Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ - (Rom 6:1-4), Part 4/4

You can feel the difference between religious pressure and real spiritual life, and Romans 6 puts words to it. We talk about union with Christ, the kind of union that changes how you wake up, how you handle guilt, and how you face suffering. If Jesus truly died and rose again, then believers are not stuck trying to “earn” freedom. We’re brought into it, sharing in his death to sin and walking in the newness of life by resurrection power.

We also zoom out to see how intentional God’s plan is, from the law pointing to Christ to the perfect historical timing for the gospel to spread across the world. Then we get very practical: why legalism, fear, and self-reliance cannot defeat sin, and why a deeper grasp of justification and sanctification flows from the same place, our unbreakable union with the crucified and risen Savior.

Along the way, our group shares honest testimonies about seasons that crushed them, and how something stronger kept pulling them up. We wrestle with big questions too, including what it would even mean to “lose salvation” if the resurrection power of Christ is at work in his people. We close with a praise report, prayer, and encouragement for anyone who needs comfort and clarity tonight.

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Transcript

Worthiness Found In Following Jesus

SPEAKER_03 0:00

There, we know that. But Jesus takes us all with him and he goes, You come with me, and I will make you know, you come with me and you are worthy because you are with me. You are following me. And he goes to the door and he tells the father, the father looks at him and said, They're with you, huh? And they're following you. Well, you can come in. You know. And I mean, that's kind of mundane, but I mean I think it I think it fits. And because really that's what it's all about. I mean, you know, it's you know, the whole plan of God, I don't I don't pretend to know, but I mean, you know, the law was the tutor that brought us to Christ. It was all laid out from the very beginning, how it was gonna be and what was gonna happen, and it happened exactly the way it was ordained. I mean, Jesus kept saying, you know, I mean, during his ministry, it was like when when everyone threw him off the cliff and he walked right through him, it wasn't his path. They couldn't touch him. You know, it's it's it everything had to come at the proper, at the due time, as you as you said yesterday, I believe. Right. I mean, and you know, it it couldn't pick a better time. At

Why God’s Timing Was Perfect

SPEAKER_03 1:12

that time, the Roman Empire controlled the known world. There were roads and security and everything, people could travel. There was essentially one language, coin and Greek. Right. You know, I mean, it was perfect for the for the spread of the gospel. Yep. And just leave it up to the Lord to plan it that way. I mean, he's it's just so brilliant.

SPEAKER_09 1:32

Right. So

Union With Christ Changes Everything

SPEAKER_09 1:35

there's there's two aspects to Christ's work. And we talked a little bit about it yesterday. It talked about the superabounding grace and how that superabounding grace that came by way of Christ superseded the reigning of death and sin that came by way of Adam. So we need to understand, we need to, we need to always remind ourselves that the purpose of the union with Christ is not just a negative, is not merely or just negative. Christians are not only delivered from the dominion of sin, that would be the that would that would be on the negative side, delivered, being delivered from the dominion of sin, but we are also brought into a new mode of existence, a new mode of existence. So as Christ was raised from the dead by the power of his father, and by the power, his own power, having raised himself up, believers now we participate spiritually in the power and life of that resurrection. That resurrection. That same divine power that raised up Christ from that tomb is at work in every one of us, it's at work in his people. And what does it do? What does that work do? It produces a transformed life, a life that is transformed and a life that is transforming. The same power. There is no scenario where we can look at the death of Christ and his resurrection and say, does any part of that that failed? So just like his resurrection could not fail, our new life can never fail us. We have new life right now. Christ has given it to us. We own it, we have been made partakers in him, and that separation, there's a union there that can never be separated. Sister

When Resurrection Life Holds You Up

SPEAKER_09 3:40

Terry, go ahead.

SPEAKER_08 3:42

You know, I I've been absolutely crushed by life a few times in my life and and recently. And it's the it's that resurrection life. I can almost feel it inside me that makes me get up in the morning and keep my faith in him. And I I can't imagine handling what what I've been handling like 20, 30 years ago, like to the degree I just want to identify that I think a lot of us have experienced that where we thought we were out for the count, and we felt like something in us was just pulling us up and strengthening us.

