Transformed by Union: Living in Christ's Victory
Summary
In our exploration of Romans 6:5-6, we delve into the profound truth of our union with Christ. This union is not merely symbolic but a transformative reality that redefines our existence. We have been "planted together in the likeness of his death," which means that our old self, the person we were in Adam, has been crucified with Christ. This is not a gradual process but a completed act, signifying that the dominion of sin over us has been broken. Our old humanity, characterized by sin and separation from God, has been put to death, and we are now new creations in Christ.
This transformation is not just about dying to sin but also about living in the "likeness of his resurrection." This new life is not something we await in the future; it is a present reality. We are called to walk in newness of life, empowered by the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This new life is characterized by freedom from the reign of sin and a life lived unto God. It is a life of victory, not because of our efforts, but because of our union with Christ.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this is not merely theoretical knowledge but a truth we must know and live by. It is a call to recognize our identity in Christ and to live in accordance with that identity. We are no longer slaves to sin; we are alive to God in Christ Jesus. This understanding should transform how we live, giving us confidence and assurance in our salvation and our daily walk with God.
Key Takeaways:
1. Union with Christ: Our union with Christ is a transformative reality that redefines our existence. We have been crucified with Christ, meaning our old self, the person we were in Adam, is dead. This is not a gradual process but a completed act, signifying the end of sin's dominion over us. [06:06]
2. Newness of Life: Being united with Christ in his resurrection means we are called to walk in newness of life. This new life is a present reality, characterized by freedom from sin and a life lived unto God. It is not something we await in the future but a transformation we experience now. [14:24]
3. Certainty of Salvation: Our salvation is secure because it is based on our union with Christ. This union guarantees our future glorification and eternal life. It is not dependent on our efforts but on the completed work of Christ. [19:29]
4. Living by Faith: We are called to live by faith, believing in the promises of God even when our experiences or feelings suggest otherwise. Like Abraham, we must trust in God's word and promises, knowing that what He has promised, He will fulfill. [41:00]
5. Victory over Sin: The truth of our crucifixion with Christ means we have victory over sin. We are no longer slaves to sin but are alive to God in Christ Jesus. This understanding should transform how we live, giving us confidence and assurance in our daily walk with God. [39:09]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to Romans 6:5-6
[00:59] - Justification by Faith and Objections
[02:13] - Newness of Life in Christ
[03:37] - The Pivotal Statement of Union
[05:33] - The Mechanics of Union with Christ
[06:43] - Understanding "If" as "Since"
[07:36] - The Meaning of "Planted"
[08:36] - The Likeness of His Death
[09:42] - Spiritual Reality of Death and Resurrection
[11:27] - Present Life and Future Resurrection
[12:35] - Walking in Newness of Life
[15:22] - The Reign of Grace
[17:42] - Future Glorification
[19:29] - Certainty of Resurrection
[21:16] - Encouragement in Trials
[23:35] - The Old Man Crucified
[27:34] - Understanding the Old Man
[31:54] - The Objective Nature of Salvation
[39:09] - Victory Over Sin
[41:00] - Living by Faith
[44:51] - Assurance of Salvation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 6:5-6
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be "planted together in the likeness of his death" according to Romans 6:5-6? How does this relate to our old self being crucified with Christ? [00:14]
2. How does the sermon describe the transformation from our old humanity to becoming new creations in Christ? What is the significance of this transformation being a completed act? [00:37]
3. In the sermon, what is emphasized about the nature of our new life in Christ? How is this new life characterized according to the sermon? [02:13]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the certainty of our salvation and its dependence on our union with Christ? [19:29]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "planted together" with Christ in his death and resurrection challenge or affirm your understanding of Christian identity? [07:36]
2. The sermon mentions that our new life in Christ is a present reality. How does this understanding impact the way believers are called to live daily? [12:35]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of faith in living out our new identity in Christ, especially when our experiences or feelings might suggest otherwise? [41:00]
4. How does the sermon explain the victory over sin that believers have through their union with Christ? What practical implications does this have for a believer's life? [39:09]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: In what ways do you still live as if your old self is in control? How can you remind yourself daily of your new identity in Christ? [39:09]
2. The sermon emphasizes living in the "newness of life." What specific changes can you make in your daily routine to walk more fully in this new life? [14:24]
3. Consider a situation where you struggle to believe in the promises of God. How can you, like Abraham, strengthen your faith in God's word despite your circumstances? [41:00]
4. How does understanding the certainty of your salvation through union with Christ affect your confidence in facing life's challenges? What steps can you take to deepen this assurance? [19:29]
5. Identify an area in your life where sin still seems to have dominion. What practical steps can you take to claim the victory over sin that is yours in Christ? [39:09]
6. The sermon calls us to live by faith. What is one promise of God that you find difficult to trust, and how can you actively choose to believe it this week? [41:00]
7. How can you support others in your small group or community to live out their new identity in Christ? What role can you play in encouraging them to walk in newness of life? [14:24]
Devotional
Day 1: Union with Christ: A Transformative Reality
Our union with Christ is a profound and transformative reality that redefines our existence. This union is not merely symbolic but signifies that our old self, the person we were in Adam, has been crucified with Christ. This is not a gradual process but a completed act, signifying the end of sin's dominion over us. Through this union, we are no longer bound by our old humanity, characterized by sin and separation from God. Instead, we are new creations in Christ, living in the freedom and victory that comes from being united with Him. [06:06]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: In what ways can you embrace your identity as a new creation in Christ today, letting go of the old self and its patterns?
