NT Fire Starters – Day 212: Romans 6:1-14

READ: Romans 6:1-14

THINK: If something is dead, how will it respond to stimuli–outward or inward? It won’t respond at all if it’s dead! That’s part of what it means to be “dead to sin” (v. 11)–being in a condition where the devil’s temptations and your own tendency to defy God does not entice, provoke or get the best of you. But that type of resistance doesn’t come naturally, and you can’t muster it up in your own strength. You must rely on the Holy Spirit, continually surrendering your will to God’s and refusing to engage in attitudes or actions that will allow temptation to gain a hold. Instead, you must do all you can to strengthen your spirit and serve God’s purposes in all you think, say and do.

RESPOND: What is “sin”–its characteristics, causes and effects? (See 6:2 note.) How is it an abuse of God’s grace to deliberately go our own ways, disobeying and defying God? What’s the significance and symbolism of baptism in regard to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection? (See 6:4 note.) What does Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantee to those who accept His forgiveness and entrust their lives to Him? What does it mean “that our old self was crucified with him [Jesus]”? (See 6:6 note.) Since Jesus was sinless, what does it mean that “death no longer has mastery over him” and “he died to sin once for all”? (See 6:10 note.) How did Jesus’ death affect our sin, and how do we experience His power over sin? What does it mean to consider yourself “dead to sin”? (See 6:11 note.) In what way does a person die to sin at the moment he or she accepts forgiveness and surrenders to Jesus? In what way must a follower of Jesus continually die to sin, and how does one do this? (See 6:11 note.) How does this process make a person “alive to God” (v. 11)? What does it mean that Christians must “not let sin reign” in their mortal bodies? (See 6:12 note.) How can Jesus’ followers resist and overcome sin’s tendency to regain control of their lives (vv. 12-13)? In what ways can you “offer the parts of your body to him [God] as instruments of righteousness”?

PRAY: Thank Jesus for dying in your place to provide freedom from sin and its ultimate consequences. Ask Him to help you die daily to the sinful tendencies of your human nature and to continually serve His purposes in all you think, say and do.

ACT: Keep in mind that whatever you feed the most–your spirit or your sinful human nature–will tend to be strongest. Don’t be surprised if you struggle with certain sins over and over if you’re doing things that feed those tendencies and temptations. Determine not to do anything that would feed into those things. That includes what you do, what you watch, where you go, who you hang out with, etc. Instead, choose attitudes and activities that will feed and strengthen your spirit, enhance your relationship with Jesus and promote your service for Him.