Bible Study February 20, 2025

Romans 6:1 – 4 (ESV)

“Grace Outshines Your Sin”

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

I believe Paul may have known something when he wrote these verses captioned above. People often make the mistake of seeing grace as a license to sin. That is what Paul is teaching against. Their idea may well be that if I sin more then I have more grace.

In our society in the past we have seen justice meted out by the court system. If you did wrong there were consequences to our actions. Many judges today do not adhere to the system of justice. No judge should show mercy in order to allow a criminal to go out and harm again.

Paul shows he has no patience for someone who continues to sin once they are forgiven. Now I know there are those who believe that “once you are saved from the sin in your life you are good to go.” I have never been able to buy into that idea.

If that were the case Paul most likely would not written the next line. The basic idea here is that someone who identifies as a Christ Follower should live into it – the sinless life. I am talking about intentional sin we all commit sins that are unintentional but to continue to disobey is completely wrong. Paul reminds us we are dead to sin.

When Jesus died over two thousand years ago we died with Him our sin went to the grave with Him. When He was buried we were buried. The Greek word for baptism as used here means to “plunge” or “dip.” It is like tie-dying a shirt you absorb the color and you are changed.

We walk in newness of life no longer the way we used to walk but we have a brand new step, everything should have changed.

Our thoughts change, our language changes, our practices change all things become new. Walk in the light.

God Bless.