ROMANS Study Guide

b. Three wrong approaches to sin

1. Moralism: Let society determine right and wrong. Every culture is free to determines its understanding of what is right and wrong. 2. Legalism: Control bad behavior by legislating and enforcing biblical laws.

3. Cheap grace: Yes God has a standard of right and wrong but he is so

loving that he understands our weak condition in resisting sin and is

patient with our inability to overcome our sinful weaknesses.

Correct approach to sin

Paul takes a unique approach to an swering this argument… “how can a true believer want to keep sinning or not be able to stop sinning - because we have died to sin in Christ? ” 1. The meaning of Baptism:

a. Our old self: We define this old nature in us as …the life we

inherited from Adam (independent from God - seeks to be our own

god…Gen.3:1 -6)

b. Our old self can never be saved or restored (1Cor.15:50.

Jn.3:5-6) It must die (Eph.4:22; Rom.6:6)… in fact it was

crucified with Christ in his crucifixion.

2. What does it mean to be spiritually dead?

a. The dead cannot be tempted (vs.2) The true believer now has

a gift of being dead towards the temptations of Satan, the world

and our flesh. We have ceased from wanting to sin because our

sin desire has been killed (vss.7,11) This is a supernatural gift

and a fact that we need to fully understand and walk in.

b. You bury what is dead… you don’t bury something to kill it!

Baptism is the public statement “I am in Christ now” with the

results of my past life of sin loving… being dead and over. Now

I am resurrected with Christ, experiencing a new desire …that

wants to live the life of Christ that is now in me.