session 4 An iDentity you must embrAce - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/maysvillebaptistchurchinc/documents/RSL... · identity theft from “The Bible Meets Life” on page 40

session 4

An iDentity you must embrAce

4 6 S E S S I O N 4 © 2013 LifeWay© 2013 LifeWay

The PointSin is no longer your master; Christ is.

The Bible Meets LifeGrace is a wonderful thing. We like it when others extend grace to us, and we

especially love the grace God has shown us. But the freedom we have by the

grace of God doesn’t mean we have no responsibility. Any freedom carries with it

responsibility, and the Christian life is no exception. This session helps us see how

we are to live out our freedom in Christ.

The PassageRomans 6:8-18

The SettingFor the first five chapters of Romans, Paul presented our need for justification

and the basis on which we receive it: faith in Christ. Beginning in chapter 6, Paul

stressed how the gospel impacts and empowers our daily living. We are no

longer slaves to sin, but we serve a new Master.

B i B l e S t u d i e S f o r l i f e 47© 2013 LifeWay© 2013 LifeWay

Romans 6:8-18 (HCSB)

8 now if we died with christ, we believe that we will also live with him,

9 because we know that christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.

10 for in light of the fact that he died, he died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that he lives, he lives to God.

11 so, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in christ Jesus.

12 therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.

13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. but as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.

14 for sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

15 what then? should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!

16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?

17 but thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred to,

18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

Key Words

consider (v. 11)—A command to reckon, be of the opinion, believe.

reign (v. 12)—To rule as king. We are to step aside from a path that leads to sinful actions.

What does the Bible say?


Notes

GEt iNto thE StuDYDISCUSS: Ask the opening question

on page 39 of the Personal Study Guide

(PSG): “If you could be somebody

else for a day, who would you be?”

SAY: “Through Jesus you become a new

person with a new destiny.”

GUIDE: To spotlight one way to practice

this new identity in Christ, compare and

contrast identity as a believer with iden-

tity in the financial world. Use the story of

identity theft from “The Bible Meets Life” on page 40 of the PSG.

SAY: “Since you have a new identity in Christ, you don’t have to go back to your old

way of thinking and living.”

TRANSITION: In the next section we’ll discover the ability and responsibility this

freedom gives.

PRAY: Thank God for a new way of thinking and being.

10 minutes

B i B l e S t u d i e S f o r l i f e 4 9

thE PoiNt Sin is no longer your master; Christ is.

© 2013 LifeWay© 2013 LifeWay

Notes

Romans 6:8-11

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die

again. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in light of the fact that He died,

He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

READ: Call on a volunteer to read Romans 6:8-11.

GUIDE: Invite group members to share their initial reaction to The Point at the

top of the “Romans 6:8-11” section: “Sin is no longer your master; Christ is.”

GUIDE: Zero in on Romans 6:11. Illustrate this with Augustine’s explanation from

the “Romans 6:8-11” section on page 42 of the PSG.

> Before the fall, human beings were able to sin.

> After the fall, human beings were not able not to sin.

> After salvation, human beings are able not to sin.

DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 42 of the PSG: “If we’ve been given a new

identity, why are we so tempted to serve our old master?”

DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 42 of the PSG: “What does it really mean

to be dead to sin and alive to Christ?”

TRANSITION: Next let’s examine why we don’t have to give in to sin.

StuDY thE BiBLE10 minutes

TIP: It’s tough to expect group members to be authentic if the leader isn’t as well. Share personal insight (struggles, testimony, lessons learned) as a means of fostering transformation in your Bible study group.


Romans 6:8-11 Commentary

Who are you? You may answer with your identity, your personal name, your career, your interests, or

with a lifetime goal. Another way to identify yourself is by personal relationship with the living Christ.

That’s how Paul, who penned the New Testament’s Book of Romans, distinguished all believers in Jesus.

In Romans 1–5, Paul presented our need for justification—God’s declaration that all who trust in His

Son are forever righteous in His sight. Beginning in chapter 6, Paul stressed how the gospel impacts

and empowers daily living. A relationship with Christ is both demanding and liberating. Our shackles,

once clasped to sin’s path, have given way to another Master, who through His cross and resurrection

calls us to and empowers us for righteous living. This Master, the Lord Jesus, beautifies our attitudes

and behaviors.

After reading Paul’s teachings in verses 8-11, you might feel it’s a bit difficult to get your mind around.

If so, you’re right! Even Peter struggled a bit with some of Paul’s writings (2 Pet. 3:16). The focus is every

Christian’s identity with Christ—and the resultant lifestyle that identity demands and provides.

