Romans 6

Romans 6:1-8

The Believer’s Life of Justification: Persevering by Being Led by the Spirit – We have been declared sinners (Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:20), justified through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21 to Romans 4:25), and positioned under God’s grace (Romans 5:1-21). Paul then explains the process of how we are to walk in our lives (Romans 6:1 to Romans 8:16). We must first reckon ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:1-14) and free from the Law (Romans 6:15 to Romans 7:6). Paul then takes a moment to explain that the Law is holy as evidenced by our struggle to overcome the very sins that are declared by the Law (Romans 7:7-25). Paul then reveals the secret to walking in the liberty of Christ Jesus, which is found as we learn to be led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-16). We learn from this passage that as we are led by the Holy Spirit we are walking in our justification provided to us by God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son. Thus, justification is maintained by walking in the Spirit, but man returns to condemnation by walking in the flesh. Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. Sanctification thru Death with Christ — Romans 6:1-142. Sanctification thru Liberty In Christ — Romans 6:15 to Romans 7:63. Sanctification Confirms the Law — Romans 7:7-254. Sanctification in the Holy Spirit — Romans 8:1-16 Six Aspects of the Believer’s Life of Justification - In this passage, we find six things that God has done for us, the Church. Through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we were crucified with Him. We also died, were buried, were quickened, were raised, and were seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:15-7

