Introduction: The matters we’re dealing with in Romans 6 are not simply an apologetic for the gospel of grace. They are roadmap for the Christian’s sanctification.
We know these things, not only that we might have an answer for gospel opponents.
We know these things that we might have an answer for our own struggle with sin.
All that is practical flows out of the doctrinal. From the knowledge of our position in Christ comes Christian practice IF the position is truly ours.
If these things THAT ARE TRUE, are true IN YOUR OWN CASE, then KNOWING these things and ACTING IN ACCORDANCE with these things, is how you grow.
At the end of verse 4 we considered the purpose for which we were united with Christ in His death. We saw that we were united with Christ in His death SO THAT we might walk in newness of life.
All those who have been joined to Christ, all those who have been saved, have experienced the results of His death to sin (vs.10).
What Christ accomplished for us, and what the Spirit of God has communicated to us, was all in the interest of a new life.
And that’s where I want us to begin tonight. When we think about our death to sin, I want us to think about the DIVINE PURPOSE FOR THAT DEATH TO SIN.
I. THE CERTAINTY OF A NEW LIFE (vs.5)
God’s purposes are not frustrated.
It was God’s purpose that our union with Christ would result in newness of life and in verse 5 we are told IT CERTAINLY WILL.
*Our death is a death like His
*We will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His
A. THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
What is this death like his, and what is the corresponding resurrection like His?
Well, I would argue that it is a spiritual death and resurrection that was completely dependent upon, and was given to us in view of, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The believer is “united” with Him in the likeness of His death.
“United” translates a form of the word σύμφυτος
σύμφυτος, ον … pert. to being associated in a related experience (‘grown together’ Aristot., HA 5, 32, 557b, 18, Topica 7, 6, 145b, 3; 13) identified with τινί someth.1
1. WE DID NOT DIE WITH HIM PHYSICALLY
The physical element of this, is what Jesus suffered. His death was physical, and His resurrection was bodily.
But the death that we have already experienced isn’t physical, and I would argue the likeness of His resurrection follows along the same lines. It’s a logical necessity that is being pointed out by Paul.
Everett Harrison and Donald Hagner – “A difficult question in v. 5 is whether Paul is referring to the future bodily resurrection of the saints. Many commentators think so, and they can point to the future tense of the verb esometha (“we will be,” GK 1639). Ordinarily, of course, the future tense relates to something that will happen. Occasionally, however, it indicates what must logically or inevitably occur (e.g., Gal 6:5). So if there are other grounds on which to question a future bodily resurrection here, the tense of the verb is not an insuperable obstacle. A second factor to consider is that Christ’s resurrection, mentioned in the previous verse, was indeed a bodily resurrection. This is true enough. But it should be observed that Paul does not say that just as Christ was raised, we too will be raised. Instead he connects the resurrection of Christ with the possibility of a new life for those who are his. And this new life belongs to the present time.”2
2. WE DIED IN TERMS OF BENEFITING FROM HIS DEATH
ESV Romans 8:3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
B. THE CERTAINTY OF UNION IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
And Paul emphasizing here is the absolute certainty of the believer’s participation in both sides of what happened with Jesus.
Everyone who has been united with Him in the effects of his death, and so have experienced a death like his, will CERTAINLY experience a resurrection like this.
**This has confused people. Because the wording is future, people think that it is a reference to future resurrection. We do not deny that we will certainly share in a future resurrection, but the whole context here is about life right now. It is an answer to the charge that the apostle’s teaching on grace leads to SINFUL LIVING.
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