Plain Talk Vol.20, No.7, Pg.5 - Cedar Park Church of Christ

Vol. 20, No. 6	August, 1983
*USE YOUR BIBLE*

FROM SIN TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, ROM. 6:15-23

Intro.

1. A remarkable change has taken place with these Romans. They were once servants of sin but now are servants of righteousness; were lost but now have eternal life (v.22)

2. Every sinner stands where they once stood and desperately needs the salvation they came to have. Theirs is a pattern for its attainment.

I. WHAT THEY WERE

A. Servants of sin (v.17,19,20) 1.As other Gentile sinners had been: in darkness, under the power of Satan, blinded and lost in sin (Acts 26:18) 2.As the Ephesians had been (Eph. 2:1-3, 12; 4:18)

B. Fruitless in their living (v.21)

C. In a state of spiritual death (v.21,22)

D. Such is the state of every sinner and needs to be realized.

II. WHAT THEY DID

A. First, they learned something (could not obey what they did not learn) 1.They learned what God wants all men to know, the gospel, "that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 1:16) 2.This means they were teachable, which is so important 3.Only those who hear an -learn from God can come to Christ (Jn. 6:45) 4.Thus, it is faith that comes from the word of God that becomes the basis of serving God (Not experiences, tradition, or "family" religion)

B. They became obedient to what they learned (v.17) 1.Their doing was in accord with the teaching; they were taught the gospel, they obeyed the gospel (cannot obey truth by learning error) 2.As other NT converts, they expressed their faith by repenting of past sins (Acts 17:30), confessing Christ as Lord (Rom. 10:9, Acts 8:37), and being buried with Christ in baptism (Rom. 6:4).

C. They obeyed "from the heart" 1.Their obedience was sincere, intelligent (with understanding), willing

III. WHAT THEY BECAME

A. Saved'. ("free from sin") 1.The greatest blessing mortal man can know! 2.Notice: they were made free from sin after obeying. Obedience stands between every sinner and salvation. 3.THE point of pardon (being made free from sin) is the culminating act of obedience that puts off sin and puts on Christ. This is baptism. (Acts 2:38; 22:16i Gal. 3:27)

B. Thus, they became 'servants of righteousness" 1.Cleansing from past sins makes them fit for the Master's use. 2.Saved to serve the living and true God (1 Thss. 1:9)

Dan S. Shipley

[Previous Article] [Next Article]