New Life
A Sermon on Romans 6:3-4
Originally preached Oct. 24, 1958
Scripture
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we …
Sermon Description
Does the battle against sin feel hopeless? Will the Christian ever conquer this war against their flesh? As Christians, all have died, been buried, and crucified with Christ. But yet they still sin. Paul explained that all Christians were previously under the wrath, rule, and reign of sin. However, just as they were related and joined with Adam, so now they are related and joined with Christ who died on the cross. In this sermon on Romans 6:3–4 titled “New Life,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this happened without question. It is the first step in justification. In addition to being joined in Christ’s death, the Christian has been buried with Christ as well. Burial is always the final proof of death. This means that the Christian is truly done with their past way of life and sin and will join Christ in His resurrection. Christ could not be held by the power of death; the glory and power of God raised Him from the dead. That same glory and power also raised the Christian. Because of this, Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges the listener to walk in this newness of life and to rejoice in the fact that they are joined with Christ and walk with Him in the new life.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is refuting the charge that his teaching promotes sin.
- Paul is not giving an exposition on holiness but refuting a false charge.
- Paul's main proposition is that Christians have died to sin.
- All Christians have died to sin. It is not an experience only some Christians have.
- Christians have been baptized into Jesus Christ himself, not just his teachings.
- Christians are united to Christ like we were once united to Adam. We inherit what Christ did.
- Paul now explains what it means that Christians have died to sin.
- Christians have been baptized into Christ's death. His death means the end of the relationship to the reign of sin. Our relationship to the reign of sin has also ended.
- Christians have also been buried with Christ. Burial proves death has occurred. Christ's burial shows his relationship to sin and the law is over. Our burial with him shows our relationship to sin is over.
- Christians have been raised with Christ to new life. We share in Christ's resurrection.
- Christ's resurrection shows he could not be held by the power of sin and death. The power of God raised him.
- Christ's resurrection shows he has conquered sin and finished with it. He is in a new realm of life.
- Christians share in this newness of life. The power of God that raised Christ has raised us from sin. We are in a new realm and life, not the realm of sin.
- This has already happened to Christians, not something we are striving for. We have died and been raised with Christ.
- How can Christians continue in sin when this is true of us? Sin cannot rule over or possess us.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.