Slaves to Righteousness - Rom 6:12-23
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Sanctification
Paul asks a question to lead the reader into his next point
All is under sin (1:18-3:20)
Justification by faith (3:21-5:21)
Sanctification (6-8)
Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Nature of Sanctification Sanctification is the continuing work of God in the life of believers, making them actually holy. By “holy” here is meant “bearing an actual likeness to God.” Sanctification is a process by which one’s moral condition is brought into conformity with one’s legal status before God. It is a continuation of what was begun in regeneration, when a newness of life was conferred upon and instilled within the believer. In particular, sanctification is the Holy Spirit’s applying to the life of the believer the work done by Jesus Christ.
Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Nature of Sanctification There are two basic senses of the word “sanctification,” which are related to two basic concepts of holiness. On the one hand, there is holiness as a formal characteristic of particular objects, persons, and places. In this sense holiness refers to a state of being separate, set apart from the ordinary or mundane and dedicated to a particular purpose or use.
Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Nature of Sanctification The other sense of sanctification is moral goodness or spiritual worth. This sense gradually came to predominate. It designates not merely the fact that believers are formally set apart, or belong to Christ, but that they are then to conduct themselves accordingly. They are to live lives of purity and goodness.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Reckon (6:11)
We were crucified with Christ and raised to a new life with Him.
We are no longer under sin, but under Christ
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Present Yourself (12-14)
Present Yourself (12-14)
SIN (THE OLD MAN) NO LONGER HAS DOMINION.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Do Not Let (12)
Do Not Let (12)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
“Let Not”
Personal Choice.
Paul is giving them an exhortation against a course of action.
Sin - sin (personification) n. — sin personified as a destructive and depraved principle reigning over unbelievers and persisting in believers; especially as a slavemaster doling out payment with the currency of death and decay.
Reign - to reign as king v. — to rule as a king or supreme ruler over a nation, or to become ruler or supreme ruler over a nation.
Mortal Body - Physical Bodies
Desires - a desire for something forbidden or simply inordinate, craving, lust (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000 : 372. Print.)
Do not let Sin reign in our bodies because we are no longer under Sin , but in Christ.
Present/Yield (13)
Present/Yield (13)
Present/Yield
to offer v. — to make available or accessible; provide or furnish.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Dying to Live (Romans 6)
The word yield is found five times in this section (Rom. 6:13, 16, and 19), and means “to place at one’s disposal, to present, to offer as a sacrifice.”
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Dying to Live (Romans 6)
According to Romans 12:1, the believer’s body should be presented to the Lord as “a living sacrifice” for His glory. The Old Testament sacrifices were dead sacrifices. The Lord may ask some of us to die for Him, but He asks all of us to live for Him.
Do Not Present (13a)
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Members - body part n. — any constituent part of an organism such as an organ or extremity.
Instruments - implement n. — any instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end; often collective.
Unrighteousness - unrighteousness n. — failure to adhere to moral principles, commands, or laws.
Do not use our bodies and choices to live out sinful actions.
Present yourself (13b)
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Righteousness - righteousness n. — adherence to what is required according to a standard; for example, a moral standard, though not always.
Sin has No Dominion (14)
Sin has No Dominion (14)
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Reason for His Exhortation in vs. 12.
Dominion - to dominate (completely) v. — to exercise control over someone as his master.
Because we are not under Sin , but under God’s grace we are free to live in a way that honors God.
New Master(15-19)
New Master(15-19)
THE OLD AND THE NEW MASTER.
Acts of obedience indicate the master served. (vs. 15-16)
Acts of obedience indicate the master served. (vs. 15-16)
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Modified version of the Question in 6:1.
Do you not Know...
Master/Slave relationship
Slave obeys Master
Master has authority over slave
“either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (vs. 16)
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Dying to Live (Romans 6)
The illustration of the master and servant is obvious. Whatever you yield to becomes your master. Before you were saved, you were the slave of sin. Now that you belong to Christ, you are freed from that old slavery and made the servant of Christ.
Thanks to God (17-18)
Thanks to God (17-18)
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
w | 17. Change in acts of obedience.
Standard of teaching
example n. — a representative form or pattern; often for imitation or replication.
teaching n. — the content of what is taught.
w | 18. Change in commands of new master.
Set free
Slaves of Righteousness
Religious follower as slave - Concepts of religious followers being like slaves or servants to their god or religious leader.
Obedience lead to… (19)
Obedience lead to… (19)
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
“Just as you once...”
Just as you used to indulge in sinful practices with Joy and excitement, now live with the same joy and excitement to do righteousness.
Obedience leads to...
presented to impurity and lawlessness
impurity - immorality ⇔ filth n. — immorality understood especially as dirty and impure; especially used of sexual sins.
Lawlessness - lawlessness n. — the state of being or behaving in open defiance to the law.
Leads to more Lawlessness
Presented to righteousness
Leads to Sanctification
sanctification n. — the act of becoming more personally dedicated to God; especially by becoming more distinct, devoted, or morally pure.
Follow the New Master (20-23)
Follow the New Master (20-23)
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Servant to Sin (20-21)
Servant to Sin (20-21)
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
Free Men as to Righteousness (20)
Romans: An Introduction and Commentary 3. The Slave-Market Analogy (6:15–23)
That is, sin and not righteousness was your master then.
Fruit of this lifestyle: Shame (21a)
Fruit - outcome ⇔ fruit n. — the consequence of some effort or action.
Ashamed - to be ashamed v. — to be or become characterized by feelings of shame, guilt, embarrassment, or remorse.
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
End of Sin: Death (21, 23)
Death - death (event) n. — the event of dying or departure from life.
Servant of God (22-23)
Servant of God (22-23)
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Free from Sin (22)
Fruit of this life:Sanctification (22)
End: Eternal Life (22)
Takeaway
Takeaway
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.