Foundations Study - The Christ Centered Life Lesson #9 & 10 January 20, 2002

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Ø 6:11-13 Our Responsibilities in view of the Cross; as a result of our Identification with Christ's work on our behalf.

ØPaul teaches that we as Christians have certain responsibilities (6) in light of our freedom from the sinful nature and our resurrection with Christ. [our CPT]

6:14 We have the reason for our ability to effectively carry out our responsibilities.

Ø 6:11a Our first responsibility [1 of 6]

"Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin,"

- consider [reckon] logizomai

The stress of the use here lies with the process of reasoning;

i.e. to calculate, to take into account, to deliberate, the idea is that it refers to something that is carefully thought through.

- Our first responsibility as a Christian, then, is that every time the sinful nature tries to us, to manipulate us and motivate us to commit sin we should remember the fact that that the old nature is no longer our .

Ø 6:11b Our Second Responsibility [related to our CPT]

- We are to reckon ourselves "alive to God in Christ Jesus"

kjv but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The second responsibility of the Christian, then, is that every time the sinful nature tries to exert control of our decisions and actions which always result in sin;

we are to remember the fact that we now live in a unique personal relationship with God; therefore, our life is to be characterized by that relationship, i.e. remember its Christ's life.

Ø 6:12 The Third Responsibility

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts"

- When we were unregenerate, before the cross, our sinful nature reigned like a king over our physical body, making it a "body of sin." [basileuw]

In life there are only 3 options for the believer:

1. We can do the will of Satan. ------- Eph 4:27

2. We can do the will of God.---------- Rom 6:13

3. We can respond to our sin nature!--- Rom 6:12

- What does it mean for the sin nature to reign/to dominate your life?

- obey u`pakou,w to hear under; to hear obediently; what is heard is obeyed!

- What does the pronoun "its" refer to? What is its antecedent?

The antecedent is "mortal body" to this dying physical body.

- Why and how the body? Can you see the sin nature, can it be observed? Not at all!! It must have a vehicle!!

The sin nature is an intangible, invisible entity.

It needs the body in which it resides for it to carry out its desires. [evpiqumi,a] strong desires;

Examples:

- Question: Can the Sin Nature in the believer do these things without permission?? No!! We must give permission; turn it loose;

- Question Why the emphasis on a dying body?? qnhto,j sw/ma [subject to death] it keeps us humble; our feet firmly planted on the ground;

Ø 6:13a The Fourth Responsibility

The fourth responsibility of the believer is to "not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness"

- do not go on presenting pari,sthmi to place beside or near; to put or place at the disposal of;

- Note term instruments: o[plon tool or weapon of unrighteousness avdiki,a disregard for what is right;

Ø 6:13b The Fifth Responsibility is a positive one!

- The fifth responsibility presented by Paul is to "present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead"

pari,sthmi to place beside or near; to put or place at the disposal of;

Ø 6:13c The Sixth Responsibility [second part of the pos. cmd to present]

- Here Paul says to "present your members as instruments of righteousness to God"

A decision that we have to make continually.

Ø 6:14 Declaration of Release from Law

Several things should be noted concerning this declaration of release from law.

First, Paul is drawing a contrast between two positions:

the position of being under law and the position of being under grace.

- His use of the word "under" [u`po.] for both positions indicates that both involve subjection to some governing principle, some authority. [Centurion Mt 8:9]

Second, Paul is indicating that there is a relationship between being under law as a governing principle and having the sinful nature as master.

Third, Paul is teaching that there is some relationship between being under grace as a governing principle and not having the sinful nature as master.

Fourth, Paul is declaring that Christians are not under any external law as a means of sanctification.

- The word "the" is missing before the word "law"; no definite article; therefore, Paul is not referring to any specific law system.

He is teaching that no external law will set a person from mastery by his sinful nature.

He is simply saying that is so dynamic that it can control and you in a way that the law never could nor was it intended to!