Please pray for understanding and answer the following questions.
1. We are told that we are a part of a new circumcision, the circumcision of the Messiah/Christ. The circumcision of Abraham was a removing of flesh as a sign (or proof) of the covenant that God made with Abraham. Explain the differences and parallels with the circumcision that Paul is talking about here. Col. 3:9, Genesis 9:12-13, Genesis 17:11, Romans 4:11
2. Read Romans 6:4,5 and Romans 7:1-6. Explain as best you can why it’s important for us to have “died with Christ.”
3. Explain why we need to be reminded that He made us alive when we were completely dead and estranged from him. Romans 5:10, Galatians 3:3
4. Consider the Romans 7 passage from earlier. What light does that shed on the statement that God has nailed the handwriting of requirements (or certificate of debt) that was against us to the cross.
5. In reading verse 15, keep in mind that Paul is not only considering how Christ died on the cross, but how we were united with Him in His death. In our death we were not only freed from the handwriting of requirements; we were also freed freed from something mentioned in verse 15. What have we been freed from, and what consequence does that have on our lives? Romans 6:16-18