SPEAKER_09 4:26

Right. Amen, sister. Yeah, you you you you've gone through a lot, and you know what? Everybody, including you, who are going through so much, these words, excuse me, these words are words of comfort. Knowing that what Christ experienced when it comes to his death and resurrection, we're going to experience the same thing. And and we're going to pass over when he returns, if we don't go to him before, and we're going to ultimately be glorified and going to live with him forever. And

Newness Of Life Beyond Self-Help

SPEAKER_09 4:59

we see here in the verse four, it talks about us walking in the newness of life. And so this phrase, newness of life, it describes something that is not just something far more superior than just some kind of a moral improvement. It's not just moral improvement, it speaks of an entirely new principle of existence that we experience right now. Right now. The believer possesses a new heart. The governing direction of our life has fundamentally changed. We are different. Sometimes it's hard for us Christians and believers to really understand this, to really meditate upon this and understand what we are being told here in these passages. It's glorious. We are changed people, we've been transformed. The Christian no longer lives for self and sin as the supreme end for their existence, but now we live for God and for righteousness' sake. Sister May.

Freedom From Legalism And Guilt

SPEAKER_04 6:22

Do we really believe this? And I think that society puts people in a place where we don't understand freedom. And you have people who call themselves Christians who go out and spy out the liberty of other believers who believe the word of God and believe in his promises and believe what this Bible says, and they want to yoke them back under the law and yoke them to these things of bondage that we've been made free from. Right. And it's really sad. And it's sad because if we truly know the Lord, whom the Son sets free, is free indeed. That's right, sister. We are free. We're free to serve the Lord. We're free to serve others. We're free to, I mean, anything that we can think about. And you know who did that? The Lord Jesus Christ. We are free from the bondage of sin. We are free from the penalty of sin. Every single sin on that cross was paid for in full. And if he was to ever count our sin against us, right, that's why the word of God says, who can bring a charge against God's elect? Nobody. Why? Because the Lord Jesus Christ justified us, and the justifier is the judge.

SPEAKER_09 7:48

That's right.

SPEAKER_04 7:49

And so it's just, it's just really getting to when we read these things, understanding them and believing them.

SPEAKER_09 8:00

You

Why Resurrection Defines Christianity

SPEAKER_09 8:01

know, the the the resurrection of Christ, it is the source. His resurrection is the source and it is the pattern for Christian living. And what it it is so significant and key to being a Christian that to not believe in the resurrection is absolutely unequivocally not to be Christian. That's how central it is. His resurrection, just just like his resurrection marked his entrance into the new and glorious state that we all long to be participants in, believers are called to live in a manner that is consistent with the new life that we have, which is modeled after his actual resurrection. And us also, him being the first fruits, is the reminder when we contemplate our Lord and Savior, that him being the first fruits, we are coming soon after. We're going to receive that glorious resurrection. Resurrection is so important. It is a central theme of the Christian faith, so much so that without it, there is no salvation. And this is why we can look to any religion and immediately regard it as false if there was no resurrection of a dying Messiah. Any any religion that does not have this dying Messiah is no true religion at all. Without Christ, there is no salvation for any. For any.

The Clear Line Between Faith And Unbelief

SPEAKER_09 13:48

Union with Christ. Brother Jeff, go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 13:51

Well, you know, go on again with what Lisa's, what Sister Lisa said. I mean, you know, the thing is, our relationship with God in the universe is black and white. You can look at life and see all kinds of shades of gray, not to refer to this that stupid book, but the you know, even Jesus said, you know, if he he was not with you know with me is against me. I mean, if you're not, if you're not towing the line in terms of belief, faith for your salvation and belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you're on the side totally of the evil one, like Lisa said, the serpent. Right. And it's it's as clear as the nose on your face. The reason why unbelievers don't get it is because they're blinded. Right. They're blinded. Their eyes have not been opened. And the thing is, it seems so simple and obvious to us because we're saved. We've given been given the the insight and the knowledge.

unknown 14:54

Right.

