Romans 7:4-6 - 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
Message: Dying to the Law and Walking in Newness of Life
Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he
had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome.
Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter
also served as his introduction to them.
What the Lord is Saying:
Justification and Sanctification
Sanctification follows justification. After being declared righteous by faith and being credited righteousness and eternal life, how is a person to live. Chapter 6 asked the question about whether or not a person continues to sin. And now chapter 7 wonders if we continue to keep the law. Sanctification, thus, is the process in which the Holy Spirit conforms us to Christ in holiness. At faith we were declared righteous, following faith, we are to live as righteous people, growing in likeness of Christ.
I think a big confusion with people and religions is the idea that sanctification sounds like justification at times in scripture. In some ways, one must go back to how clear justification is talked about, starting in Romans 3:21 and even how the defense for it began starting in Chapter 1. People have a tendency to think that over time, in sanctification, a person lives there life in such a way to yield salvation or yield eternal life.
All who are justified will walk in sanctification till glorification. Its our sanctifying life, like James mentions in James 2 that shows others that we are in Christ. Obviously, the reason the sanctified life is in question regarding leading to salvation is how people live. Appearances can deceive people.
I think this is where Romans becomes difficult to comprehend. These are tough passages. Only because we are constantly reading the verse and then watching how it is lived out amongst us and the two often create a conflict. By being justified, I am free from sin. Sin is no longer master. Sin has been crucified. And I am not accountable to the Law. Adherence to the law does not define my future life with God. I am not under the Law, but under grace. Not following the law or lawlessness is sin and I am free from this in Christ. However, my life in Christ will fulfill the Law. Not perfectly because I can never be perfect. But, my life will be lived to make the Law be fulfilled, but not through me, but grace through faith.
I can clearly see through scripture that if my salvation is dependent on my adherence to a law or even that my life must always be lived in such a way to mirror my freedom from sin and that I can never go back and live sin in my life, then my salvation is not a condition of grace and Christ's work, but is conditioned on my living in adherence to the God's commands, the Law.
As I learned in Romans 7:1-3, they law exhibits no hold on me. Yes, it is there to be fulfilled in life while I live on earth, but it has not lasting hold on me. I may feel that my union to it is the ultimate desire or fruition to my life, such as I also think of marriage, but my union is with Christ and he will completely fulfill me. In Adam, it has a hold. In Christ, there is no hold.
Bearing fruit now because of death to the Law
Today, I am walking through verse 4-6, on the heals of stating it has no jurisdiction over us, Paul states in verse 4 therefore, the Law is dead to us/me. I especially like the word made. I was made to die to the Law. The Body of Christ removing sin in my life, thus removed the Law. Sin was brought into the world through Adam. The Law came later. Sin was the first thing removed, then the Law.
Formerly, we bore fruit for death
Verse 5 further explains what life was like in Adam. The death and resurrection of Christ yields a joining together of God and man (verse 4). And now I can
bear fruit for God. But, does a person bear fruit in Adam? Yes, it happens,
but that fruit bearing is for Adam, for self. Thus, for death as it states in verse 5.
In the flesh, sin was active. And sin was aroused by the Law. The Law said "don't", we "did." It aroused sin. Sin living produces death.
Law releasing
But now, in verse 6, a change has taken place. "But now" - meaning something changed. What changed? I have been released from the Law. The Law no longer has a hold on me. I no longer am accountable to it. That is the the problem with the person in Adam, there are accountable to the Law and we know clearly this is a losing battle because we are sinners and we break the Law. Thus, we have "died to that by which we were bound." The Law had a hold on us, but Jesus broke that hold. Jesus and His resurrection
and the death of sin means that lives can be lived once again to bear
fruit for God. This is the core of my existence. My life is to glorify
God.
I can now walk in newness of life. And, in fact, I am walking in newness of the Spirit. The Spirit is conforming me to the holiness of God. I am not walking in oldness of the letter (of the Law), but in newness and the Spirit is at work in my life. The Spirit is at work in my life. That is not wishful thinking or a hope that it will happen. The Spirit is at work in my life. And the Spirit's role is to work in my life. The Spirit is moving me towards holiness. I am a living testimony of God working out holiness in a person. Don't ever take credit for it for it isn't my work. it is the work of the Spirit.
A prayer
Lord, may I continue to uncover your truths and may I better understand and comprehend you. But, don't make me think that comprehension must precede application. The Spirit is at work in my life but I continue to live and testify of you. I don't always get it right but You are the one who is at work.
Promise: I am a new creature in Christ. The old life of living according to the Law is gone, the newness of living in the work of the Spirit has come. God be glorified because he has made me new and is making me true.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Friday, September 12, 2014
Romans 7:1-3 - Free From the Law
Romans 7:1-3 - 1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
Message: Contrasting union from the law and freedom from the law
Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Set Up
Romans 6 was broken into two parts, the Believers death to sin in principle and then in practice. We are dead to sin. Sin has been crucified. We are free from sin. In Adam, sin was our ruler and death our outcome. In Christ, righteous living is now our master and eternal life our outcome.
Dead to the Law
Where chapter 6 focused on sin and being dead to sin, chapter 7 will focus on the law and being dead to the law. In chapter 6, we found out we were freed from sin. Now, in chapter 7, we are freed from the Law. Sin resulted in death. Law resulted in needing to conform to a code of rules. We are free. The Law exposes our sin.
We ended chapter 6 talking about the fact that we now have eternal life in Christ. And here in verse 1, states that the law only is viable when a person is living. The law does have value during life.
Union with the Law
The problem with the law is when we adhere to it we get proud. Christians all over believe they are special because some diet code or type of living they believe that when they do it, it makes them more right with God. Paul has been clear, though, that we are complete in Christ. That our body of sin has been done away with. That we are no longer helpless. There has been a permanent change that has taken place in our life and so therefore, nothing can make us more worthy. No set of rules or laws that we keep makes us more worthy.
As a Christian, I have had a tendency to do this in my own life. I have thought that if I just listened to Christian music then I am more holy than my brother who also listens to mainstream or secular music. I have thought that if I remove certain TV shows from my life then I am more spiritual. I have thought that if I never take a drink of alcohol then I am more spiritual. I have thought if I am always in church then I am more spiritual. I can even have this perspective about daily bible reading or prayer or family devotional. Yes, I have convictions about these things, but they are my convictions and I can't then make them everyone's convictions. I never want to make it seem like that I must have these things in life in order to be spiritual or accepted by God or worthy of His calling. I do these things because I recognize the importance of them and I have a desire to have them in my life.
One of the big problems with many religions is they self-proclaim certain things about the faith or attributes or conditions about a person once they are in Christ and believe that a person must live in that sort of way to be accepted by God or even to truly be doing the will of God. Homeschooling your children has often been something that others have been convicted to do, but my family has not been. And we are often made to feel that we are not worthy or truly following the will of God because we are not homeschooling.
Wayne Barber stated: "Living under the law doesn’t mean that you are not determined, or self disciplined. It means that you measure your spirituality by these things and if they are not done, then you think you have failed to win the love and favor of God in your life."
An explanation or example offered for union with the Law
Paul here uses a compelling illustration of what it means to have new life in Christ. He undoubtedly understands the tendency to believe that marriage union is a great temptation for all people to think that this union must continue. But, Paul, I think, wants to show me and us that God has something greater in store for us after we die.
So, the idea here is we naturally think that are way of doing things, such as marriage, that there can be nothing greater than this, but in Christ, there is something greater and this is eternal union with our creator. There is unity in marriage as there is unity in Christ. There is a great picture of two people becoming as we become one in Christ. But, it is still just a picture and one day we will more clearly see the greatest union ever possible for man and be united with Christ in Heaven. Yes, we are already united with Him when we have faith and believe in Christ, but we will more clearly see and comprehend and live this union after we die.
Promise: The Law doesn't make us holy. Christ makes us holy. And our union with Christ will be greater than any union with a law.
Message: Contrasting union from the law and freedom from the law
Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Set Up
Romans 6 was broken into two parts, the Believers death to sin in principle and then in practice. We are dead to sin. Sin has been crucified. We are free from sin. In Adam, sin was our ruler and death our outcome. In Christ, righteous living is now our master and eternal life our outcome.
Dead to the Law
Where chapter 6 focused on sin and being dead to sin, chapter 7 will focus on the law and being dead to the law. In chapter 6, we found out we were freed from sin. Now, in chapter 7, we are freed from the Law. Sin resulted in death. Law resulted in needing to conform to a code of rules. We are free. The Law exposes our sin.
We ended chapter 6 talking about the fact that we now have eternal life in Christ. And here in verse 1, states that the law only is viable when a person is living. The law does have value during life.
Union with the Law
The problem with the law is when we adhere to it we get proud. Christians all over believe they are special because some diet code or type of living they believe that when they do it, it makes them more right with God. Paul has been clear, though, that we are complete in Christ. That our body of sin has been done away with. That we are no longer helpless. There has been a permanent change that has taken place in our life and so therefore, nothing can make us more worthy. No set of rules or laws that we keep makes us more worthy.
