No one is saved by
Law keeping or by any other self-merit whatsoever. One is saved only by
Christ’s righteousness, which is through justification by faith alone. What
purpose then does the Law play in the believer’s life?
In the previous
section Paul was concerned to show the incongruity of a professing Christian
continuing in sin. In this section Paul is concerned with clearly showing by
means of the same question the true state of one who continues in sin.
Please Read Romans 6:14-23
Verse 15: In verse 14 Paul
has said that believers are not under Law but under grace. If this is so, what
then? What are believers to do? Are believers now free to sin at will? Does the
Law as an expression of God’s will for our lives cease to have any hold on
believers (cf 6:1), allowing us to sin with impunity?
Paul’s answer is
simply, certainly not! This is an answer which naturally flows from the first
part of Roman six, for having died to sin in Christ, we have now risen to
spiritual life which has no place for sin and is rather a sign that one has not
experienced God’s grace at all.
NOTE INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION
HERE: What does a professing Christian who lives in sin show about himself? Explain.
Verse 16: This verse is very
similar in construction to that of verse 13. To whomever a person gives himself
to obey, that is to allow that person to become our master. Whom you serve is
revealed by what you do. He who serves sin is the slave of sin (Jn 8:34) and
this person brings himself physical, spiritual and everlasting death (6:23;
5:12; 8:13) as wages for his service.
The one who is
united to Christ by faith and therefore obedient to God, reveals himself to be
a slave of obedience unto inward righteousness or holiness (Jam 2:20-24). This
is of course the very opposite of slavery to sin and its result, and therefore
this obviously will lead to eternal life and complete conformity to God.
The person has
little choice, you are the slave, constrained to do the will of your master, in
this case either sin or God. There are no third choices, for you either serve
sin or Christ.
Verse 17: Previously
believers were the slaves of sin, but God is to be thanked for He has delivered
them from this bondage to sin (Eph 2:8,9; 1 Pet 2:9) unto the gospel and a
right relationship with Him. Believers have wholeheartedly obeyed the gospel (2
Tim 1:13), finding in it a righteousness from God leading to righteousness of
life.
Verse 18: Having been freed
by the grace of God from sin through obedience to the gospel (6:17), believers
are now slaves of righteousness. Therefore the conclusion of Romans 6:15 is
wrong, for we have not the liberty to sin, but a liberty to follow a new
master, wherein lies true liberty (Jn 8:36).
If, therefore, your
life is one of continuing sin, you clearly reveal yourself to still be in
slavery to sin. And if this is the case then you are not a Christian (Mt 7:21)
and ‘the wages of sin is death (6:23).’
NOTE INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION
HERE: How does a person present himself as a slave of righteousness?
Verse 19: Paul uses an
illustration from human experience (cf 1 Cor 15:32), that of slavery (cf Gal
3:15), to more clearly explain the relationship between a believer and God. This
he does because of the ‘weakness of your flesh,’ a phrase referring to
our corrupt sinful nature.
The argument is
continued, expanding upon the point already made in Romans 6:18. Where
previously believers had offered their bodily and mental faculties as
implements or weapons (6:13) of unrighteousness, indeed as slaves of a corrupt
nature, leading only to increased transgression, so now as those in Christ by
faith, we are to present these same bodily and mental faculties as slaves of
righteousness for holiness of life (1 Thess 3:13; 4:7).
Verse 20: This service unto
righteousness for holiness of life is to be exclusive (Mt 6:24), for when sin
was the believers’ master we had nothing to do with righteousness. So now we
are to have nothing to do with sin (Ps 119:1-3).
Verse 21: This verse has
historically been subject to two interpretations; that of one, what sort of
fruit did you produce; or rather two, what advantage did you gain in serving
sin? The latter is preferred (cf 1:13), suiting the context better (cf 6:22).
What advantage then
was gained by serving sin? The answer is nothing, for the end of service to sin
is death and that everlasting (1:32).
Verse 22: Believers are now
freed from the dominion of sin and are now under the domain and reign of God.
The fruit or advantage of this service is holiness and sanctification
(6:1-8:39), concluding in eternal life.
Verse 23: The wages paid by
serving sin is death, for that is the just punishment for sin. But the gift of
God that believers receive, freely given by God is eternal life. This gift is
earned, not by us, but by the Lord Jesus Christ.
INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY
What is serving ‘in
the oldness of the letter (7:6)?’
How did the Law
bring death?
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21/07/2007
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