The cross of the Lord Jesus divides between death and life! Presented to the sinner the cross holds the key to destiny and our response to the cross of Jesus determines heaven or hell. God is not interested in making us a better sinner, or making life a little better, feeding us on more of the same. By the power of the cross there is radical transformation, metamorphosis. Jesus carried dead men to the cross but emerges from the cross the head of a new creation, the last Adam bringing living men from the cross! Through His people Jesus is now glorified in them as we live for God by Him. Here is a life of absolute surrender for the glory of God.

Romans chapter 6 unpacks Paul's teaching on sanctification. Now that I am saved, now I am a Christian, how should I live? Can I live as a please? Can I as a Christian do whatever I want? Does God have a purpose for my life? Can I continue in sin that grace may much more abound? Romans teaches that a life which receives salvation is a life changed by Christ. Salvation comes by relationship and that with a living Saviour! Our water baptism demonstrates this truth. In baptism by immersion we are dead, buried and raised again in Jesus! The Christian life is lived out in the sanctuary of Romans chapter 8, like that of David, at the altar of Romans chapter 12 like that of Abraham and in the congregation of Romans chapters 14 to 16 like that of Moses. Like the lepers of old, God takes our broken and dead lives and transforms them and changes them not for our glory but for His! He brings Miriam's flesh alive from the dead, Naaman the leper through the waters of baptism and the leper of Luke chapter 17 to the pinnacle of glorifying Jesus.

Romans chapter 6, sanctification and salvation in the life of the Christian, illustrated from Leviticus chapter 14 and the cleansing of the leper. Three men, David, Abraham and Moses, 3 deaths, Christ, self and the Old Man, the doctrine of propitiation and expiation and justification by faith and living life in the light of the sanctuary, Romans 8, the altar Romans 12 and the congregation in Romans chapters 13 to 16. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Romans chapter 6 lies as a valley of decision between the two mountains of the death of Jesus in Romans chapter 3 for our sin and the new life of Jesus to be lived by the Christian in Romans chapters 6 to 8 and chapter 12 till the end. Up until Romans 6 we have been impacted by the death of 3 men: Death of Jesus for sin in Romans chapter 3 Death of Self to sin in Romans 6 Death of the old man in Romans 6 The challenge now is to be what we are and not to fall between the gaps of what God has made us in Christ and how we live for Christ. Do not fall between the gaps of deliverance and destiny, like the nation of Israel in the wilderness. Romans chapter 8 takes us to the sanctuary experience of the new life in Christ Romans chapter 12 takes us to the altar experience of the new life in Christ. Romans chapters 14 to 16 takes me to the assembly or church experience of the new life in Christ. Here is your new life in Christ, live your best Christian life now.

The fall out from Eden and Adam's sin extended further and longer than that of Chernobyl. Adams fall affects the whole of humanity collectively and individually. Adam's nature corrupts the nature of all born to Adam. Adam erred on who God was, on what he wanted as a person and on how to deal with others! In Christ the old man was crucified with Christ. As Christians we have now a new head, a new Lord, a new master. Our new nature, the Divine nature originates not from Adam but from Jesus. Paul systematically dismantles the catastrophe which is Adam through Romans chapters 6 to 15. The first of these false ideas the Spirit of God challenges is that of our relationship with God. Instead of God being someone we must flee from, hide in fear from, He is Abba Father. Here is the God we fled from welcoming us back with arms as wide as the cross of His Son. He who did not spare His own Son, how shall He not with Him also give us all things? 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

As you Live how You Please How Pleased are you How you Live? Baptism and New Life - Romans chapter 6 verse 4 "Therefore 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 also should walk in newness of life." God has taken so much from us as Christians; our condemnation, our sin, our guilt, our separation, our isolation, our hopelessness and our despair. Instead of languishing outside of Eden alone, separated from God and unable to hear His voice, Jesus has taken the judgement, condemnation, died for sin and died to sin for us. In exchange for death, despair and damnation God has given to us new life in Christ. The Christian's new life is one of service, by the Spirit of God, bringing forth fruit to God, for His Glory. As we live our lives as we please, aim high and dig deep. Seek for His abiding joy, the joy of His presence, the joy of His salvation, the joy of His word, the joy of hope in Jesus Christ. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie New Cumnock Church Gospel Hall

The burden of sin, guilt and condemnation are carried by the Lord Jesus in Romans chapter 3 to 5. The propitiation of Jesus Christ at the mercy seat brings reconciliation between the sinner and a Holy and righteous God. The penalty of our sin is dealt with at the cross of Jesus Christ. He is my substitute and sacrifice for my sin. In Romans chapter 6 we move from the burdens that Jesus bore to the blessings that Jesus brings for the Christian. The truth of sanctification is opened up, that I might yield to the God from whom I was separated from, serve Him and glorify God forever, the purpose for which I was created. Systematic studies in Romans. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie 

New Cumnock

Romans chapter 6 begins the great section in Paul's letter to the Romans on the subject of sanctification. Christ has died for sin in Romans chapters 3 to 5 and now we see the application of the truth that the Lord Jesus has died to sin in Romans chapters 6 to 8. Paul's preaching of the gospel of God's free Grace triggers the question "shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" Paul answers this great question through chapters 6 to 8 of Romans. Continuance perpetually in sin for the Christian in incompatible with their relationship with Jesus Christ, with the Righteousness of God and the Glory given to Jesus Christ. We cannot have the blessings of the cross of Jesus Christ with the Christ of the cross. There can be no forgiveness of sins without regeneration. By the work of Jesus Christ the Christian has died to sin and the penalty has been paid. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie