Preschool
Fear thou not; for I am with thee. Isaiah 41:10
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
Memory Verses
Primary
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee. Isaiah 41:10
Junior
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
Background Scripture: Romans 6
Lesson Scripture: Romans 6:1–16
Introduction
Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. This was prefigured in the Old Testament by the offering of many animals. When an animal was sacrificed on the altar, it was completely dead. The blood had flowed from its body, and there was no life left. Likewise, we must give up our will entirely and die to our fleshly wants and desires. Romans 12:1 instructs us, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” As we become completely still on the altar of sacrifice, God accepts us by Christ’s atoning blood.
Christ raises us from spiritual death and gives us new life. We are cleansed from the old life of sin and given power to overcome the temptations that assail us. Thanksgiving wells up within us as we experience a quiet rest from the clamor of the old life. The peace of God is now our treasure. May we “walk worthy of God, who hath called [us] unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12).
Key Verse
Behold, thou art made whole (John 5:14).
Lesson Scripture
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up 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 planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Studying the Lesson
The last verse of Romans 6 tells us that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we surrender our will with all its attachments to Christ and confess our sins, the fleshly nature loses its power. Christ forgives our sins and gives us peace. This is the new life. Salvation is a gift that is available to all who are willing to plead for forgiveness for their sins and commit themselves to serve God with their whole being.
Jesus died once for the sin of the whole world. That work is complete. Death no longer has any dominion over Christ, and He is alive forevermore. Our regeneration in Christ is a complete work also. We have been crucified with Him when we completely die to the “old man.” Verse 6 goes as far as to say that the body of sin is destroyed. Because we are risen with Christ to newness of life, our sinful nature is no longer able to function in the strength of its former lusts. We no longer desire the pleasures of sin; rather, we abhor sin and flee from it. When temptations come, we resist them because we now know that taking our own way brings no lasting happiness. Christ’s power in us enables us to say no to Satan. “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
It is glorious to live in the liberty of Christ! When we give our allegiance to Him, we become His servants. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36). Free indeed means without questions. As we are immersed in Christ’s love, we will not be continually questioning if our life is acceptable to God.
Practical Truths for Today
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezek. 36:26) Doctors are able, by using medical procedures, to remove a diseased heart that is no longer functioning normally and replace it with a donor heart from another person. When the diseased heart is removed, the person is essentially dead. Then the donor heart is implanted, and he receives a new lease on life. The work of Christ transforming us can be compared to a heart transplant. Colossians 3:1–2 says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Though the things of earth seek to allure us, God has given us the power to place our affections on Him.
Sin is very subtle and an ever-present threat because the kernel of sin is pride. It starts in our thoughts. We need to guard against prideful, unwholesome, or uncharitable thoughts. If we entertain sinful thoughts, they will eventually bear fruit because sin is always progressive. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14–15). We cannot casually entertain sinful thoughts and not be tempted. We are thankful that the Holy Spirit warns us when our thought pattern is not good, and then we can turn to God for overcoming power.
Sin is desirable to the flesh and may even be pleasurable in the moment of yielding. Proverbs 23:32 warns, however, that “in the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper” (NIV). The initial temptation to eat the forbidden fruit to become wise attracted Eve. The consequences of that disobedience continue to bear seemingly endless fruit in humanity.
Jesus died for us so we can be dead to sin and free from its guilt and power. To be alive in Christ is not to be without mistakes; however, God’s grace covers the common failings of the flesh when they are not intentional. Sincere believers often admit their depravity to God and their brethren, realizing they can have no confidence in the flesh. The new life in Christ is a treasure given into our earthen vessel “that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7). Though the sin nature is always at odds with the divine nature, we gain victories, grow in confidence, and mature in our Christian walk as we experience enabling grace and overcoming power. On the other hand, following the way of our flesh never brings true happiness.
If we find ourselves continually falling and needing to repent, possibly the old nature is not sufficiently mortified. Some things that cause us trouble are in areas that we might label as “gray areas”; however, God’s Word does not have gray areas. All things are naked and open to the eyes of God (Heb. 4:13). Obediently following the Holy Spirit will lead us into light, and we will live in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In 1519 the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés landed in Vera Cruz, Mexico, with eleven ships and approximately five hundred men to conquer Mexico for Spain. He promptly commanded his men to burn the ships, thereby banishing all thoughts of turning back. When we are truly crucified with Christ and enjoying the new life in Him, we find it difficult to pursue the old ways. As we choose the way of right living, God gives us power to live victoriously over sin. We experience His blessings, and our heart is at rest. We are thankful and desire to share this peace with others.
Questions
- How do we deal with an accusing spirit that questions our conversion or if we have been forgiven of some past sin?
- What are ways to grow in enabling grace?
- The way of victorious Christian life is described in Isaiah 35:8–9. What are the beasts of prey to be absent in the life of a young Christian?
- Unsubscribe
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).