Sanctification thru Liberty In Christ – After we reckon ourselves dead unto sin and alive unto God (Romans 6:1-14), we must then understand that we are free from the Law (Romans 6:15 to Romans 7:6). Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Romans 6:15 — Comments – Paul offers a “claim” and follows it with a “reason” to support this claim. We can imagine that Paul has confronted Jews in the synagogue for years and debated the superiority of the Gospel over the Law. He has been accused of saying that it was permissible to sin because the Jews were no longer under the Law. Therefore, Paul anticipates this argument from his readers and addresses it in advance. Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16 — “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey” - Comments – We “present” or “yield” ourselves by an act of our own will. Paul will use this Greek word παρίστημι again in Romans 12:1 saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 6:16 — “whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” – Comments - The phrase “of sin unto death” tells us that a born again believer can become a servant of sin after having been reconciled to God. This bondage to sin will result in death. This means that a person in sin will go to Hell since death in this passage of Scripture refers to spiritual separation from God. The application of the term death is made clear a few verses later in Romans 6:21 by saying that the end of a sinners’ lifestyle before he was saved is death, which means eternal separation from God in Hell. This definition of death stands in direct contrast to eternal life described in Romans 6:22. Thus, the wages of sin, whether as a sinner or a born-again believer, all results in death, according to Romans 6:23. This fact is restated again in Romans 8:13. Romans 6:21-23, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Romans 6:17 — Word Study on “God be thanked” – The Greek construction (χάρινἔχωτῷΧριστῷἸησοῦ) or (χάριςτῷθεῷ)[169] or some variation of this phrase is found no less than thirteen times in the Greek New Testament (Luke 17:9, Romans 6:17; Romans 7:25, 1 Corinthians 10:30; 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 8:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15, Colossians 3:16, 1 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:3, Philemon 1:7 [t.r.], Hebrews 12:28). It is properly translated in a variety of ways; “I am grateful to God,” or “I thank God,” “Let’s give thanks,” or “with thanks to the Lord.” [169] Kurt Aland, Matthew Black, Carlo M. Martini, Bruce M. Metzger, M. Robinson, and Allen Wikgren, The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (with Morphology) (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993, 2006), in Libronix Digital Library System, v. 2.1c [CD-ROM] (Bellingham, WA: Libronix Corp., 2000-2004), Romans 6:17.Romans 6:17 — Comments - Servants of sin are those who are enslaved and in bondage to sin. While we were in bondage to sin, we yielded our hearts unto God when we heart the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While we were unable to love and serve Him because of our bondage to a sinful lifestyle. He reached down and set us free (Romans 6:18) and filled us with the Holy Spirit, all because we yielded our hearts to Him while weak and bound. Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Romans 6:18 — Comments – How to believers become “slaves of righteousness.” Wayne Johnson gives the example of how he spoke a profane word while a church leader and felt immediate conviction.[170] As God’s children, we fall under immediate conviction when we stumble, while the sinner continues in his sin with joy and indulgences, showing no convictions. As the sinner is in bondage to a lifestyle of sin, God’s children are “bound” by their regenerated spirit and the indwelling Holy Spirit. [170] Wayne Johnson, “Sunday School Lesson on Romans 6:1-23,” First Assembly of God, Panama City, Florida, 10 October 2010.Scripture References - Note: Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Romans 6:19 — “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh” - Comments – Paul made a similar statement in Romans 3:5, saying, “I speak as a man.” He also uses it in Galatians 3:15, “I speak after the manner of men.” Paul is teaching a spiritual truth using a natural illustration. In the Roman world that Paul was writing, slavery was a common sight. It was not uncommon to observe a slave being sold to a new master, and receiving new compensation and conditions of service. Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Romans 6:21 — Comments - This question is asked because Paul wants us to remember the results that sin brought into our lives: distress, anguish, bondage, etc. Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death” – Word Study on “wages” – The TDNT says the Greek word ὀψώνιον literally means, “what is appointed for buying food.” BDAG says it properly means, “ration-(money),” but it is best translated “compensation” in Romans 6:23. Luke and Paul use this word to refer to military wages (Luke 3:14, 1 Corinthians 9:7), and Paul uses it to refer to the compensation he received from churches as a soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:8). Luke 3:14, “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” 1 Corinthians 9:7, “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?” 2 Corinthians 11:8, “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.” Comments - The penalty of sin is death. Each person must die for the sins he commits. You can either die in Christ (Romans 6:3), or die in the second death of eternal judgment. The first death is physical death, but the second death is eternal separation from God. Romans 6:3, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:23 — “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” - Comments - We are no longer in sin, but have been freed from sin. Therefore, we do not have to die for the wages of our sin because we have been made free from sin (Romans 6:22). Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. Romans 7:2 — Comments - Romans 7:2 is an example that illustrates Romans 7:1. When a man dies, even the law of marriage is broken. Romans 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4 — “Wherefore, my brethren” - Comments - An analogy is made between Romans 7:3 and Romans 7:4. Jesus and the Jews were bound to the Law like a husband and wife are bound. Only death separates. Jesus died and we died with Jesus, (Romans 6:5-6), so we are loosed from the law. Romans 6:5-6, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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.” Romans 7:4 — Comments - Since we died with Jesus (Romans 6:5-6, Galatians 2:20), it is through Jesus that we have died to the law, no longer under its power. Now we can remarry, and the resurrected Jesus is the one to whom we have been given in marriage (2 Corinthians 11:2). Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” 2 Corinthians 11:2, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” How did we become dead to the Law? By the body of Christ which was sacrificed on Calvary. We were crucified with Jesus on Calvary (Galatians 2:20). There we died, slain by the law. Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” We were dead in trespasses and sins, held in bondage by the law. In the law of sin and death, we had no hope of coming out by ourselves. Jesus came, took the penalty of sin and death away with Him on the Cross. Therefore, we are no longer in bondage to the Law because it killed us. Now, Jesus makes us alive again, He rose again and took us for His bride. Bless the Lord, Oh, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Illustration - While studying through what Jesus did for us on Calvary, the story never grows old. It is like watching a favorite show on television. Although you know the outcome, you anticipate the danger scenes and when the final victory comes, you sigh and wipe your brow, having been caught up in the action once more. Scripture References - Note similar verses: Ephesians 2:15, “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. Romans 7:5 — “For when we were in the flesh” – Comment - The word “when” means that we are no longer in the flesh (Romans 8:9). Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Yet, as Christians “in the flesh,” we can still live “after the flesh.” Note the differences of the two words “in” and “after.” Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 7:5 — “the motions of sins” – Comment - The motions of sins refers to fleshy passions towards sins. Romans 7:5 — “which were by the law” – Comments - By the law was the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). That is, sinful passions are realized by the understanding of God’s law of righteous living. Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Sin comes through the Law: 1 John 3:4, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Romans 4:15, “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” Therefore, if there is no law, there is no sin. Romans 7:9, “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” Romans 7:5 — “did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death” – Comments - The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin brings forth death (James 1:15). In other words, the fruit of sin is death. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” James 1:15, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 7:6 — “that we should serve in newness of spirit” – Scripture References - Note: Romans 7:25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:1-6 — Comments - Dead to the Law - The phrase “the Law” in this passage refers to the Mosaic Law; yet, Gentiles were never under the Mosaic Law. However, the Gentiles had the works of the Law written in their hearts (Romans 2:12-15). Romans 2:12-15, “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”