As a Christian, I have had a tendency to do this in my own life. I have thought that if I just listened to Christian music then I am more holy than my brother who also listens to mainstream or secular music. I have thought that if I remove certain TV shows from my life then I am more spiritual. I have thought that if I never take a drink of alcohol then I am more spiritual. I have thought if I am always in church then I am more spiritual. I can even have this perspective about daily bible reading or prayer or family devotional. Yes, I have convictions about these things, but they are my convictions and I can't then make them everyone's convictions. I never want to make it seem like that I must have these things in life in order to be spiritual or accepted by God or worthy of His calling. I do these things because I recognize the importance of them and I have a desire to have them in my life.
One of the big problems with many religions is they self-proclaim certain things about the faith or attributes or conditions about a person once they are in Christ and believe that a person must live in that sort of way to be accepted by God or even to truly be doing the will of God. Homeschooling your children has often been something that others have been convicted to do, but my family has not been. And we are often made to feel that we are not worthy or truly following the will of God because we are not homeschooling.
Wayne Barber stated: "Living under the law doesn’t mean that you are not determined, or self disciplined. It means that you measure your spirituality by these things and if they are not done, then you think you have failed to win the love and favor of God in your life."
An explanation or example offered for union with the Law
Paul here uses a compelling illustration of what it means to have new life in Christ. He undoubtedly understands the tendency to believe that marriage union is a great temptation for all people to think that this union must continue. But, Paul, I think, wants to show me and us that God has something greater in store for us after we die.
So, the idea here is we naturally think that are way of doing things, such as marriage, that there can be nothing greater than this, but in Christ, there is something greater and this is eternal union with our creator. There is unity in marriage as there is unity in Christ. There is a great picture of two people becoming as we become one in Christ. But, it is still just a picture and one day we will more clearly see the greatest union ever possible for man and be united with Christ in Heaven. Yes, we are already united with Him when we have faith and believe in Christ, but we will more clearly see and comprehend and live this union after we die.
Promise: The Law doesn't make us holy. Christ makes us holy. And our union with Christ will be greater than any union with a law.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Romans 6:22-23 - The Wages of Sin vs. The Gift of Life
Romans 6:22-23 - 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Message: Eternal life is a gift
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
A Review of Romans
I can't help but take a moment and review where I have come from in this study. Paul began Romans talking about the Gospel and that is his central message. He is all bout the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Rome is about this as well. In the 2nd half of Romans 1 Paul instructs the church that some reject God by making their own god, serving themselves rather than the revealed creator.
Romans 2 looks at God's judgment of man and it is impartial. Specifically, toward the Jewish person, holding on to the law, instructing it, having circumcision, being Jewish, this spiritual identities doesn't give a person a free pass in order to exempt them from God's wrath.
Romans 3 answers the why question for this. Because everyone is a sinner. It is our unrighteousness that brings us to the righteousness of God. And Paul reveals this further at the end of Romans which culminates with the Gospel message. God's righteousness is imputed or credited to a person through their belief in God. But belief doesn't then earn a person grace. Faith is in accordance with grace. God justifies the sinner. Never does the sinner boast in anything but Christ. Never in themselves.
And this act of God crediting people as righteous is not a new thing. It was evident in Abraham and David. This is the focus of Romans 4. Righteousness comes to the believer because of their faith in God and His substitutionary death. God makes a way for man through a promise not through a ritual such as circumcision or obeying he Law.
The result is the peace of God in the life of the believer. And hope. And we get to experience tribulations or trials. These are good things to confirm our faith and give us hope for the future. Later in Romans 5 we can see the clarity that we were in Adam and therefore our life would end in death, but through faith we are now in Christ. In Adam, helpless; In Christ, completely secure. Adam and Christ have similarity. Adam's sin resulted in condemnation for all. Christ's dying for sin resulted in justification for all.
So, now, Romans 6, what does it now mean for the believer that sin has been paid for on the cross. How should we then live? This chapter confirms that our life is no longer about sin, in any degree, for we are freed from sin. God no longer sees us as sinners and so our lives should be lived apart from sin. Our problem is we mess up, but God wants us to know that He sees us free from this sin and so our lives should be lived focusing on the instruments of righteousness.
Freedom from Sin equals Eternal Life
The focus through most of this chapter has been on the believer's response to being free from sin. The believer wondered if sin really could not any longer be a part of their life. Is is possible that sinning is good for grace? Is it possible that being freed from the law means that a person can still sin once or twice without it being a big deal? But, Paul clearly lets the Christian know that having been freed from sin we no longer really have a desire for sin because our life is now about being righteous. One cannot try to have both lives. Sin has been crucified. Sin is dead in our life, so don't give into it ever again. We are freed from sin, and thus a slave to righteousness not a slave to sin.
