In the study version the heading reads
"Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ".
Verses 1-14
What stands out to me here is Paul asking and answering a couple of questions:
Q: v1.What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
And a very resounding, forceful answer to this question:
A: v2.By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? KJV says "GOD Forbid". Strong answer here!
Q: Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
A: We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Paul doesn't leave us here without a great explanation to the questions!
6.For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
7. because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
And knowing this and believing this, he sums it all up.
12. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
14. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
"Slaves to Righteousness"
Verses 15-23
Here, a few more Q and A's from Paul.
Q: v15-What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
And again, that same resounding answer !
A: By no means!- KJV-"GOD Forbid"
Q: v16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? v17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
A: v18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Next, Paul says it bluntly, just really puts it out there!
v19. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
Q: v21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of ?
A: Those things result in death!
Again, with another GREAT summation!
v22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
v23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gentleman, I didn't mean to just quote (almost) the entire chapter, But in this, was some R.E.A.L lessons here for me! I really believe that is was not by chance that I have this chapter. I thank the Lord for his mercy and grace! I thank the Lord for the conviction.
Larry Birchfield
Who is your master?
The culture of today is resolute in its defense of the concept of "sloppy" grace. The mind set is this, "Why should I not indulge in the sinful pleasures of this life when there is sufficient grace to protect me?"
Paul asks a question in the first verse of Romans chapter 6, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (NIV) He follows that question with this answer, "By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
When we where buried with the Lord in baptism, and filled with the Holy Ghost, our old nature was laid to rest. According to verse 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." (KJV) If the Holy Ghost is manifest in our lives, then grace takes on a whole new and beautiful meaning. No longer do we have to live as a slave to the sinful desires of this flesh. Paul, in his writings to the church at Ephesus, admonished, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Grace is a GIFT from God. It is not to be taken advantage of in a moment of rebellion.
Paul continues in verse 11, "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus…For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
Finally, in verses 22-23, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To be filled with the Holy Ghost is to understand the true meaning grace.
Make a difference!
Donnie Gandee
