Romans 6:15 – 23

I. Does sin matter?

A. We have a choice... why not sin?

1. Some acts of freedom [sin] destroy freedom.

2. Some acts of submission [righteousness] create freedom.

(Ill.) Imagine a fence. Inside the fence is a dangerous junkyard with all sorts of things that hurt, harm, cut, bruise, maim, destroy, and kill. Outside the fence is freedom and safety. Inside the fence of sin we are in captivity to lots of things that will damage us. Outside, we are free and safe.

B. Does sin matter?

1. Sin leads to death (physical, spiritual, and eternal).

2. Obedience leads to life.

II. How does it work?

A. You have two choices:

1. You can choose between impurity and righteousness [which is a choice of attitude].

2. You can choose between deepening wickedness and deepening holiness [which is a choice of direction].

B. You can choose the consequences:

1. Who and what controls you determines what you are set free from.

a. Sin makes you free from righteousness [the obligation to do right].

b. Holiness makes you free from the emptiness, shame, and eternal consequences of sin.

2. Ultimately who/what you serve determines your eternal destiny (not what you profess or say you serve).

III. What’s the other side?

A. Theological arguments:

1. “We are saved through faith alone.”

a. Yes, but faith is reflected in our behavior.

b. The Bible says, “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” James 2:24 [Context is the err of “faith alone” as being sufficient.]

c. WHAT WE DO REFLECTS/BETRAYS WHAT WE BELIEVE.

2. “If we are saved then sin is not a problem.” (I have heard this on many occasions.)

a. That’s what Paul is addressing... Sin is a problem.

b. What consequences do you want?

B. Worldly arguments:

1. “I don’t want to be a slave to God.”

a. It’s an illustration of who you choose to serve.

b. It’s the closest parallel:

1.) Slavery controls you.

2.) Freedom controls you.

2. “How can sin be a problem?”

a. Ultimately sin separates us from God... “wages of sin” [v 23]

b. Ultimately only God’s gift can give us eternal life. We do not earn our salvation by what we do, we reflect salvation’s change and effect by what we do.

IV. Now what?

A. Acknowledge, truthfully, where you are at now.

B. Believe, in such a way that it is reflected in your behavior, on Jesus.

C. Choose to offer yourselves to righteousness with the same energy and enthusiasm as you once did with sin.

D. Do what you know is right. If you fall down, get back up.