Theme: The gospel reveals the righteousness of God...
3. In Sanctification (6:1-8:17)
A) Of Position (6:1-11)
B) Of Practice (6:12 - 7:25)
Chapters 3b - 5 talked about "justification", which is God saving us from the "penalty" of sin (hell) through faith in Christ. Chapter 6 now speaks of "sanctification", which is God saving believers from the "power" of sin in their daily lives. Sanctification involves the process of separating a believer from sin, and consecrating him to God's service. A believer is first sanctified in his position in Christ, then in his practice on earth. Like justification, sanctification comes through faith in Christ's death and resurrection, apart from human merit.
Sanctification of position (1-11). When a person trusts Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit baptizes him into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). This act of God so unites (5) the believer with the person and work of Christ, that he is said to have been buried with Him in His death to sin, and raised with Him to newness of life (1-6). This is the believer's position, regardless of his behavior, and forms the basis for sanctification of practice. To gain victory over the power of sin in his daily life, the believer must first "know" his position in Christ, i.e. that he has died with Him to sin, and been raised with Him to newness of life.
Sanctification of practice (12-13). Chapter 5 showed that the grace of God appears more abundant when it is given to those who are greater sinners. One may reason that if our sin magnifies God's grace, and if we are free from condemnation, why not sin all the more? Chapter 6 reminds us that a person is the slave of the one he serves, that slavery to sin results in death, but that slavery to righteousness results in eternal life (15-23). To gain victory over the power of sin in his daily life, the believer must "count" his position in Christ to be true (that is that he has died to sin and been raised to newness of life in Christ), and then "yield" his members as instruments of righteousness to God (12-14).
Even victory over the power of sin in daily life comes through faith in Christ's death and resurrection, apart from human merit. Having been united with Christ in His death to sin and resurrection to newness of life (positional sanctification), the believer gains victory over the
power of sin in his daily walk as he "knows" his position, "counts" it to be true, and "yield's" his members as instruments of righteousness to God (sanctification of practice). This is all by faith in Christ's death and resurrection, apart from human merit.
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