SPEAKER_03 14:54

So nobody was saying that. What, Meg? I don't know what you're talking about.

SPEAKER_09 15:00

So was that it, brother? Yeah, I'm done. Okay.

The Answer To Sin Is Not Legalism

SPEAKER_09 15:06

So the the and I'm almost done here. So the the freedom of the believer is a freedom from guilt of sin and his growing freedom from the power of sin. They both are derived from the union that we have in Christ. And so, because he died, because our Lord died, we died in him. And because he was buried, we were also buried with him. And because he rose again, we now possess that resurrection life today. Today. And this is this is a glorious thing. It's the most magnificent thing that has ever entered into this world that we live in right now. The answer to sin, the answer to sin, and everyone needs to understand this, it is not legalism, it is not fear, it is certainly not self-will or self-reliance in any capacity, but it is a deeper understanding and an application of the believer's participation in the crucified and risen Savior. And it is from this union that we have with him, from this union flows the absolute and unequivocal certainty of justification and the necessity of holiness, all of which is made possible through the death, the burial, and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who through these means brought us into perfect union with Him, a union that can never be severed. Never.

An Open Door For Pushback

SPEAKER_09 17:21

Never be provoked and be persuaded. And again, everyone, anyone that has a problem with any one of these things that we talked about, feel free. If you are reluctant to express a different view or perspective or whatever, feel free to write to me and we can talk about it. But I want to make sure that the people understand that. But this is a glorious doctrine to be understood. And it is the it and it is something that is that is beneficial to the peace that we have with God to understand. Like Lisa just said, there is freedom in Christ. There is absolute freedom in Christ. We are no longer under the reign of sin and death. It has no rule over us, it has it is no longer a master over us. Christ is our master, he is our king, he is our God, he's the one that transforms us, he's the one that sanctifies us. And yes, we are alive in him because he is alive now and forevermore. So

Final Thoughts On Dying With Christ

SPEAKER_09 18:34

we'll close with me giving everyone their last remarks for this evening. Again, another good conversation that I hope everyone is blessed by. And if there's something you think I missed or glossed over, feel free to let me know, and I'll certainly cover it with you or on the next live. Sister Vanessa, your your last words for tonight.

SPEAKER_05 18:59

Well, Jonathan, this was also a very good study. But I was just sitting there thinking, you know, when God elected us, he knew what was gonna happen, and we died on the cross with Jesus Christ. Our sins and stuff, we died with him, and we will resurrect with him because we are in him. And I just, you know, that's what I keep thinking. I remember when I was sick and laying in bed, and you know, I always talk to Jesus because it was just like I felt I knew how he I didn't know how he felt, but you know what I mean, all the pain that I was having. So I just always trusted in him to get me through and he would show me this. You know, we died in him or with him on the cross.

SPEAKER_09 19:48

Right.

SPEAKER_05 19:49

So I just want to say that. No, that's that's yeah. I love everybody.

SPEAKER_09 19:54

Love you too, sister. Listen, what what what Sister Vanessa just said, I mean, if if you really, if you really think about what that means, what she just said, and you really understand that, you meditate upon that, it's it's just an amazing thing. We did die with him. And we have been raised into the newness of life by his resurrection. And that same resurrection power that brought him out of that tomb now lives and abides in us. How say some, so many, I should say, how say so many that we can lose salvation? What can overpower the resurrection power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? What? Please tell me this. When these people tell you that you can lose your salvation, ask them to tell you what power can overcome the resurrection power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whereby we live by that same power today. It's crazy to think that that's possible. Brother Rodney, your last word for tonight, brother.

SPEAKER_02 21:03

Again, uh this is a good, good, good, good study again. Very edifying. I'm stuck on Romans 6, 6, like like we're just saying, you know, and like Sister Vanessa said, you know, we definitely just died with him just to just so we didn't be wouldn't be enslaved, you know, to the sin. Because, you know, your old body was just definitely ruled by the sin. But like you said, he Jesus Christ came just to crucify the old master so we can be free, and then just having that free that gift of freedom is just beautiful. So I'm just uh yeah, this was good, man. This was good.

