I trust that I have the mind of the Spirit, as I bring you this message. I want you to see that you are free from sin!

It does no good to beat people up: People must believe the gospel.

First, what happened to the Lord Jesus Christ happened to us! vs1-4

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.” vs4

We are one with Him, unified in the same body, so that when He died, we died! Much more, when He was resurrected, then we were also, 2000 years ago, without us doing anything.

It has nothing to do with us, but we receive the benefits.

Live as one UNITED TO CHRIST and a partaker of His death and resurrection. This is how you overcome sin, by realizing that you already are forgiven and cleansed.

Secondly, death in Christ has freed us from our sin debt, so that God is no longer angry. vs5-7

“For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

He pacified His own wrath, when the Son paid for our sins. Now, sin can no longer separate us from God: it can’t keep us away from the help that we need. We are justified. He dealt with our sins fully and completely on the cross, until the Sacrifice was fully consumed [Levi 6:10-11].

The battle for holiness is believing that GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE, and you are reconciled through the Son. Now, the help will come and the enemies will scatter. You are already forgiven.

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” vs9-11

Thirdly, this reckoning or counting yourself dead to sin and alive in Christ is believing. The gospel isn’t for you to do something; it is to believe and receive what Christ has done; it is not your contribution or effort; it is receiving the free gift, so that just as we receive righteousness by faith, we receive holy conduct too [Rom 5:17].

This is not achieved by looking at our sin.

1. We must believe that we need the gift - that there is NO OTHER WAY to deal with God, and we must receive the gift freely.

2. Self strength cannot do this. You can’t make yourself holy. You must believe, like the leper, that He cleansed you -that He’s forgiven you and given you a new nature of obedience!

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. [Luke 5:13]

Finally, grace will see you through and grace will give us the benefits. Vs12-14

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

When we consider ourselves, we fall. Pride takes hold of us and meanness comes out. We have contempt for others because we think ourselves great.

Yet, when we consider the gospel, power comes from on high with meekness, and this is the gift of God, that we rely on Him always for power over sin; it is not our will power, intelligence, or how long we’ve been in the gospel: it is grace all the time.

Grace brings forgiveness! It reminds you of what Christ has done. Grace opens your eyes to see that sanctification is ALREADY YOURS. Grace gives and gives: it gives strength by the Holy Spirit. Grace is sufficient!

This is the greatest thing of all - the sufficiency of grace - so we rely on Him confidently.

I was reading Joshua 11, and I saw how they conquered, utterly slaughtering their enemies, and I wished someone would test me as a king in Israel! I’d go back to the word of God, see the promises for battle, and expect His help. If a prophet came and said, “Fear not, the Lord is with you,” then my enemies better scatter!

But, this is the gospel: we have the promised help of God. Sin has been forgiven and grace will make you godly [ Pet 1:16].

Grace comes through Scripture reading, hearing sermons, and prayer; it comes as we meditate on the things of the gospel and believe God; it comes as we see commandments and warnings, as we look up to Christ and say, “Give me holiness or I die.”