October 20, 2024 – Romans 6:1 – 7:6

Lesson Date: October 20, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: Romans 6:1 – 7:6

AIM: To lead students to discover three pictures or illustrations of salvation, and to discuss what those pictures teach us about how we should live for Jesus Christ.

Before class: Read the notes on Romans 6:1 – 7:6 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Picture” on the board.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask: “When Hurricane Helene hit our area, did you experience any damage or downed trees?” (allow time for responses).  Ask: “Did you tell anyone about the fallen tree or damage?” (they undoubtedly did).  Ask: “When you told people about your storm damage, did you show them any pictures?” (they probably did).  Ask: “Why did you show them pictures?” (because the picture visually portrayed the damage better than their words could).

Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Picture” written on the board.  Ask: “What’s a common expression about how valuable a picture can be?” (“A picture is worth a thousand words”).  Stress the fact that pictures often help us understand things better than mere words.

Ask: “Have you ever heard of a ‘word picture’?” (they probably have).  Ask: “What is a word picture?” (it is a vivid or detailed description that helps us understand something that cannot be seen, like a concept or idea).  Tell the class that another name for a word picture is an illustration.  State that preachers often use illustrations in their sermons to help us understand the truths they are teaching.

Tell the students that the title of today’s lesson is Pictures of Salvation.  Tell them we will discover three pictures or illustrations of salvation, and discuss what those pictures teach us about how we should live for Jesus Christ.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying the New Testament book of Romans.
   • Tell them chapters 1 – 3 taught us about man’s problem: every one of us is a sinner.
   • Tell them chapters 4 and 5 explained God’s solution to our sin problem: we can be justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (The Power of One; we learned how the individual lives of Adam and Jesus impact all of our lives today).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (1 Corinthians 15:22).
2. Dead to Sin but Alive to Christ.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 6:1-2.
   • Ask: “What question do we find in verse 1?” (shall we continue in sin, so God can demonstrate abundant grace toward us).
   • Ask: “How does the beginning of verse 2 answer that question?” (absolutely not!)
   • Ask: “How does the rest of verse 2 describe those who know Jesus?” (they are dead to sin).
   • Ask: “Have you ever lost a friend or loved one through death?” (they probably have)
   • Ask: “After that person died, did they continue doing the things they did in life?” (no, a dramatic change took place).
   • Stress the fact that dead people no longer do the things they did when they were alive: they don’t work, spend time with their family, or continue doing their favorite hobbies.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 6:3-4.
   • Tell the class that water baptism visually portrays or depicts our death to sin.
   • Ask: “According to the last part of verse 4, what is depicted when the new believer is raised up from the baptismal waters?” (their new life in Jesus Christ).
   • Tell the class the first picture of salvation is that those who have trusted Jesus are dead to sin but alive to Christ.
   • Read Romans 6:5-11.
   • Explain the following:
     • Since we are dead to sin, we should no longer serve sin (v. 6).
     • Since we are dead to sin, we should live with Christ (v. 8).
     • We should reckon (count or consider) ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (v. 11).
   • Ask: “What do you think it means to be dead to sin?” (allow time for some discussion).
   • Ask: “How do you think someone who is alive to Christ should live? What should be different about their behavior?” (allow time for some discussion).
   • Ask: “Be honest with yourself; are you living like someone who is dead to sin and alive to Christ?”
   • Summarize: The first picture of salvation involves death and life. If we truly belong to Jesus, we must realize that we are dead to sin, but alive to Christ.
3. Set Free from Sin to Serve Righteousness.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 6:17-18.
   • Ask: “According to verse 17, what did we serve before we were saved?” (sin).
   • Explain the following:
     • The word servants in these verses is the Greek word that literally refers to a slave.
     • Slavery was common and accepted in the ancient world, but today we all agree that any kind of slavery is a disgusting, degrading, and demeaning condition.
     • The Bible says before we came to Christ we were slaves to sin.
   • Ask: “According to the first half of verse 18, what happens when we are saved?” (we are set free from sin).
   • Tell the class that Christians still sin, but after receiving Christ they are no longer slaves of sin, compelled to serve sin without any way to free themselves.
   • Ask: “According to the last half of verse 18, what happens when we trust Jesus for salvation?” (we become servants or slaves of righteousness).
   • Tell the class the second picture of salvation is that those who have trusted Jesus have been set free from their slavery to sin, and have become servants (slaves) to righteousness.
   • Read Romans 6:19-22.
   • Tell the class that verse 19 says before coming to Christ we willingly yielded ourselves to uncleanness and iniquity (sin).
   • Ask: “According to verse 19, what must we yield ourselves to now?” (righteousness and holiness).
   • Ask: “According to verse 22, what is the fruit of serving God?” (holiness).
   • Ask: “What do you think it means to be set free from sin?” (allow time for some discussion).
   • Ask: “How do you think someone who is a servant (slave) of righteousness should live? What should be different about their behavior?” (allow time for some discussion).
   • Ask: “Be honest with yourself; which are you serving, sin or righteousness?”
   • Summarize: The second picture of salvation involves slavery and freedom. If we truly belong to Jesus, we have been set free from sin to become servants of righteousness.
4. Widowed from Law but Married to Christ.
   • Read Romans 7:2-3.
   • Ask: “According to verse 2, how long is a woman bound to her husband?” (as long as he is alive).
   • Ask: “According to verse 2, what happens when her husband dies?” (she is freed from the law that bound her to her husband).
   • Tell the students we all know that marriage is only for this life, and that when your spouse dies, your marriage has ended and you are free to remarry.
   • Read Romans 7:4-6.
   • Ask: “What does verse 4 say Christians have become ‘dead’ to?” (the Law: the rules and rituals of outward religion).
   • Ask: “According to verse 4, who have we become ‘married’ to?” (Jesus Christ, “who is raised from the dead”).
   • Tell the class the third picture of salvation is that those who have trusted Jesus have been widowed from the Law, and have been married to Christ.
   • Remind the students that the Bible refers to the church as the bride of Christ (Rev. 21:9).
   • Ask: “What do you think it means to be widowed from the Law (mere outward religion)?” (allow time for some discussion).
   • Ask: “How do you think someone who is part of the bride of Christ should live? What should be different about their behavior?” (allow time for some discussion).
   • Ask: “Be honest with yourself; are you living like someone who is widowed from the Law and married to Christ?”
   • Summarize: The third picture of salvation involves widows and remarriage. If we truly belong to Jesus, we have been widowed from the Law and have been married to Christ.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct everyone’s attention once again to the word “Picture” written on the board, reminding them that “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  Remind them that the title of today’s lesson is Pictures of Salvation.  Tell them we discovered three pictures or illustrations of salvation.  Explain that when someone belongs to Jesus they are:

1. Dead to sin but alive to Christ. Romans 6:11 says it this way: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2. Set free from sin to serve righteousness. Romans 6:18 says it this way: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
3. Widowed from law but married to Christ. Romans 7:4 says it this way: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

Tell the students that pictures or illustrations such as these help us better understand what happens when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, and how we should live for Him each day.

Ask: “Are you living like someone who is dead to sin and alive to Christ?”

Ask: “Which are you a slave to, sin or righteousness?”

Ask: “Are you living like someone who is widowed from the Law and married to Christ?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them if they need to confess any sin or make any kind of recommitment to Jesus, they should do that now.  Tell them if any of them have realized that they have never truly been saved, they should turn away from their sin and ask Jesus in faith to save them now.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: As always, offer to stay after class to talk with anyone who has questions about salvation.  Ask everyone to memorize Romans 6:12.  Tell them next week we will take a closer look at Romans 6.