All believers can recognize and appreciate their freedom from sin’s dominance. Paul’s statements

regarding Christ emphasize two immensely important truths. First is the finality of Jesus’ death. He

died and will not die again. Jesus’ death on the cross achieved salvation, not for Himself, but for

those estranged from God due to their sins. Second is the finality of Christ’s resurrection. Jesus was

raised from the dead so that death no longer rules over Him. Forever He lives. Jesus’ death

and resurrection are historical realities.

Because Jesus died to sin, Christians should consider themselves dead to sin. Second, Christians

should consider themselves alive to God in Christ Jesus. Consider is a Greek imperative and thus

demands that every Christian should definitely and daily see themselves as dead to a sinful lifestyle and

alive to a righteous way of life.

Christ came to die for sinners so they can live in godliness. Sin no longer dominates Christian believers.

Christ has broken its tyranny over them. God’s people are not obligated to grovel when sin growls.

Knowing and believing who they are in Christ, all Christians can resist sin’s temptation and live in the

beauty of likeness to Him. Seeing themselves as dead to sin and alive to Christ, all Christians should daily

stand on the victory platform. So embrace your new identity in the One who conquered sin’s power on

your behalf.

B i B l e S t u d i e S f o r l i f e 51



Notes

Romans 6:12-14

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey

its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for

unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves

to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but

under grace.


DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 43 of the PSG: “How does our new identity

in Christ equip us to face the temptation and influence of sin?”

SAY: “When a sinner becomes a saint, his life is no longer marked by sin. Salvation

leaves a discernible mark.”

ENHANCEMENT: Milk leaves a discernible mark. Challenge the group to

describe a life marked by Jesus Christ, using Pack Item 3: “Discernible Mark.”

DO: To apply The Point, direct group members to choose one scenario to

complete in the activity on page 44 of the PSG.

Who’s in Charge?

How would I respond to this situation with Christ as my master: “Every time we get

together the conversation disintegrates into negativity and gossip.” __________

_____________________________________________________________

How would I respond to this situation with Christ as my master: “The boss says

there is a bonus if I can cut some corners in the construction of the new housing

units.“ ________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

TRANSITION: Let’s discover why our new taskmaster is one we want to serve.


52 S E S S I O N 4 © 2013 LifeWay© 2013 LifeWay


Christian believers have a daily fight on their hands. It’s not an easy battle, but it’s winnable. In 6:12-14,

Paul directed believers to engage in this warfare against sin and gain the victory in battle—every day!

He fashioned the challenge with three verbs of action (imperatives). The first occurs in verse 12 and is

stated negatively. God’s people are to not let sin reign. The verb means to rule as king. The present

tense conveys “do not continue” or “do not always.” The apostle called his readers to stop personal sin

dead in its tracks, an action both achievable and necessary. Because of Christ, war against personal sins

is winnable all day long. God’s people can and should stop listening to and carrying out sin’s orders.

Instead we should live in the beauty and power of Jesus’ righteous character and actions.

Until Jesus returns, sin will remain a potent power for all believers to deal with. Paul emphasized that sin

is not a believers’ king, monarch, or master. God’s people can and must resist its attraction, no matter

how powerfully alluring and deceptively appealing. Sin loses its power to successfully sway Christians if

they choose not to obey its desires. All believers can and must make that choice daily.

The second action imperative is do not offer. It demands a certain behavior to cease. Here, the directive

is that believers must not offer any parts of their bodies to sin as weapons for unrighteousness.

Offer has the idea of putting something at another’s disposal. Parts likely refers to one’s organs, such

as hands, eyes, and feet, as well as human abilities. Christians must wage war, not against one another,

but against sin. In addition to the military tone, the command is all-embracing. It includes both physical

and non-physical (i.e., emotions, thoughts, desires). Sin is a powerful enemy all Christians must reckon

with daily, but it’s not their lord. Indwelled by the living Christ, all believers can make a firm stand for

holy living and standing defiantly.

Paul’s previous two directives began negatively—actions to cease. The third action is again an

imperative, translated offer yourselves to God. However, the verb is a bit stronger in tense from the

other two. Here the directive demands an immediate and decisive break-off with sin of any kind and no

looking back. “Yourselves” is all inclusive: minds [what they thought about], eyes [what they looked at],

feet [where they went], heart [what they loved]. Such total self-giving is appropriate for those who are

alive from the dead! Now they were weapons for righteousness.

Paul followed up with two reasons to comply. First, sin will not rule over you. Second is because

you are not under law but under grace. God’s people don’t practice sin as a way of life. How can

this dramatic life change occur day after day at the workplace, home, school, and church?




Notes

Romans 6:15-18

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace?

Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as

obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading

to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that,

although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern

of teaching you were transferred to, 18 and having been liberated from sin,

you became enslaved to righteousness.


SUMMARIZE: People have become enamored by home improvement shows.

