Romans Chapter Six

We’re continuing on in what is sort of a transitional part of the book of Romans.  In this section, Paul explains some of the ‘mechanics’ as to how it is that we are saved.  This is ground work for some of the tough questions that are addressed in chapters 7-11.  It’s a good thing we’re almost to this next section, because the kids are already asking some of those tough questions in class.

After nailing down a couple of key issues in chapters 4 & 5 like how our salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, chapter six shows how it is by Christ alone (notice that these are the key issues rediscovered by the Reformers).  The theme of chapter six is one that is huge in all of Paul’s letters:  We have died to our old sinful selves, and come to new life in Christ.

One of the key ways chapter six describes this concept is by explaining baptism.  We often associate baptism with cute little babies at the beginning of their life.  But here Paul ties baptism in with death!  ^“3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Death?!?!?!?  That doesn’t sound like good news at all!

If you remember the baptism class I taught last year, you’ll remember when we talked about how there’s nothing wrong with sprinkling the baptismal water, however, I think we lose some symbolism in doing so.  Think instead of the immersion method.  A person is dipped down into the water- symbolizing how we’re joined into Christ’s death.  Our old self dies in doing so.  Death is a necessary condition for what happens next: “⁵If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”  After being dipped down, the person is raised up into new life, having been joined with Christ.  There’s the good news!

Like I mentioned earlier, this chapter is somewhat technical, but we can’t tackle the tough issues we have ahead of us without understanding this.  The old self/new self distinction is key to understanding Christian living.

NEW WORD OF THE WEEK: SANCTIFICATION- The process of becoming holy.  Notice how justification was a one time event- we’ve already been made just-as-if-I’d never sinned through Christ’s death and resurrection.  Sanctification, on the other hand, will continue on as long as we breath air.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: The whole class gets credit for this one.  They successfully got me totally off track, and we began discussing how God exists in eternity as opposed to our existence in time.  At one point, each one of the kids was excitedly adding their two cents and asking each other some incredible questions.  I let them go for awhile, like a fisherman letting his catch pull some line out.  What happened next was nothing short of amazing:

The class divided themselves up into two groups.  Group A said that God had no beginning, but now he experiences time along with us.  Group B said that God must have had a beginning, because anything that is has to have begun at some point.  I did point out to them that both groups were wrong, but what amazed me is that this is the same argument that two Greek fellas had several thousand years ago- namely Plato (group A) and Aristotle (group B).  Within five minutes these kids had developed thoughts roughly equivalent to some of the greatest thinkers ever!  This is why I push these kids so hard, because I know what they’re capable of.

So what do y’all think?  How does God exist in relation to time?

QUESTION FOR HOME DISCUSSION: After reading chapter six, discuss how being slaves to righteousness sets us free.  Feel free to comment here if you wish.