To be freed from sin means eternal life is ours. Verse 22 could be misunderstood in thinking that when we are moved to righteousness and live free from sin that we inherit eternal life. Eternal life however is not earned, but is a gift (verse 23). By believing in God our ownership is now in heaven and that can't change. The sinner should no longer desire to sin. After being justified and credited with righteousness our life is about being sanctified. We are obedient Eternal life is what we receive by being in Christ. In Adam, death was our outcome. In Christ, eternal life is our outcome. This is the point of verse 23. And this concludes Romans 6.
Promise: By faith, God credits us with righteousness, frees us from sin, changes our life to focus on living righteous lives and we can look forward to eternal life.
Message: Eternal life is a gift
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
A Review of Romans
I can't help but take a moment and review where I have come from in this study. Paul began Romans talking about the Gospel and that is his central message. He is all bout the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Rome is about this as well. In the 2nd half of Romans 1 Paul instructs the church that some reject God by making their own god, serving themselves rather than the revealed creator.
Romans 2 looks at God's judgment of man and it is impartial. Specifically, toward the Jewish person, holding on to the law, instructing it, having circumcision, being Jewish, this spiritual identities doesn't give a person a free pass in order to exempt them from God's wrath.
Romans 3 answers the why question for this. Because everyone is a sinner. It is our unrighteousness that brings us to the righteousness of God. And Paul reveals this further at the end of Romans which culminates with the Gospel message. God's righteousness is imputed or credited to a person through their belief in God. But belief doesn't then earn a person grace. Faith is in accordance with grace. God justifies the sinner. Never does the sinner boast in anything but Christ. Never in themselves.
And this act of God crediting people as righteous is not a new thing. It was evident in Abraham and David. This is the focus of Romans 4. Righteousness comes to the believer because of their faith in God and His substitutionary death. God makes a way for man through a promise not through a ritual such as circumcision or obeying he Law.
The result is the peace of God in the life of the believer. And hope. And we get to experience tribulations or trials. These are good things to confirm our faith and give us hope for the future. Later in Romans 5 we can see the clarity that we were in Adam and therefore our life would end in death, but through faith we are now in Christ. In Adam, helpless; In Christ, completely secure. Adam and Christ have similarity. Adam's sin resulted in condemnation for all. Christ's dying for sin resulted in justification for all.
So, now, Romans 6, what does it now mean for the believer that sin has been paid for on the cross. How should we then live? This chapter confirms that our life is no longer about sin, in any degree, for we are freed from sin. God no longer sees us as sinners and so our lives should be lived apart from sin. Our problem is we mess up, but God wants us to know that He sees us free from this sin and so our lives should be lived focusing on the instruments of righteousness.
Freedom from Sin equals Eternal Life
The focus through most of this chapter has been on the believer's response to being free from sin. The believer wondered if sin really could not any longer be a part of their life. Is is possible that sinning is good for grace? Is it possible that being freed from the law means that a person can still sin once or twice without it being a big deal? But, Paul clearly lets the Christian know that having been freed from sin we no longer really have a desire for sin because our life is now about being righteous. One cannot try to have both lives. Sin has been crucified. Sin is dead in our life, so don't give into it ever again. We are freed from sin, and thus a slave to righteousness not a slave to sin.
To be freed from sin means eternal life is ours. Verse 22 could be misunderstood in thinking that when we are moved to righteousness and live free from sin that we inherit eternal life. Eternal life however is not earned, but is a gift (verse 23). By believing in God our ownership is now in heaven and that can't change. The sinner should no longer desire to sin. After being justified and credited with righteousness our life is about being sanctified. We are obedient Eternal life is what we receive by being in Christ. In Adam, death was our outcome. In Christ, eternal life is our outcome. This is the point of verse 23. And this concludes Romans 6.
Promise: By faith, God credits us with righteousness, frees us from sin, changes our life to focus on living righteous lives and we can look forward to eternal life.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Romans 6:20-21 - Slavery to Sin and Its Fruit
Romans 6:20-21 - 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.
Message: Black and White in a Grey World
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
Comparing slaves
A slave is one who surrendered wholly to another person's will and thus disregarded his own interest. Paul here places man in an either/or state. Either we are a slave to sin or we are a slave to righteousness. It is black and white. The person in Christ is freed from sin. The person in Adam is a slave to sin. There are stark contrasts between these two individuals. Here in verse 20 and 21 Paul speaks more clearly of the person who is in Adam. In Christ we are free from sin. In Adam we are free from righteousness.
