God's Word for Me Today
Monday, September 10, 2001
Focus: Our Mission: Sharing the New Life of Jesus Christ
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, As I open Your Word today, open my life to Your Holy Spirit. Let me live in the grace that you offer to all who know Your Son, Jesus, as Lord. May you alone be my Leader and Guide. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Romans 6:1-14
1Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? 2Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. 9We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. 11So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.
12Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. 13Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. 14Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God’s grace.
Questions for Reflection
What one change would you most like to make in your life?
Why do you suppose many of us are afraid of change, even though we all know that change is both a necessary and inescapable part of living?
Questions for Exploration
What is Paul’s answer for the question of whether Christians ought to keep on sinning so God can show us more kindness and forgiveness? (6:1-2)
What is promised to us as a result of Jesus being raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father? (6:4)
Paul tells us that our old sinful selves were “crucified with Christ.” What is the result of that “crucifixion”? (6:6-8)
Rather than giving ourselves over to sin, what are we to give ourselves over to as Christians? (6:12-13)
Questions for Understanding
What do we learn from this Scripture about why we ought to stop sinning, even though God will forgive us if we do?
What promises does this Scripture offer those who have trusted Jesus Christ and become one with Him?
Who does this Scripture tell us is our master? What does that mean to us when we are tempted to sin?
Questions for Application
How can you consciously overcome sin in your life today and through the coming week? Be specific.
How can you help others in your life to overcome sin in their lives without seeming to be judgmental?
With whom can you share the new life that Jesus offers either by word or action – today? Make a commitment to share the new life with at least one other person.
Think about the New Life!
Paul addresses a very practical reality of our new life in Jesus Christ—it is easy to sin, and since God is in the business of forgiving sins, why not just go on sinning??? The question seems to make sense at first, but Paul points out its absurdity with this question, “Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” Have you ever considered that when we ask Jesus to become the Lord and Savior of our lives that we are actually “dying” to sin. Paul uses Jesus’ death on the cross for our sin as an analogy of our dying to sin. Obviously, once we’re “dead” we can’t sin. The challenge is that while we have “died” to sin we are still very much alive in a world that’s filled with sin and temptation. We’ve also been told by the world that we CAN’T stop sinning, so why try? Paul offers us a very different reality: sin’s power is broken in our lives. Temptation is a given in our world, but sin is optional. We have been given new lives AND the power to live into them by God’s grace. Grace alone frees us from sin and death. Both freedoms are IMMEDIATE, but each freedom carries with it extended benefits. The freedom from sin is immediate in that all the sins we’ve ever committed are forgiven, and wiped from the slate of our lives. The freedom from death is immediate in that we are guaranteed eternal life from the instant that we say, “Yes,” to Jesus offer of salvation. Where we may receive the extended benefits is in daily living! Each day we may be free from sinning as we “give ourselves completely to God.” That is the key: In every instant—every instant --of life have the power to overcome sin, as we give ourselves completely to God. It isn’t easy. It isn’t automatic. It isn’t without hesitations and even stumbling along the way. But it is a promise that sin can be a past experience of our lives, as we let God’s grace abound to good works in our lives. What an opportunity! Let’s go out and give ourselves completely to God! It won’t just change our lives—it’ll change everyone we meet, too!
REMINDER For MEMORIZING Key Verses: Since the book, chapter and verse are the hardest part of memorizing Scripture, say the book, chapter and verse before AND after you say the verse:
For example, say,
”Romans 6:14b And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:14b”
Note: the “b” in the verse indicates the second half of the verse is being memorized!
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.