The Christian’s identity must be anchored in Jesus as Lord. When it is, there is a gracious work of the Spirit to retrain the mind and our affections after God’s will, purpose, and plan. Today we will see how Paul instructs the church to do just that.
Observations:
- “Circumcision” & “Baptism” symbolize identity
- “Circumcision” represents a cutting off
- “Baptism” represents a burial
- “Putting off” & “Buried” symbolize your separation (death) to the flesh – old-self
- “Raised” & “Made Alive” symbolize your life in the Spirit by your new identity in Christ
Conclusions: Through Jesus & by the power of the Holy Spirit…
- Your “death” is a separation from sin’s controlling power
- Your “life” is a raised spiritual life that will never die
Application: I don’t feel “dead” to sin…
– invite and submit to the Spirit to
- Retrain your thinking and your affections: “mind” and “heart”
(1) – Rooted
(2) – Built Up
(3) – Strengthened in the Faith
(4) – Overflowing with thankfulness - Refrain from indulging the desires of the flesh – mortification
- Reveal the Spirit of God
Romans 2:29
“No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.”
Romans 6:3-4
“Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Ephesians 2:4-6
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 6:6-7
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”
Romans 6:11
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 6:1-2
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
Romans 8:12-13
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”