Ashamed of my life in Adam
And in verse 22, I am hit with the reality that there is no benefit to be derived from being a slave to sin because the reality is i am now ashamed to live this sort of life. And the result of this sort of life is death. The last time I saw the word ashamed was in Romans 1:16 with "I am not ashamed of the gospel." To be ashamed is the means to experience a painful feeling or sense of loss of status because of some particular event or activity. In Romans 1:16, now that I am in Christ I don't then live and then not preach the gospel. I don't result in having these truths and then acting like I am living in a painful feeling or sense of loss status. I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is interesting that he would use those words. So, if a person is ashamed, how can they really call themselves a Christian?
The opposite of being not ashamed is being ashamed. So, now that I am in Christ. I am, in relation to my old life, my old self, ashamed or experiencing a painful feeling or sense of loss of status of being in Adam. I have great sorrow for seeing now that I lived that life.
Seeing the difference
The hard part in this is people don't live in black or white, either or or. But, instead people live in each. People take from both. At times looking in Christ and times looking in Adam.
And so what separates the two. Is it simply a realization and commitment to be in Christ versus not. The in Christ person is ashamed of the life he was living in Adam. And this person wants to live not ashamed of the gospel.
What is my roll in this God? My life is still black and white and gray. So, when I see people that are also living gray and yet acknowledging black and white, what words do I say to them? Do you just want time to live my life so clearly that they can see a difference in me? Why do people continue to do things that are harmful to themselves? It is my job to point it out? I think of my friend who curses. Does he hear himself? Or my friend who destroys their body by smoking? Does this person see it? Are they wrestling? Or are they not?
Promise: God has bought us with the blood of Christ. We serve Him. We are made to be servants. I am either a slave of righteousness or not a slave of righteousness. There is middle ground. God hates the middle.
Message: Black and White in a Grey World
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
Comparing slaves
A slave is one who surrendered wholly to another person's will and thus disregarded his own interest. Paul here places man in an either/or state. Either we are a slave to sin or we are a slave to righteousness. It is black and white. The person in Christ is freed from sin. The person in Adam is a slave to sin. There are stark contrasts between these two individuals. Here in verse 20 and 21 Paul speaks more clearly of the person who is in Adam. In Christ we are free from sin. In Adam we are free from righteousness.
Ashamed of my life in Adam
And in verse 22, I am hit with the reality that there is no benefit to be derived from being a slave to sin because the reality is i am now ashamed to live this sort of life. And the result of this sort of life is death. The last time I saw the word ashamed was in Romans 1:16 with "I am not ashamed of the gospel." To be ashamed is the means to experience a painful feeling or sense of loss of status because of some particular event or activity. In Romans 1:16, now that I am in Christ I don't then live and then not preach the gospel. I don't result in having these truths and then acting like I am living in a painful feeling or sense of loss status. I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is interesting that he would use those words. So, if a person is ashamed, how can they really call themselves a Christian?
The opposite of being not ashamed is being ashamed. So, now that I am in Christ. I am, in relation to my old life, my old self, ashamed or experiencing a painful feeling or sense of loss of status of being in Adam. I have great sorrow for seeing now that I lived that life.
Seeing the difference
The hard part in this is people don't live in black or white, either or or. But, instead people live in each. People take from both. At times looking in Christ and times looking in Adam.
And so what separates the two. Is it simply a realization and commitment to be in Christ versus not. The in Christ person is ashamed of the life he was living in Adam. And this person wants to live not ashamed of the gospel.
What is my roll in this God? My life is still black and white and gray. So, when I see people that are also living gray and yet acknowledging black and white, what words do I say to them? Do you just want time to live my life so clearly that they can see a difference in me? Why do people continue to do things that are harmful to themselves? It is my job to point it out? I think of my friend who curses. Does he hear himself? Or my friend who destroys their body by smoking? Does this person see it? Are they wrestling? Or are they not?
Promise: God has bought us with the blood of Christ. We serve Him. We are made to be servants. I am either a slave of righteousness or not a slave of righteousness. There is middle ground. God hates the middle.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Romans 6:16-19 - Slaves to Righteousness
Romans 6:16-19 - 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
Message: It should be that we can't help it, as a follower of Christ, to be a slave of righteousness and in turn reach sanctification.
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
Background
From 6, verse 15-23, is the Believer's Death to Sin in Practice. Yesterday, the question was asked, now that a person is under law, can they ever sin, even if it is just once or twice. Earlier in chapter 6, it was clearly stated that sin is dead from the perspective of God through Christ and I am made alive in Christ. And so the person in Christ needs to realize that we are complete in Christ and our biggest obstacle in life is when we live outside of this condition.
