Romans 6:1-23
1) When a person is born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, they become dead to sin and alive in Christ.
a) The person without the Holy Spirit cannot understand eternal principles outlined in scripture. Biblical concepts are ridiculous to the carnal mind.
b) The person without the life giving power of the Holy Spirit is bound by condemnation under the righteous demands of the law and destined for God’s wrath.
c) Jesus met God’s righteousness demands under the law through his death, burial and resurrection. We receive the benefit(s) of Christ by faith (Salvation, Reconciliation, Glorification, Sanctification).
2) Legalism is a false sense of security that appeals to our carnal nature. We can only be found righteous because of what Christ has accomplished alone (Mark 7: 5-23).
a) A legalistic clings to man-made self righteous regulations instead of allowing Christ to draw out a pure inner motive of holiness birthed by the Holy Spirit (John 4:14).
b) Any work of obedience that does not spring forth from an active and living faith in Jesus Christ and His word is a form of legalism.
c) The Bible and leading of the Holy Spirit should never be restrained by religious traditions, human wisdom and popular opinion.
3) The grace of Christ reached out and met us at our weakest point.
a) If we attempt to please God in the flesh and we are not empowered by the Spirit, our fleshly passions will push us deeper into the bondage to sin.
b) The sinful state of the human heart without a saving faith in Christ is truly wretched.
c) When we have been baptized into Christ by faith, it will be marked by repentance of sins and seeking a new way of life in the Holy Spirit.
Discussion question: What does it mean to be born in the Spirit?
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Production, Editor and Cover Art: Susan Cofer Fell
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