Dr. Cecil A. Fayard - 2001 Sermons
Sunday, June 3, 2001   

INTRODUCTION: In Romans 6:15-23, the word “sin” is found seven times. Because the Word of God puts such an emphasis on our knowing that sin is a destroyer, we need to take a few moments to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin.

1. What is sin? The Bible describes sin as the transgression of the law (I John 3:4): “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
   
   1. All ungodliness and unrighteousness is sin (I John 5:17): “All unrighteousness is sin…"
      
   2. Knowing to do good and doing it not is sin (James 4:17).
      
2. The character of sin.
   
   1. Sin is a reproach (Proverbs 14:34): “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
      
   2. Sin is deceitful (Hebrews 3:13): “…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
      
   3. Sin is ungrateful for it refuses to give God the glory or acknowledge Him as the source of all good things. Sin takes God’s goodness for granted.
      
3. Sin is destructive.
   
   1. Sin wrecked the Garden of Eden.
      
   2. Sin caused Cain to murder Abel his brother.
      
   3. Sin kept Israel wandering in the wilderness for forty years.
      
   4. Sin is wrecking churches and lives.
      
   5. Sin is ruining happy homes.
      
   6. Sin is robbing Christians of spiritual power.
      
4. What sin will do.
   
   1. It will bring you under the power and control of Satan (I Samuel 15:23). “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
      
   2. Sin brings misery and death. Sin promises to bring satisfaction, but it lies. The bright lights are a lie.
      
   3. Sin will take you further than you want to go; sin will keep you longer than you want to stay; sin will cost you far more than you want to pay.
      
   4. Sin will separate you from friends and life long friends.
      
5. Sin cannot be cured by man’s power.
   
   1. Man cannot rid himself of sin.
      
   2. Jeremiah 13:23, “Can the Ethopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”
      
6. Contrasting viewpoints of sin:

Romans 6:15-23 gives the believer two reminders. The first reminder is of our past slavery to sin; the second is our taking Christ as our master and His possession of us. As slaves to sin, we could not help but talk of sin. Now as a believer, we cannot help but speak of Christ.

1. VERSE 15, SIN IS NOT ENCOURAGED BY GRACE
   1. Because of what is stated in verse 14, Paul knew that questions might arise, so he deals with those questions here by answering, “God forbid”.

   2. To think that a truly saved person could continually live in sin, taking his fill of sin is absurd, unthinkable.
      
      1. Grace makes it impossible for believers to go on in sin as they did before they were saved. A work of grace within will be evidenced by a life of righteousness without. Grace means our want to is changed.
         
      2. The believer is in dwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).
         
         1. The Holy Spirit takes notice of and convicts the believer of even the slightest sin.
            
         2. Think on this: “Law penalizes the transgressor, but grace prevents their being transgressors. Law warns of danger, but grace bridges the danger.” (Paschall 11).
            
         3. Grace forgives us, and grace teaches us to live right (Titus 2:11-14).

   3. Grace is the liberty to serve, not the license to sin.

2. VERSE 16, YOU ARE THE SERVANT OF WHO YOU SERVE
   1. You have a master: sin or God. Paul is straightforward and to the point. You are the servant of who you obey.
      
      1. If you bow to king sin…then you are a slave to sin.
         
      2. If you bow to King Jesus, then you are a slave to King Jesus.

   2. The true servant of God understands that he no longer belongs to himself. His time does not belong to him…all he has is his master’s.

   3. Whose servant are you?
      
      1. If a man lives for sin, he proves he is a slave to sin.
         
      2. If a man lives for God, wants to obey righteousness, he proves he is a servant of Christ.

3. VERSES 17-18, BELIEVERS ARE SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
   1. Verse 17, What did they obey? They heard the Gospel and believed it. They trusted Christ, and it changed their lives. They obeyed the Lord and followed Him in baptism.
      
      1. “Once a slave to sin; now delivered from that slavery, the true child of God delights to obey king righteousness (Taylor 47).
         
      2. You’ll never be an obedient Christian until you obey the Lord in Baptism. Deliverance comes before obedience (Acts 2:41).

   2. Verse 18, the child of God is as Paul says, “Free from sin”. He is free because he has been delivered from the dominion of sin.
      
      1. The believer is a servant of righteousness.
         
      2. We are not free from the presence of sin. As long as we live here in these bodies, we will be surrounded by sin’s presence.
         
         1. We are free from the love, rule, reign, dominion and power of sin.
            
         2. The saved man does not wallow in sin because he has been delivered.
            
         3. The lost man returns to his vomit (II Peter 2:22).

4. VERSE 19, THE BELIEVER IS TO FAITHFYULLY SERVE RIGHTEOUSNESS
   1. In the past, we fully, freely and readily served sin.
      
      1. The saved person yields their members to righteousness. We are to faithfully use our eyes, ears, etc. to serve God.
         
      2. The emphasis here is on holiness, and how we need it in our day.
         
         1. We need to have an attitude and manner of life that is opposed to sin.
            
         2. Our lives are to be dedicated to serving God.

5. VERSES 20-22, THE GOOD FRUIT OF THE CHRISTIAN
   1. Verse 20, this verse tells us that we cannot serve sin and serve righteousness at the same time (Matthew 6:24).

   2. Verse 21, the fruit obtained from slavery to sin is fruit that we are now ashamed of. Thank God for salvation by grace for the final fruit of sin is spiritual death.

   3. Verse 22, as we look at verse 21 and 22, we see a great contrast. We have shame in verse 21, and grace, joy and gratitude in verse 22.

   In the Past:

   Now:

   Bondage

   Freedom

   Slaves to sin

   Servants of God

   Vice

   Holiness

   Shame

   Peace of mind

   Death

   Everlasting life

6. VERSE 23, ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST
   1. The pay off of sin is spiritual death. He that does not believe is condemned (John 3:18, 36).

   2. The gift of God is eternal life.
      
      1. Eternal life not by our efforts.
         
      2. Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
         
         1. He who receives Christ has eternal life.
            
         2. Christ is the answer.