Antinomianism and the Gospel of Grace

Bible Text: Romans 6:1-14 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2003, Romans

June 15, 2003                                                                                                                                  Northwest Bible Church

Worship Service                                                                                                                              Alan Conner

Rom. 6:1-14

Antinomianism and the Gospel of Grace

 

INTRO

I.    Theme – 1:16-17    The gospel of the righteousness of God

II.    Universal sin – 1:18-3:20        The need of righteousness

III.  Justification by faith – 3:21-5:21      The provision of righteousness

A. Justification explained and verified – 3:21-4:25

B. Justification, its fruits – 5:1-11

C. Justification, its roots – 5:12-21

IV.  Justification and sanctification –  6:1-8:17     The practice of righteousness

A. Sanctification and our union with Christ – 6:1-14

 

In Romans 6 Paul is dealing with a new objection; namely, if we are justified and counted righteous before God, then why not continue in sin?  Paul’s answer is found in Romans 6 and is made up of two parallel sections (Rom. 6:1-14 and Rom. 6:15-23) which argue that it is inconceivable that Christians should continue in a life of sin.  The argument in the first section is based on our union with Christ, and in the second it is based on our slavery to God and gospel righteousness.

 

 

I.  THE OBJECTION OF ANTINOMIANISM (6:1).

 

A. The context behind the question.  See 5:20-21.

In other words, Paul your gospel leads to lawlessness and a sinful lifestyle!  It works against a life of righteousness and encourages us to sin!  Your gospel Paul leads to antinomianism!

 

B. What is antinomianism?  Literally, it means Anti-law of God, or lawlessness.  In a nutshell, antinomianism believes that since believers are saved by the free grace of God, they are not responsible to live according to the moral law of God.

 

1) Spirit-led antinomianism –

 

2) Positional antinomianism –

 

3) Dispensational antinomianism –

 

4) Immoral antinomianism.

 

 

II.  PAUL’S ANSWER (6:2f).

“May it never be.”   This is Paul’s favorite way to respond to an misguided objection.   It is found 14 times in Paul and 10 times in Romans.  Paul says emphatically that justification does not give anyone a license to sin, and you cannot separate justification from sanctification.

 

 

III.  JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION

 

Justification is a judicial act of God, in which He declares the believing sinner to be righteous before the law of God,  imputing to the believer’s spiritual account Christ’s own righteousness, and forgiving him of all of his sins.

 

Sanctification is that gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Spirit by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution and power of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God, and enables him to obey God and perform good works.

 

 

Justification
Sanctification
Imputes Christ’s righteousness

Removes sin’s guilt and penalty

Means = faith without works

Legal transaction

Perfect righteousness

One time

Saves

Work of the Father
Develops personal righteousness

Gradually weakens the power of sin

Means = faith with works

Moral change

Imperfect righteousness

On-going

Evidence of salvation

Work of the Holy Spirit
Justification and sanctification cannot be separated. Heb. 12:14; I Jn. 2:3, 29; 3:9.

 

 

 

IV.  THE MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION.

 

In Romans 6:1-14 Paul is going to give us the pathway to sanctification:

 

1) Principle of knowledge (Rom. 6:1-10)

2) Principle of faith (Rom. 6:8, 11)

3) Principle of presentation (Rom. 6:12-14).

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION