Faith Talk – July 13, 2025

Sunday: July 13, 2025
Series: Romans: The Righteousness of God
Sermon: Your New Life in Christ

Romans 6:1-2 – What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

This sermon launches the sanctification section of Romans (chapters 6-8), addressing the false accusation that salvation by grace gives believers a license to sin. Paul responds with shock, explaining that believers have experienced a miraculous spiritual transformation—we have died to sin and been raised to new life in Christ. Through baptism imagery, Paul illustrates that just as Christ died and rose again, believers have spiritually died to sin's power and been raised to live in victory.

The message emphasizes that Christians are not free to sin but free from sin, having crucified the "old man" who was enslaved to sin and now possessing resurrection power to live for righteousness. The key is knowing our new identity in Christ and continually presenting ourselves to God rather than allowing sin to rule over us, living under grace rather than law.
 
Main Points

• Grace doesn't give license to sin - believers have died to sin and no longer have to continue living in it
• Spiritual transformation has occurred - death to sin, resurrection to new life in Christ
• We are free FROM sin, not free TO sin - the old enslaved person has been crucified
• Know your new identity - you are not who you used to be; you are alive in Christ
• Present yourself to God - offer your body as a weapon for righteousness, not sin
• Live under grace, not law - empowered for victory, not just condemned for failure

 

Homes with Adults

• Paul says that someone who truly understands grace would be shocked at the idea of using it as a license to sin. How has your understanding of God's grace affected your desire to live righteously?
• The sermon emphasizes that we must "know" our new identity in Christ for it to impact our behavior. What specific truths about your identity in Christ do you need to remind yourself of more often?
• Paul commands us to "present ourselves to God" rather than allowing sin to rule over us. What does this look like practically in your daily life, and when was the last time you intentionally did this?

 
Homes with Students

• The message says Christians are "free from sin, not free to sin." How would you explain this difference to a friend who thinks Christianity is just a bunch of rules?
• Paul talks about crucifying the "old man" - the person you were before Christ. What aspects of your old life do you still struggle to put to death?
• The sermon mentions living under grace (empowered for victory) rather than law (condemned for failure). How does this change your approach to dealing with temptation and failure?

 
Homes with Kids

• Paul says we are like people who were dead but are now alive. How does it feel to know that Jesus gave you new life?
• The sermon talks about not letting sin be the "boss" of our lives anymore. Who should be the boss instead, and how can we remember that?
• Paul says we should use our bodies to do good things for God instead of bad things. What are some ways you can use your hands, feet, and words for God this week?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the miraculous transformation that occurred when we believed in Christ - that we died to sin and were raised to new life. We're grateful that You didn't just forgive our sins but completely changed our identity and gave us power to live differently.
 
We ask for help in truly knowing and believing who we are in Christ. When we're tempted to sin or feel powerless against temptation, remind us that the old person enslaved to sin has been crucified and we now have resurrection power living in us. Help us to see sin as completely incompatible with our new nature rather than something we can dabble in.
 
We commit to presenting ourselves to You daily, offering our bodies as weapons for righteousness rather than instruments of sin. Help us to live under grace - empowered for victory - rather than under law, where we only experience condemnation. May our lives reflect the reality that grace doesn't give us freedom to sin but freedom from sin. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Materials needed:

• Two decorated boxes or containers
• Labels: "OLD LIFE" and "NEW LIFE"
• Index cards or paper strips
• Markers, crayons
• Small mirror
• Bible

 
Instructions:

1. Prepare the boxes:
   • Decorate one box with dark colors, label it "OLD LIFE"
   • Decorate the other with bright colors, label it "NEW LIFE"
   • Place the mirror in the "NEW LIFE" box

2. Fill the "OLD LIFE" box:
   • Have family members write or draw behaviors/attitudes from before knowing Christ:
     • "Selfish choices"
     • "Anger when things don't go my way"
     • "Lying to get out of trouble"
     • "Not caring about others"
   • For children, use simple concepts like "being mean" or "not sharing"

3. Fill the "NEW LIFE" box:
   • Write new life characteristics on cards:
     • "Kindness to others"
     • "Forgiveness when hurt"
     • "Honesty even when it's hard"
     • "Helping those in need"

4. Act out the transformation:
   • Start by looking at "OLD LIFE" cards and acting out those behaviors
   • Then dramatically "crucify" those cards (tear them up or put them in a trash bag)
   • Look in the mirror in the "NEW LIFE" box and say: "I am not who I used to be!"
   • Pick "NEW LIFE" cards and practice those behaviors

5. Daily practice:
   • Each morning, have family members look in the "NEW LIFE" mirror and remind themselves: "I am dead to sin and alive in Christ"
   • When someone acts according to the old life, gently remind them to "present themselves to God" and choose a new life response

6. Weekly check-in:
   • Discuss which new life behaviors were easy/hard to live out
   • Add new cards as you discover more about your identity in Christ
   • Celebrate victories over old patterns

This activity helps families visualize the spiritual transformation Paul describes and practice living from their new identity in Christ.