A Dedicated Life 

Romans 6:1-14

• The word ‘present’ or ‘yield’ is mentioned two times by Paul in Romans 6:13 , which are commands concerning dedication.  

• The first one is a prohibition command: ‘Do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness.’ The second ‘present’ is a positive command: ‘but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life…’  

• The Apostle Paul also makes mention here of to whom we offer our lives because there are two different objects. The first is to sin and the other is to God.  

• Jesus in John 8:34 is recorded as saying, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.’  

• We should no longer be slaves to sin, don’t let sin take possession of us but let God own us, influence us, let God use us and show His glory through us. 

• It’s a choice we make in every every moment, whether to give ourselves to sin or to God. We cannot be neutral.  

• In fact the Bible tells us that our natural state is that of sin Romans 3:23 ‘…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ so because we all start from a place of sin, we all need rescuing and saving from the power and effects of sin. 

• Again the writer of Ecclesiastes 7:20 says: ‘Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.’ 

• We each have one life, two choices (live to the flesh or live for Jesus) and one chance. Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.  

• Jesus Christ rescued us from the master of sin. However, we must continue to dedicate ourselves and our bodies to God to serve God. This is a deliberate and determined commitment, to serve God and it is also a choice of our will. 

• So Let’s Talk About the Dedicated Life. 

• Firstly, when we dedicate our lives to God we count ourselves dead to sin. Because a person who dedicates themselves to God is a person who has died to sin. Romans 6:10-11 gives us the context For the death He died He died to sin (Jesus), once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

• That is, sin has no power in our bodies, no work, no right and is no longer the primary driver/motivator in our daily living. 

• Sin still wants to work in us and have dominion over us but through the life of Christ Jesus working in us through Holy Spirit, that is no longer possible. 

• We die to sin because we, who belong to Jesus Christ, know the value of our own lives, so we don't allow sin to defile our new lives, neither do we need to seek spiritual satisfaction from sin.  

• No longer interested in worldly sins because of the glorious joyful life that comes from God and through Jesus. 

• What does it mean to count ourselves dead to sin? In fact, we are already dead to sin. The words ‘consider yourselves’ v.11 is actually a kind of reminder.  

• We should always remind ourselves that we are people who have died to sin and should no longer be controlled by sin. 

• We need to actively see ourselves dead to sin. Otherwise, even when we are willing to do everything that pleases God, we are still plagued by sin. 

• Romans 7:15 ‘For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want but do the very thing I hate.’ Romans 7:19 ‘For I do not do the good I want but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.’ 

• The passage describes the deep internal struggle between Paul’s spiritual desire to obey God and his sinful nature still working out of law. 

• Law is good but it cannot save us from sin 

• God right at the beginning of His relationship with us told us the principle Genesis 4:7 speaking to Cain ‘…if you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you and you must rule over it.(Dominate it)” 

• Secondly, when we dedicate our lives to God, we see ourselves live for God in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus means that we live a life that is in union, cooperation, harmony, concert with Christ, as v.8 says: ‘If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him’  

• It describes the fundamental reality of salvation, that we are united to Christ. Our union with the living Christ is the essential truth of our new and eternal existence. 

• We see ourselves live for God because Christ lives in us. Just as Paul said in Galatians 2:20 : ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’ 

• Our new life in Christ translates/moves us out of a self-centered world into a God-centered world. Our first thought is not what pleases us, but what would please God.  

• The Method of Dedicating Our Lives. 

• The way we dedicate our lives is to offer any part of ourselves to God. A person who does not consecrate their life to God by default, gives their body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, and gives permission rights for sin to dominate their body. Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

• The Christian who dedicates their body to God will no longer be ruled by sin, but led by Holy Spirit and covered by the grace of God. 

• To dedicate ourselves to God is to say that every part of us is completely in God's hands, and we will with increased measure do those things that are pleasing to Him.  

• Our tongue are a great example, as James 3:9-10 said: With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers these things ought not to be so.’ The tongue dedicated to God should only used to praise God and not to curse others. 

• The Result of Our Dedication 

• When our body is dedicated to God, it’s like matching up the outside with who we really are on the inside. Instead of focusing on pleasing ourselves with our bodies, we are focused on pleasing God. 

• Conclusion 

• If you want to experience the fullness of your new life offered in Christ, you need to offer to God your whole. Because offering ourselves & life to God is the evidence that we have really been transformed by Christ Jesus.