Day 2: Newness of Life: Living the Resurrection Now
Being united with Christ in His resurrection means we are called to walk in newness of life. This new life is not something we await in the future; it is a present reality. We are empowered by the same power that raised Christ from the dead to live a life characterized by freedom from sin and a life lived unto God. This transformation is not about our efforts but about the life of victory we experience through our union with Christ. We are invited to live in this newness of life daily, experiencing the joy and freedom it brings. [14:24]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to walk in the newness of life that Christ offers?
Day 3: Certainty of Salvation: Secured by Christ's Work
Our salvation is secure because it is based on our union with Christ. This union guarantees our future glorification and eternal life. It is not dependent on our efforts but on the completed work of Christ. This assurance gives us confidence and peace, knowing that our salvation is not something we have to earn or maintain through our own strength. Instead, it is a gift from God, secured by Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. We can rest in this certainty, trusting in the promises of God for our future. [19:29]
Hebrews 10:14 (ESV): "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
Reflection: How does the certainty of your salvation through Christ's work impact your daily life and relationship with God?
Day 4: Living by Faith: Trusting in God's Promises
We are called to live by faith, believing in the promises of God even when our experiences or feelings suggest otherwise. Like Abraham, we must trust in God's word and promises, knowing that what He has promised, He will fulfill. This faith is not passive but active, requiring us to step out in trust and obedience, even when the path is unclear. By living by faith, we align our lives with God's purposes and experience His faithfulness in every circumstance. [41:00]
Romans 4:20-21 (ESV): "No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised."
Reflection: What is one promise of God that you need to trust in today, despite your current circumstances?
Day 5: Victory over Sin: Living in Freedom
The truth of our crucifixion with Christ means we have victory over sin. We are no longer slaves to sin but are alive to God in Christ Jesus. This understanding should transform how we live, giving us confidence and assurance in our daily walk with God. We are empowered to resist sin and live in the freedom that Christ has won for us. This victory is not about our strength but about the power of Christ working in us, enabling us to live lives that honor and glorify God. [39:09]
1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV): "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you struggle with sin. How can you rely on Christ's victory to overcome it today?
Quotes
We are engaged at this moment in this argument you remember that the Apostle is working out in these verses. He is dealing with this objection that is brought to his preaching of justification by faith, namely that it seems to suggest that we should therefore continue in sin that grace may abound. That, he says, is impossible because we died to sin, and how can we who died to sin live any longer therein? [00:41:43]
The Apostle takes the trouble to make this statement, which, as I say, is in a sense a repetition of what he's already been saying because he's anxious to emphasize that last statement in verse 4, which is again, even so we also should walk in newness of life. That's the point he wants to get over, that we are walking in this newness of life. [00:22:51]
The big thing still to hold in our minds is this: what matters above everything else is our union with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are baptized into him, and it is because we are united with him by this baptism that these things are true of us. Let us never forget that the whole point of saying it all is to answer that false objection mentioned in verse 1. [00:59:22]
What has happened to him literally and actually happens to us spiritually. There is a spiritual sense in which it is true to say that we have died with him. We didn't die with him literally, physically. We shall never know the agony that he knew in his death. But what is important is this: because of our spiritual relationship to him, the effects and consequences of his actual literal death become ours. [00:58:24]
The Apostle is here concerned to show how we can never continue in sin that grace may abound. Well, now that refers to something which happens to us in this life and in this world. He's not arguing about what we're going to be like after we have risen from the dead in a literal sense. He's concerned about the life we live as Christian believers in this world, in the here and now. [00:11:49]
We are not left in the grave; we have risen to newness of life, and we are to walk in newness of life. Now, this is what the Apostle is concerned about. Not only have we died to the guilt of sin, we are dead to the whole reign and realm of sin. That's the thing he's emphasizing, and here's the final proof of it. We are so out of its territory that we are in this new territory. [00:16:12]
The old man was crucified with him. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be dishonored or might be rendered void or ineffective, that henceforth we should not be slaves of sin. Very well, let's take it as he's put it. The first thing we have to look at is this expression, knowing this. [00:24:58]
The old man is the man that I used to be in Adam. How can it mean anything else here? It's been the whole context since chapter 5, verse 12. I was a man in Adam; I am now a man in Christ. What's the old man? Well, it's that man that I was and which I no longer am. We have seen so abundantly that that old man that I was in Christ is the one that was crucified with Christ. [00:29:55]
The whole trouble with us, as the New Testament is, is that we don't realize who and what we are. We still go on thinking we're the old man, and we're trying to do things to the old man. It's been done. The old man was crucified with Christ. He's non-existent; he's not there. The man that you were in Adam, if you're a Christian, has gone out of being. He's out of existence; he has no reality at all. [00:39:14]
We are called upon once more to do what the father of the faith did, Abraham. You remember, we are told all about it there in the fourth chapter, where he puts it like this: therefore it is by faith that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. [00:40:49]
I wouldn't know that I was in Adam if God didn't tell me in his word. I wouldn't know that I have been baptized into Christ unless he told me. This is an action of the Holy Spirit, which is non-experimental. The Holy Spirit baptizes me into Christ. It isn't the baptism of the Spirit; it's the baptism by the Spirit. He baptizes me into union with Christ. I know that because I find it in this word. [00:43:48]
My salvation is so sure. It is because God himself, by the Spirit, has put me into Christ that nothing can ever take me out of Christ, and my future, eternal future, my final glorification is guaranteed and certain and sure. Whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he hath also glorified. [00:46:31]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?