No matter whom you serve, you are a slave
Whether we serve sin or serve obedience, we are a slave (verse 16). I can be a slave of sin or of obedience. At times, in my life, specifically when I was growing up, I struggled with those people that were, so-called goody too shoes. Maybe what I disliked is the confidence they had in doing things well, like school work. They seemed to take great pride in its accomplishment and were good at it. And I struggled because I was not good at it. So, I found myself poking fun at their studious behavior. I remember one summer when the quest was to read books. I had read like 3 books that summer and felt very accomplished only to found out the boy across the street had read an unbelievable amount. I thought it was somewhere in the 70's or even 100. My jaw dropped and I just assumed it was a ruse. Yet, he was good at being a slave of education and learning.
Thanks to God, we are slaves of obedience
Something interesting has happened as I make a commitment to follow Christ. I become a slave of righteousness. The questions that are asked in this chapter, verse 1 and verse 15, are in essence completely contrary to what a Christian or Christ follower or regenerate sinner would ask. Why? Because in Christ (verse 17 and 18)we have been freed from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.
This is something I struggle with at times. I see Christians or proclaimed Christians in my life that don't seem to have a complete life change. There are changes in principle but not always in practice. They still retain their old life in some shape or form. Perhaps it is a foul mouth. Or perhaps there is no desire for corporate worship or church. Perhaps there is a thirst for alcohol (which in our country equates to a lifestyle contrary to the cross). Or there is little thirst for Bible reading, but more interest in just self-improvement. Yet, here in these verses, it is clear. I have been freed from sin. I became a slave to righteousness. This doesn't mean I always am righteous but I am in turmoil when I'm not living in a righteous manner. I think this is the Christian. The follower or true worshiper really has a tension with sin. And not just because it reaps poor dividends in life. The true worshiper doesn't want to displease God any longer.
There is a goal: sanctification
Verse 19 reminds us that these aren't just things we do, righteous living or sin living. But, they are resulting in a transformed life. If we are a slave to the flesh, then impurity and lawlessness will result. The purpose of the Christian is to follow Christ all the days of his or her life and thus move towards Christ likeness. This is who we are in Christ.
Promise: By being in Christ, God frees us from sin and we become slaves of righteousness.
Message: It should be that we can't help it, as a follower of Christ, to be a slave of righteousness and in turn reach sanctification.
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
Background
From 6, verse 15-23, is the Believer's Death to Sin in Practice. Yesterday, the question was asked, now that a person is under law, can they ever sin, even if it is just once or twice. Earlier in chapter 6, it was clearly stated that sin is dead from the perspective of God through Christ and I am made alive in Christ. And so the person in Christ needs to realize that we are complete in Christ and our biggest obstacle in life is when we live outside of this condition.
No matter whom you serve, you are a slave
Whether we serve sin or serve obedience, we are a slave (verse 16). I can be a slave of sin or of obedience. At times, in my life, specifically when I was growing up, I struggled with those people that were, so-called goody too shoes. Maybe what I disliked is the confidence they had in doing things well, like school work. They seemed to take great pride in its accomplishment and were good at it. And I struggled because I was not good at it. So, I found myself poking fun at their studious behavior. I remember one summer when the quest was to read books. I had read like 3 books that summer and felt very accomplished only to found out the boy across the street had read an unbelievable amount. I thought it was somewhere in the 70's or even 100. My jaw dropped and I just assumed it was a ruse. Yet, he was good at being a slave of education and learning.
Thanks to God, we are slaves of obedience
Something interesting has happened as I make a commitment to follow Christ. I become a slave of righteousness. The questions that are asked in this chapter, verse 1 and verse 15, are in essence completely contrary to what a Christian or Christ follower or regenerate sinner would ask. Why? Because in Christ (verse 17 and 18)we have been freed from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.
This is something I struggle with at times. I see Christians or proclaimed Christians in my life that don't seem to have a complete life change. There are changes in principle but not always in practice. They still retain their old life in some shape or form. Perhaps it is a foul mouth. Or perhaps there is no desire for corporate worship or church. Perhaps there is a thirst for alcohol (which in our country equates to a lifestyle contrary to the cross). Or there is little thirst for Bible reading, but more interest in just self-improvement. Yet, here in these verses, it is clear. I have been freed from sin. I became a slave to righteousness. This doesn't mean I always am righteous but I am in turmoil when I'm not living in a righteous manner. I think this is the Christian. The follower or true worshiper really has a tension with sin. And not just because it reaps poor dividends in life. The true worshiper doesn't want to displease God any longer.
