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TEXT: Romans 6:1-14SERVICE VIDEO (link)\n\n\n\nSince Easter we\u2019ve been talking about why the Resurrection of Jesus matters. Today we are going to look at Romans 6 and talk about the \u201cNew Life,\u201d trying to understand better what that new life in Christ means, what it looks like, and how we can more fully live in it. I am hoping we can better understand the implications that Jesus was raised from the dead FOR US. What are the implications of the \u201cfor us?\u201d\n\n\n\nLife Looks Different: a new reality\n\n\n\nThe first thing to say is that because of Jesus Christ life looks different! He makes a difference in one\u2019s life. If life with Christ and life without Christ look no different, then we have missed something crucial about who Jesus is, what he has done, and what he is doing even now. We could talk about that in a number of ways, but the place Paul picks up in chapter six of his letter to the Romans has to do with sin. One answer we still sometimes hear today is that sin doesn\u2019t matter because God\u2019s grace abounds! God has forgiven it all and we shouldn\u2019t get wrapped up in naming sin, judging sin, or paying much attention to sin, because God will forgive it. But Paul nips that in the bud, asking \u201cAre we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?\u201d Paul\u2019s response is: \u201cMay it never be!\u201d While we do continue to sin, we should also struggle against it. And what follows is an explanation of how we are to live in Christ, particularly with regard to sin.\n\n\n\nAfter Paul\u2019s \u201cMay it never be!\u201d he goes on to ask two more questions that will set up what follows. The first question is: \u201cHow shall we who died to sin still live in it?\u201d The second is related to it: \u201cOr do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?\u201d Both are rhetorical, meaning the point is not just coming up with the answer, but understanding the answer and why Paul asked the question. What Paul is trying to remind us of with these questions is our new reality because of Good Friday and Easter. Jesus did not need to die and be raised for his own sake; it was FOR US.\n\n\n\nPaul describes those who trust in Jesus Christ as those who have \u201cdied to sin\u201d and are \u201cbaptized into Jesus\u2019 death.\u201d Those are not conditions of Jesus\u2019s work; you don\u2019t have to stop sinning for Jesus to die for you. No, these are the RESULTS of Jesus\u2019 work. Because Jesus died, we have died to sin. That is one of things baptism signifies; that we are marked by his action. That\u2019s what Paul wants you to understand with his two questions. You have died to sin because you belong to Jesus and he died to sin\u2026 don\u2019t you know it? Paul then offers a series of illustrations to help us understand resurrection life.\n\n\n\nFirst Picture: United in Baptism (vv. 4-7)\n\n\n\nPaul\u2019s first illustration or picture is that in baptism we have been buried into death and raised to newness of life. (v. 4) Clearly, this is not literal, as we have not been physically buried. But we are joined to Christ in faith, signified through baptism, by God\u2019s gracious love toward us. And so when Christ was crucified, our debt was joined to him; our \u201cbody of sin\u201d was joined to him and put to death (v. 6). And when he was buried, our debt and the consequence of sin was complete. When God raised Jesus from the dead in victory OVER sin and death, we too were raised (still joined to him), but no longer under the curse of sin and death.\n\n\n\nLet me try to illustrate. I completed the tax forms for our family a few months ago. If the IRS were to send Heather a tax bill next week that said she owes taxes on our family income, she could respond legitimately by saying, \u201cHow shall I who have paid my taxes still owe taxes?\u201d Now she did not do the Austell family taxes or send them anything, but listen to this second question while you are looking at verse 3. \u201cDo you not know that all of us who wear this wedding ring can file jointly?\u201d Now I realize that anyone can put on a wedding ring, but so can anyone splash water and say th