When We Repent
Notes
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Introduction:
We have been studying through the book of Romans together for several weeks now. Today, we are going to be in . As you turn there, I want to remind you that Paul has spent the previous chapters developing up to this point.
1. When we repent, we are not to remain in sin.
1. When we repent, we are not to remain in sin.
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
We are not to remain like we were, in fact, we are to have a transformed mind, heart, and desire. Grace is not a license to remain in sin.
Look at how the new life wars with the old here in Galatians 5:17-24,
Look at how the new wars with the old here in Galatians.
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Transition:
Not only do we see that Grace is not a license to remain in sin, we see that.
2. When we repent, we can no longer serve sin.
2. When we repent, we can no longer serve sin.
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Romans 6:16-
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Romans 6:16-19
Exposition
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Historical:
The Epistle to the Romans 2. Freed from Sin’s Power to Serve Righteousness (6:15–23)
For people in the ancient world would often sell themselves into slavery as a way of avoiding financial disaster.
Exposition:
Thus what Paul is teaching is that we are willful slaves to who we obey.
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey” -Romans 6:16a
Our actions speak volumes about who we are whether good or bad.
It is unknown who first said this but it is a fairly popular quote. It says,
"Actions speak louder than words. We can apologize over and over but if our actions don't change the words become meaningless."
Application:
It is equally true as a professing Christian, we can say we want to not sin and apologize to God and people over and over but if there is not lasting change the true repentance never uttered from our souls.
Greek usage of the word slave can have two kinds of implied meaning, one as a positive and one as a negative.
Let’s look at the negative in this passage first.
Transition:
Paul offers us two kinds of slaves, the first slave he tells us of is the slave to sin.
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
The slave to sin is the natural state for all of humanity. Paul has already established in that there is not one righteous person in this world.
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
We all have been or currently are a slave to sin.
Look at what verse 16 says about it
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Did you catch that, the result of slavery to sin is death. tells us,
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Physical death entered the world and every person is appointed to suffer that consequence. Yet, there is an even more dangerous result of sin, spiritual death. Sin doesn’t just result in the physical but puts in a place where we are not able to have fellowship with God almighty.
If you have a friend who has wronged you, you are not in good fellowship with that person until there is forgiveness in that relationship.
Application:
The same is true for us and our relationship with God, we cannot live lives of unholiness and expect to have a relationship with God. The only result is separation and death.
Transition:
Yet, there is a second kind of slave, the slave to Christ.
The text states, “slaves...of obedience, which leads to righteousness.” Obedience in this context is directly dealing with the obedience to Christ and the Word of God. It is vitally important to remember that the act of being a slave of Christ is a freeing reality. Yes, are called to live holy lives but there is great freedom in such living. We see that obedience leads to righteousness.
Righteousness is being found upright or guiltless before the Lord.
Application:
Therefore, we must not give into the temptations of the enemy; instead, as believers, we absolutely must pursue obedient living for God’s glory above all other things.
Transition:
But how do we live as slaves of obedience?
God has handed us over to lives of obedience.
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is very careful with his wording. He states that “you were committed.” What this communicates is that nothing believers do in obedience is of their flesh but the empowering of the Spirit. They did not hand themselves over to it, they became submissive to the will of God. They verb is in the passive tense meaning it was another who did the work for them. At the moment of repentance, God indwells us and we experience God becoming our master. Thus, we have become submitted to the teaching of God’s Word and obedient to His will.
What is this result? Look at verse 18 with me,
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
When repentance takes place in one quick moment, God sets us free from sin and hands us over to himself for obedience and worship. It is important that we understand what Paul is meaning by the term slave here.
The word actually could imply a positive enslavement or a negative one. In the culture of the day, one could willfully submit themself to someone in order to avoid financial ruin, death, or destruction. Sounds a little familiar to this situation doesn’t it?
Paul is telling this people that you have enslaved yourself to sin and death, turn to the good master and submit yourself to the hope of Christ in obedience.
What better way can we demonstrate love for God than to serve him faithfully? Truthfully, there isn’t any other way. Jesus said to the people,
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 10:
If we are going to call ourselves Christians and followers of Christ, we absolutely must live lives of holiness. We cannot live as if we are still in the bondage to sin in our lives which means if we do stumble and slip up we are to be quick to repent and flee from that situation.
Transition:
Since God has empowered us for obedience, we must pursue it.
In verse 19 Paul tells the people,
19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Paul uses to the word present which means to make yourself at someone’s disposal. Thus, at one time you were available to do all the sin you wanted. Yet, now, under Christ, you are to make yourself solely available for the things of God. Why? Because out of submission to righteousness we are going to experience further sanctification. In other words, repentance leads to obedience which leads to righteousness that leads to being made holy. It is a journey. One doesn’t just repent and is able to live a perfect life from then on. It is a grind and there requires determination to pursue Christ.
As a result, we must be on guard ready to fight off temptation with the Word of God, prayer, and with other believers.
Transition:
Yet, we are warned that we were once slaves of sin and couldn’t do anything of righteousness before God.
Look at with me
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
Not only could we not do anything of righteousness, we had an ending resulting in death. However, something else entirely shows up in this section that is one of the best gauges for knowing if you are living for Christ or sin, are you ashamed of what you are doing?
When we were lost in our sin, we were not ashamed of it. In fact we were proud of it. Throughout my life, I have heard people brag about their sin. I’ve heard guys and girls brag about who they slept with, how they cheated a guy or girl for their own gain, how they got away with a lie, how they cheated on a test, the list goes on and on. But, I have also heard guys and girls share how God redeemed them from these same issues and how much they ashamed they did such things. The point is that a truly repentant person cannot enjoy their sin because the Spirit convicts the soul.
If for any reason, you have found yourself enjoying the sin in your life. Confess it to the Lord and ask him to soften your heart to the things of his! Some of you might need to repent and confess Jesus as Lord because you haven’t actually done it.
Transition:
Yet, is there any good news?
Absolutely, there is!
3. When we repent, God gifts us the gift of life.
3. When we repent, God gifts us the gift of life.
Look at
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Thus, repentance leads to obedience which leads to righteousness which gives birth to sanctification which concludes with eternal life with our Lord and Savior.
We have no greater hope than what is found in Christ Jesus, there is nothing more significant than his sacrifice, there is no greater master we can serve, there is none more worthy to praise than Christ alone!
Who are we apart from Christ?
A slave to sin, we are not our own masters for we are in bondage to the very thing which seeks to devour our life. It has no mercy or grace. It serves no one and kills everyone. Thank God for his mercy and grace, look at verse 23,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eternal life is the free gift of God. He could have left us to suffer from our transgressions, he could have destroyed us for our unrepentant hearts. Yet, instead, God saw fit to send Jesus to die for us as the perfect sacrifice so that He could redeem us through his gift of grace and righteousness!
There truly is nothing greater than to receive the free gift of God. Truly there is nothing more rewarding than experiencing the loving touch of the Good Master.
Invitation:
Will you choose to repent and believe? See repentance is not simply saying you are wrong, it is knowing you are wrong, confessing you are wrong, and committing to obeying what the Bible teaches about all aspects of your life. It doesn’t mean you have to have it all figured out, or know ever aspect of the Bible. What it does mean, is that you are committing to learning and apply the truth of God’s Word and pursuing holiness. It is not easy to follow after Jesus, the world is going to try and lead you astray. Yet, with the power of Jesus you can persevere. Simply repent.
Others, in this room you have repented, but you have allowed some sin to creep into your life and you have been hiding it. It is time to confess it and cast it before God to be destroyed.
Pray.