SPEAKER_09 21:36

Amen, brother. Thank you for that. Sister Terry, your last word.

SPEAKER_07 21:41

Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_09 21:43

Amen, sister.

SPEAKER_07 21:44

Hallelujah. Good night, everyone.

SPEAKER_09 21:48

Good night, sister. Good night. Always good to have you here. Sister Lisa.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

Well, I mean, I'll I'll say hallelujah along with With Sister Terry. I you know, I'm just thinking how freeing it actually is to be in Christ. No more hiding in the in the darkness. We are now children of the light. I used to be a child of the darkness, hiding, lying, just so different. And Christ comes into the picture, pulls you up, and oh my goodness, the light just shines, and it's beautiful. I sleep like a baby now. I mean, it's so much freedom. That's right. Glory be to God. Glory be to God. It's all Him.

SPEAKER_08 22:40

You're so beautifully transparent, Lisa. You're so beautifully transparent.

SPEAKER_01 22:48

I just he gets the glory. I mean, I wish you guys could have known me before. I mean, I was cool in a worldly way. But just in a worldly way, but I'll stop right there with the applause. Thank you. Thank you very much and have a good night.

SPEAKER_09 23:14

Amen. That's good. That's good, says at Lisa. I know what you mean. Says Mariah.

SPEAKER_00 23:22

Well. Amen. Well, I think that we exhausted the text very well. And you know, something in that Paul says, it always stuck with me in 338, I believe it was, is they said that how is it some that say that let us come do evil, that good may come, as we are slanderously reported, and their condemnation is just. And it's because like it was stated earlier, we don't know what true liberty is, but once you really know what the freedom that Christ has given you through his death, burial, and resurrection, you serve him in such a different way than those that think that they are bound because they may lose salvation, or you just do it out of pure gratefulness, love, and and honor, just trying to honor him. And you know, nothing that we can do or say even comes remotely close to what we should do if we were capable of doing it. So this is so beautiful. Again, I just tell I just want to remind everybody go look into the death of the cross and understand what the baptism of the cross really means. But I think that it's beautiful. We we died to our sins, we were raised with him, and it says that just as he has sat down on the right hand of the Father, it says that we are seated in heavenly places, and so when he rises up, we will rise too. That's right. And that's when he comes to get us on the day of redemption. So be in good spirit, everybody.

SPEAKER_09 25:16

Amen, sister. Thank you for that. Good words. Everybody's everybody's got some good words tonight. I love it. Uh, Sister Meg, last word and close us out if you would, if you don't mind.

SPEAKER_04 25:24

Absolutely.

A Prayer Answered For A Stepson

SPEAKER_04 25:25

Can I can I share a little praise report with my brothers and sisters? Do you mind, Jonathan? No, sure, go ahead. I've been praying. I've been with my stepson since he's been six, but he hasn't been with us the whole time. He came when he was like 15, and he got he went through some things, and now he he's been back with us for about two years. And man, I've been showing him Jesus, and I've been hard on him. And we've had such good conversations, and I've been praying. I was like, Lord, please bring him a friend that loves the Lord and can just help him grow. So he texts me today. That's why I wasn't, uh that's why I was late. He texted today and he was like, Hey, are you busy? I'm like, no. He's like, I want you to meet my friend. And I met this boy, and he just loves Jesus, and so I'm so thankful that my prayer was answered because now he has a friend who loves Jesus, and he's and I told him, you know, I was talking to him for probably an hour and just filling him up because even his friend was like, you know, I'm kind of feeling depressed, and I just poured into him for like 45 minutes, both of them, and just you know, encouraged him. And now he has a friend that you know they can both grow in the Lord together, and that is just so wonderful to me. Because I that's such an answered prayer, because I've been praying that for a while, and so glory to God. I'm so grateful to the Lord that he hears us when we pray, and the word of God tells us to make our request known to the Lord, and he knew that that was my request of him, and again and again he shows up, and so I'm just thanking the Lord tonight and so grateful for it. So I just wanted to share that with you guys because I love you and I I wanted to share it with you guys.

