others have claimed that Christians can achieve moral perfection. Paul refutes these ideas, instead presenting a balanced view of sanctification that involves knowing who we are in Christ and living out that identity. [23:58]

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." (Galatians 5:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can "walk by the Spirit" today to overcome the desires of the flesh? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit's power in this area?

Quotes


Paul is not indifferent to sin, and he is not teaching that the more we sin, the more grace we'll have. That's not it at all. And now he asks a question of his own. If these are questions that he thinks might have been posed to him, now he has a question in response: how can we who died to sin still live in it? [00:11:04]

The essential identity of the Christian is that we have died to sin and are alive to Christ. So those who have died to sin can't live in sin, and those who have been made alive in Christ can't live in sin. And he summarizes this now in terms of baptism. [00:11:34]

Baptism is the sign and seal of our relationship with Christ, and so it speaks as a sign to who we are, and it guarantees who we are. It's an expression of the promise of Christ. The reformers said sacraments are visible words. Sacraments are communication to us about who we are. [00:13:24]

We are a people who have died and have been made alive. We have died to sin, and we've been made alive to Christ, and we have to remember that. The first point then that Paul wants to make relative to sanctification is you have to remember who you are at every point in the Christian life. [00:15:40]

Knowing who you are precedes living out who you are. That's the point Paul wants to make here and that he stresses so very powerfully in this context. And he wants to go over it in a variety of ways. If you have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [00:16:14]

Our life, our identity parallels the life and identity of Christ. He died to sin, to the world of sin on the cross, and now he lives forever in life. And Christ, who is raised from the dead, will never die again. And when Paul says that here in Romans 6, what he's really saying is so you won't ever die again either. [00:17:21]

The life that Christ enjoys in resurrection glory so flows into you that you will live in resurrection glory forever. The life that he has given you cannot be taken away. As Christ will never go back on the cross, you will never die under the burden of sin because he's made you alive. That's who you are. [00:17:43]

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body to make you obey its passions. Don't let sin reign in your mortal body. Now, I think that statement is tremendously important. It's interesting, isn't it? He doesn't say, let not sin therefore reign in you. He says, don't let it reign in your mortal body. [00:19:38]

Your body best speaks to you of the life you now live as that which is mortal and dying. Now, the older folks here will understand this better than the younger folks. I stand here, and my back hurts, and my feet are swelling, and it's a testimony that this body does not go on forever. [00:20:30]

When you think about who you are, when you remember that you're dead to sin and alive to Christ, what that means is your essential self is dead to sin and alive to Christ, but you still have a warfare that you're fighting that is visibly represented to you in your body and in the struggles of the body. [00:22:02]

Sanctification is the battle that goes on between the essential you that Christ has recreated and the remnants of the old you that you still have to wrestle with. That's what Paul is saying here. That's why there's a battle. That's why there's a struggle. That's why sanctification can be difficult. [00:23:39]

Paul is making this powerful appeal to us: know who you are and then live out who you are. And we'll go on to see how he develops that further next time. [00:24:57]

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Transcript
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