There is a goal: sanctification
Verse 19 reminds us that these aren't just things we do, righteous living or sin living. But, they are resulting in a transformed life. If we are a slave to the flesh, then impurity and lawlessness will result. The purpose of the Christian is to follow Christ all the days of his or her life and thus move towards Christ likeness. This is who we are in Christ.
Promise: By being in Christ, God frees us from sin and we become slaves of righteousness.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Romans 6:15 - Living Under Grace
Romans 6:15 - What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
Message: Grace living not under the law
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
Background
Romans 6:1-14 was the Believer's Death to Sin in Principle and the remainder of chapter 6 is the Believer's Death to Sin in Practice. Verse 1 began with a question: "Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase?" This was asked on the heels of chapter 5, verse 20, "where sin increased, grace abounded." It is a natural question. And yet Paul answers emphatically, "No way." The justified person has died to sin. And thus, these verses declared over and over how sin has been crucified and we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, so we are freed from sin, so we want to change from being in Adam to being in Christ and no longer obey or let us make sin master of our life. God will always see us as freed from sin. That we must remember.
The Law
Verse 15 now asks the question, "Shall we sin because we are under law but under grace?" The Law has not been talked about, up to this point, in chapter 6. The Law was a practical means of living religion. People have somewhat misrepresented the Law by thinking it is a guide for living. A person seems to want to strive to keep the Law and yet they know they will break it. And this seems to be the daily toil of law keeping. Trying to keep it to the best of your ability. And yet breaking the Law will occur.
I was driving to work this morning, down the interstate, going the speed limit. But, it seemed like I was the only one. Some flying past me, some driving past me, but I saw very few going the speed limit. Some days this isn't the case, but it was Monday morning. I wonder if one of the problems with people equating law keeping with God acceptance is that when no one steps in to tell you that you have broken the Law, one thinks that it is no big deal and therefore isn't much of a violation. There is so much breaking the Law going on that police officers have to focus on those areas where danger is most eminent. And so speeding down the road often gets missed.
Thus Sin
So, a person then continues to sin but in their mind, it isn't sin. Why? No one is telling them they are doing anything wrong and everyone is doing it. And yet man has a conscience.
Question: Shall we sin because we aren't under law?
Is the fact that we aren't under law; it is possible that because the Law doesn't save us mean that because of grace we can sin?
From PreceptAustin.org: In the first question (verse 1), the Greek verb "continue" is present tense and thus refers to a life of habitual sin. In the second question (verse 2), the verb tense (shall we sin) is aorist tense and thus indicates that here Paul is referring to occasional, single acts of sin. The thought is, “Since your doctrine of superabundant grace teaches the impossibility of a life of habitual sin on the part of the Christian, will the fact that a Christian is not under the uncompromising rule of law but under the lenient scepter of grace, allow for at least an act of sin once in awhile?”
Message: Grace living not under the law
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
Background
Romans 6:1-14 was the Believer's Death to Sin in Principle and the remainder of chapter 6 is the Believer's Death to Sin in Practice. Verse 1 began with a question: "Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase?" This was asked on the heels of chapter 5, verse 20, "where sin increased, grace abounded." It is a natural question. And yet Paul answers emphatically, "No way." The justified person has died to sin. And thus, these verses declared over and over how sin has been crucified and we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, so we are freed from sin, so we want to change from being in Adam to being in Christ and no longer obey or let us make sin master of our life. God will always see us as freed from sin. That we must remember.
The Law
Verse 15 now asks the question, "Shall we sin because we are under law but under grace?" The Law has not been talked about, up to this point, in chapter 6. The Law was a practical means of living religion. People have somewhat misrepresented the Law by thinking it is a guide for living. A person seems to want to strive to keep the Law and yet they know they will break it. And this seems to be the daily toil of law keeping. Trying to keep it to the best of your ability. And yet breaking the Law will occur.
I was driving to work this morning, down the interstate, going the speed limit. But, it seemed like I was the only one. Some flying past me, some driving past me, but I saw very few going the speed limit. Some days this isn't the case, but it was Monday morning. I wonder if one of the problems with people equating law keeping with God acceptance is that when no one steps in to tell you that you have broken the Law, one thinks that it is no big deal and therefore isn't much of a violation. There is so much breaking the Law going on that police officers have to focus on those areas where danger is most eminent. And so speeding down the road often gets missed.
Thus Sin
So, a person then continues to sin but in their mind, it isn't sin. Why? No one is telling them they are doing anything wrong and everyone is doing it. And yet man has a conscience.
