6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are saved by Grace Alone, through faith alone; then why must we fight sin in our own lives? The second question is how do we fight sin in our lives? Paul wanted the Roman Church to understand this. They had incorporated many "activities and rituals into salvation" so that you might of your own strength clean up your life to make yourself acceptable. This began in the earliest Roman Church and continued down through the ages in the Roman Catholic Church. Paul spent many chapters explaining that salvation could only come by accepting the atonement of Christ and that no man of his own works could be saved. Then he paused for a moment to answer the question that by that point many would ask, "If I am saved by grace, I can just continue on sinning and then God’s grace would be even more fully displayed". To which Paul’s answer was, no. If our thought is to believe that because of Grace I am freed to sin even more; then I don’t understand the devastation that sin brings into my life, nor do I understand the extreme price that Christ paid for my justification. By justification through the blood of Christ, I must consider the cost and gratitude plus love would demand that each day I battle against sin, not in my own power; but in the power provided by that justification. Christ’s sanctifying work in me begins the day I accept Christ as my Savior and continues until the day I stand before His Throne. It is a lifelong process of transforming me. If I can be content and happy while sinning then chances are I never understood salvation nor accepted Christ. He is continually transforming my life, revealing the evil hidden deep in my heart so that I might war against it through His Power and not my own. I must die to all those selfish pride filled desires that present themselves in my life and thoughts through prayer, Bible Study, and renouncing their power. When Satan comes at me with his accusations that I am a sinner, I can stand firm and tell him so what of it, Christ died for my sins and I am freed from those chains of sin with the power of Christ as my only fortress. For me to ever make headway in this battle against sin in my life, I must recognize that the only power to overcome sin is the power given me in Christ, alone. His power working through to will and to do as He pleases. I bow before the throne and accept whatever He wills to place in my life that He might teach me and guide me along this pathway. My Joy in Christ is destroyed by sin when I relax and relish in it or it’s guilt. So I must fight sin so that my joy in Christ is able to be experienced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXLiWhAlA34 John Piper excerpt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5E4fBXObg In Christ Alone as sung at First Baptist Orlando
For the words to In Christ Alone, I recommend that you go to http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns-inchristalone.aspx
There you will find this song and many other songs that I consider some of the greatest Christian music of our time.