SPEAKER_09 27:26

God bless you, sister. Glad it turned out well for you and for him and for them.

SPEAKER_04 27:31

Yeah, it's gonna be great. I'm excited. So let's bow our heads and pray.

Closing Prayer And Blessing

SPEAKER_04 27:36

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord God, today is the day that you have made, Lord, and we are rejoicing and being glad in it. Thank you, Father, for today. Lord, thank you for the word that we just read in Romans chapter 6, Heavenly Father, where we truly understand that we have you were the man that any none of us could be. Lord God, you lived the life that we couldn't live, and you died the death that we couldn't die, Lord God, and Lord God, I thank you so much for sending your son. Every single place in scripture, Lord God, that you have shown us your word. Your timing is just so perfect in every single one of our lives. Your timing is perfect in your word. Your timing is perfect when you sent your son, and nothing is by accident, Lord. You are so purposeful in everything that you do, and I'm so thankful for that, Lord Jesus. I'm so thankful, God. Lord, thank you for bringing us all together to be edified in your truth, to be lifted up in our most holy faith, Heavenly Father, that is solely in your Son, Lord. For apart from Him, we can do nothing, Lord God. And every single day that we read your word, and every single day that we get stronger, Lord, it is you that we glorify, it is you that we magnify, it's you that we trust, and it is to you in whom we look to in all things, Heavenly Father. Lord God, I ask now that you just continue to pour into us. Lord, I pray for every single person that's in this life tonight. Lord, no matter what they're going through, Lord, I know that you are our ever-present help in our time of need. You are our comforter. Lord, you are our confidant and our friend. And Lord, I thank you for that. I thank you for your word that just literally sanctifies each and every one of us, Lord. It makes us holy, Lord God. It make it puts us in a place where we can walk always and keep our eyes on you, no matter what this life brings, Lord, because you have called us out of this world. Our then our old man is gone, and we are a new creation in your son. And I'm so grateful for that. Lord, thank you for always encouraging us in your word. Thank you for Jonathan. Lord God, I ask that you just continually bless my brother. Lord, thank you for allowing him the time in his life, Lord, to where when he communes with you, Heavenly Father, and he receives your word, Lord, he is so gracious to come on here and give his time and share that with us, Lord. As he delivers your word, which is completely and utterly by your spirit, I ask that you just continually bless him, to always keep him, keep him in good health. Lord, take care of his back, Lord. He's in pain sometimes, Heavenly Father. But Lord, as you lead, Lord, we make it easier. You make it easier for him, Heavenly Father. And Lord, I just pray for everything that you're doing in through each and every one of us. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray. Amen.

SPEAKER_09 30:50

Amen.

SPEAKER_01 30:52

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 30:55

Oh, the choir's there. Say good night.

SPEAKER_09 31:02

Good night.

unknown 31:03

Good night. Good night.

SPEAKER_09 31:06

I like the I like the build up.

SPEAKER_06 31:09

Good night. We love you, love you, too. Love you, love you, love you. We love you, love you, love you. Yeah. Huh?

SPEAKER_09 31:30

Look at that. All right. Well, God bless you, everybody. God bless you, choir. We love you. We love you much. And may you guys all have a great night tonight. And I'm

Next Steps And The Bedbug Sign-Off

SPEAKER_09 31:41

looking forward to beginning in Romans chapter 6, verse 5. But we have revelation over the weekend, so we will deal with that on Sunday night. And if I can come sooner, I I intend to, but I don't expect to be live tomorrow. I don't expect it. So unless we have nothing to do, then I'm going to resume on Romans.

SPEAKER_04 32:01

So and I'll tell you what my mom told me. Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite. And if they do, I'll name them after you.

SPEAKER_07 32:11

We must have had the same mother.

SPEAKER_05 32:14

I just didn't get the last part. We didn't get that part of it. It was good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite. That was it.

SPEAKER_04 32:20

And if they do, I'll name them after you. Yeah, but we didn't get that big.

SPEAKER_06 32:34

Did you know the one? Did another one if you're chewing gonna lose its flavor on the bed post a little bit?