Start with a trashy, old house, add a hint of colorful paint, throw in shelves, and

roll out some fresh carpet. Voila! The before-and-after is breathtaking. Far more

dramatic and life-changing than any home makeover is the dramatic change that

has taken place through the cross. The chains are switched from one taskmaster to

another. Thankfully our new master, Jesus Christ, is loving and gracious.”

DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 45 of the PSG: “What does it look like to be

a slave of righteousness?”

GUIDE: Direct the group to explore how to trust in a body of truth, using the

“Romans 6:15-18” section on page 45 of the PSG.

TRANSITION: The road of discipline is the road less traveled but we can seek out

the heart of the Master. We’ll conclude by considering three ways to do this.




At this point in his letter, Paul raised a rhetorical question: does the gospel of salvation by grace through

Jesus permit or promote lawless lifestyles? If believers are under grace, does sin matter anymore? If God’s

response to sin is grace, isn’t it a good thing to sin and experience the reward of His kindness? The actual

question was, Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Paul answered

point blank: Absolutely not! Grace creates a righteous lifestyle in each one who trusts Christ.

To illustrate and support his denial that God’s grace encourages sin, Paul used an axiom, a statement

regarded as accepted and obviously true and fitting. The apostle pointed his readers to consider

Rome’s slave market. If a person, perhaps on account of gripping poverty or other desperate need,

offered himself or herself to a slave owner, the person then became an obedient slave of the one who

now owned him or her. Paul’s point is the exclusive and life-long ownership of the purchased slave.

He or she had one master for life! Paul next applied the slave/owner picture to point out similarity to

Christian believers. God’s people are like slaves in the sense of whom they obey. Those who trust Christ

distinctively mark their lives with following Jesus, thus desiring righteousness over wickedness, purity

over evil, right over wrong. That’s the Christian’s way all day, every day.

The gospel of Christ, once believed, liberates sinners from sin’s guilt and tyranny. But thank God.

Salvation is the result of God’s grace, not believers’ intelligence, moral uprightness, or charitable

kindnesses. Paul’s characterization of the believers at Rome as those enslaved to righteousness may,

but does not demand, a literal meaning of slavery. The Greek word family can mean “slave” or “be

enslaved.” It also may be rendered “servant” and “render service.” As slaves, Christians are those who

completely depend on their Master, the Lord Jesus, and who also give undivided commitment to Him.

In a spiritual sense, the Christian slave is one who serves Christ freely, wholeheartedly, and gladly. Still

the characterization of believers as slaves may be for some followers of Christ a bit offensive. The word

can suggest images of forced, involuntary service and cruel treatment. Either way, believers in Christ are

those who serve Him while living righteously in an unrighteousness world.

What then? is Paul’s key summary question. It is not enough to say no to sin. Believers must say yes to

righteousness. Should God’s people sin because they are not under law but under grace? The answer

must be, “Absolutely not!” Believers’ very identity, their DNA, is that they are liberated from sin and

enslaved to righteousness. We who walk with the living Christ must live daily as who we are for

the glory of God. Paul’s passionate mandate is that all believers live each day dressed in their finest

garment—righteousness. Walking in righteousness is every believer’s calling and opportunity.




Notes

LiVE it outSAY: “So how do we honor Jesus, our Master? How can we obey with heart?”

> Identify what controls you. Examine your life for those areas where sin

has easy reign.

> Form good habits. Spiritual discipline is needed to walk in righteousness.

Develop a plan to avoid activities that can lead to sin and replace them with

activities that encourage your walk with Christ.

> Point someone to their right identity. Help another believer shed the

old identity. Continually encourage him to see who he is in Christ.

Wrap It Up

SUMMARIZE: “The illusion is powerful. Sin promises freedom. But it simply

wraps one more chain and one more chain. And that’s not who you are anymore.

Choose to embrace your new identity. Bow to the God who will actually set

you free.”

5 minutes

56 S E S S I O N 4 © 2013 LifeWay© 2013 LifeWay

My group's prayer requests

Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, parents, boomers, and singles)

are available at BibleStudiesforLife.com/blog.

Cut to the Chase

Identity crisis. It’s easy to have one because we build our identities on things that move—things that aren’t dependable or constant. We chase the wrong things. To chase the heart of God, we must first figure out what other things we’re already chasing—things of the world, things that distract us, or things that pull us from the heart of God. One of the reasons why we chase the things of the world is that we’re looking for strong identities. We want to know that we matter and that we’re unique. We all need to know why our lives count and what sets us apart.

to continue reading “cut to the chase” from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles.

B i B l e S t u d i e S f o r l i f e 57© 2013 LifeWay© 2013 LifeWay

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session 4 An iDentity you must embrAce - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/maysvillebaptistchurchinc/documents/RSL... · identity theft from “The Bible Meets Life” on page 40