Question: Shall we sin because we aren't under law?
Is the fact that we aren't under law; it is possible that because the Law doesn't save us mean that because of grace we can sin?
From PreceptAustin.org: In the first question (verse 1), the Greek verb "continue" is present tense and thus refers to a life of habitual sin. In the second question (verse 2), the verb tense (shall we sin) is aorist tense and thus indicates that here Paul is referring to occasional, single acts of sin. The thought is, “Since your doctrine of superabundant grace teaches the impossibility of a life of habitual sin on the part of the Christian, will the fact that a Christian is not under the uncompromising rule of law but under the lenient scepter of grace, allow for at least an act of sin once in awhile?”
So, what is wrong with occasional sin? Since no record of wrongs (I Corinthian 13:5) then isn't okay to sin at times?
Never
Definitely not is the response. The repentant sinner recognizes that any sin, momentary or habitual is not what they desire in their life.
Promise: From Tabletalk, May 1, 2014, "We are no longer under the law as guilty people, for we are righteous in Christ."
Promise: From Tabletalk, May 1, 2014, "We are no longer under the law as guilty people, for we are righteous in Christ."
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Romans 6:14 - Living under Grace
Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Message: Sin will not be my master
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Open Bible section heading for verses 1 through 14 continue to be so fitting: Believer's Death to Sin in Principle. It is so clear what these verses are expressing. Sin no longer has dominion over me or master over me. The way Paul repeats this message and these words over and over should bring to mind the importance of these truths. This chapter started with the question of should we sin so that grace will increase and throughout the passage I have been told, "no." And the reason why is that sin is really dead in my life. So, why would I return to something that is dead.
Last night, for a brief moment, I went down sin's path. I ventured away from the gift that He gave me in my wife and more importantly the promise that a man's thoughts are only to be for his wife and in a breif moment I searched for something on the web that conflicted this promise. Why? I have been reading this past week on death to sin in principle. I am dead to it. But, I have also trained myself over the years in times of distress (and last night I was in great pain in my back) and in times of fatigue (I was really tired from waking up early and going an early morning bike ride, even though it was great) and I was a little angry (due to Pamela forgetting about Derek's hurt to her ribs and letting him go skate with Mikey).
It stinks. I've trained myself over the years in this behavior. I go here even though I realize in theory it is totally wrong and totally contrary to who I am in Christ. It makes no sense based upon all the blessings I have been given and the promises I have. But, I venture away. It's hauntingly destructive and upsetting. I know I can't be perfect but I'm bothered when change doesn't happen completely in my life.
I am so thankful that I am under grace and Jesus has paid for all my sins. Past, present, and future. Yes, I am very blessed in spite of my failures. So, I will seek to not go down those paths because there is no reason to, but when I do stumble, I will respond in praise to God for his living grace.
Promise: I have legally been declared righteous which means that I have a standing before God that says I have kept His covenant
Message: Sin will not be my master
Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Open Bible section heading for verses 1 through 14 continue to be so fitting: Believer's Death to Sin in Principle. It is so clear what these verses are expressing. Sin no longer has dominion over me or master over me. The way Paul repeats this message and these words over and over should bring to mind the importance of these truths. This chapter started with the question of should we sin so that grace will increase and throughout the passage I have been told, "no." And the reason why is that sin is really dead in my life. So, why would I return to something that is dead.
Last night, for a brief moment, I went down sin's path. I ventured away from the gift that He gave me in my wife and more importantly the promise that a man's thoughts are only to be for his wife and in a breif moment I searched for something on the web that conflicted this promise. Why? I have been reading this past week on death to sin in principle. I am dead to it. But, I have also trained myself over the years in times of distress (and last night I was in great pain in my back) and in times of fatigue (I was really tired from waking up early and going an early morning bike ride, even though it was great) and I was a little angry (due to Pamela forgetting about Derek's hurt to her ribs and letting him go skate with Mikey).
It stinks. I've trained myself over the years in this behavior. I go here even though I realize in theory it is totally wrong and totally contrary to who I am in Christ. It makes no sense based upon all the blessings I have been given and the promises I have. But, I venture away. It's hauntingly destructive and upsetting. I know I can't be perfect but I'm bothered when change doesn't happen completely in my life.
I am so thankful that I am under grace and Jesus has paid for all my sins. Past, present, and future. Yes, I am very blessed in spite of my failures. So, I will seek to not go down those paths because there is no reason to, but when I do stumble, I will respond in praise to God for his living grace.
Promise: I have legally been declared righteous which means that I have a standing before God that says I have kept His covenant
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