Romans 6
Believers in Christ or Christians are dead to sin and live for God - Romans 6:1-11
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Know that believers are died to their sins - Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Why did Paul raise this question?
Paul raised this question to explain his important truth that he taught at the end of previous chapter (Romans 5:20) "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more".
Romans 5:20 - 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul raised this question to make sure that no one should misinterpret this important truth "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more".
What is "continue in sin" means?
(David Guzik) The verb tense of the phrase continue in sin (the present active tense) makes it clear that Paul describes the practice of habitual sin. In this first part of Romans 6, Paul writes about someone who remains in a lifestyle of sin, thinking that it is acceptable so that grace may abound.
Is Paul is referring to particular sin?
No, Paul is talking about our sinful lifestyle, all our habitual sins that we have from our birth.
Also read What are the differences in the question in Romans 6:1 and Romans 6:15? for more details.
What was our state before we become believers in Christ?
Before we become believers in Christ we were died because of our sins or died in Sins.
NLT: Eph 2:1-3 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
Eph 2:1-3 - 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
What is Paul's spontaneous response for this question "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"?
Romans 6:2a Certainly not!
(David Guzik) Certainly not! For Paul, the idea that anyone might continue in sin that grace may abound is unthinkable. Certainly not is a strong phrase. It might also be translated, "Perish the thought!" Or, "Away with the notion!"
Therefore Christians should not continue in sin or live in a sinful lifestyle once they become Christian.
Why do Christians should not continue in sin?
Because believers in Christ are died to sin. Paul answers this question through a question:
Romans 6:2b How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
(David Guzik) At this point, Paul has much to explain about what exactly he means by died to sin, but the general point is clear - Christians have died to sin, and they should no longer live in it.
What is "died to sin" means?
Dead to sin means died to sinful lifestyle or died to all our habitual sins.
(David Guzik) Before, we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1); now we are dead to sin.
(David Guzik) Paul establishes an important principle. When we are born again, when we have believed on Jesus for our salvation, our relationship with sin is permanently changed. We have died to sin. Therefore, if we have died to sin, then we should not live any longer in it. It simply isn't fitting to live any longer in something you have died to.
What are all the ways Christians continue in sinful life believing that grace may abound?
(David Guzik) Paul introduced the idea that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5:20). He now wonders if someone might take this truth to imply that it doesn't matter if a Christian lives a life of sin, because God will always overcome greater sin with greater grace.
After all,
if God loves sinners, then why worry about sin?
If God gives grace to sinners, then why not sin more and receive more grace?
Some people think that their job is to sin and God's job is to forgive, so they will do their job and God will do His job!
In the early part of the 20th century the Russian monk Gregory Rasputin taught and lived the idea of salvation through repeated experiences of sin and repentance.
He believed that because those who sin the most require the most forgiveness, therefore a sinner who continues to sin without restraint enjoys more of God's grace (when he repents for the moment) than the ordinary sinner.
Therefore, Rasputin lived in notorious sin and taught that this was the way to salvation. This is an extreme example of the idea behind Paul's question "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"
 If God's salvation and approval are given on the basis of faith instead of works, won't we just say "I believe" and then live any way we please?
Some may misinterpret Jesus' saying in Luke 7:47 then let us sin more, love more and receive more forgiveness.
Luke 7:47 - Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
The real question or doubt for many Christians is about the God's plan of Grace:
Is the plan of grace "safe"? Won't people abuse grace?(David Guzik) From a purely natural or secular viewpoint, grace is dangerous.
This is why many people don't really teach or believe in grace and instead emphasize living by law.
They believe that if you tell people that God saves and accepts them apart from what they deserve, then they will have no motive to be obedient.
In their opinion, you simply can't keep people on the straight and narrow without a threat from God hanging over their head. If they believe their position in Jesus is settled because of what Jesus did, then the motivation of holy living is gone.
But God's point of view is not the same....
What really God's plan of Grace does to us?
Grace brings salvation to us:
Titus 2:11-14 - 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Law always keeps us away from God because we cannot keep that perfectly as God expects but grace units us with God and make us to taste and see His love.
Grace establishes the relationship with Jesus Christ.
Grace make us obey God's commandments out of love relationship with God but never make us to obey God out of fear.
This love relationship bring sincerity between us and God. This sincerity takes away pretense or hypocrisy.
So, do not overload believers with rules and regulations:
Col 2: 20-23 - 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Luke 11:46 - And He said, "Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
Acts 15:10 - Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Matt 11:28-30 - 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ:
Eph 2:8 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Through Salvation God set us free:
John 8:36 - Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Applications:
Do you believe that you died to your sins?
What is your attitude towards this death to sin?
Know that believers are died and resurrected with Jesus Christ - Romans 6:3-5
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,How do believers in Christ demonstrate their death to sin symbolically/literally/figuratively?
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?Believers in Christ demonstrate their death to sin symbolically/literally/figuratively through baptism.
(David Guzik) The implication is that Paul is dealing with fundamental concepts that every Christians should know.
Read Baptism article and understand the basics of baptism:
What is baptism?
What are the two major baptisms referred in New Testament?
Jesus asked every new believer in Christ to baptize in water by any matured believer in Christ:
Matt 28:19-20 - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Jesus baptize believers in Christ with Holy Spirit:
Matt 3:11 - I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
How water baptism pictured in Bible?
What does water baptism will not do?
What does water baptism will do? Why we need to baptize in water?
Is water baptism is optional to a Christian?
What are the three stages of encountering with the Holy Spirit?
What does the Holy Spirit baptism will do?
To which baptism Paul is comparing this?
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,(Warren Wiersbe) Historians agree that the mode of baptism in the early church was immersion. The believer was "buried" in the water and brought up again as a picture of death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism by immersion (which is the illustration Paul is using in Rom. 6) pictures the believer's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
(Warren Wiersbe) Here, Paul refers to being baptized - "immersed" or "covered over" - in Christ Jesus. Water baptism (being baptized into Christ) is a dramatization or "acting out" of the believer's "immersion" or identification with Jesus in His death and resurrection.
(Warren Wiersbe) It appears that Paul had both the literal and the figurative in mind in this paragraph, for he used the readers' experience of water baptism to remind them of their identification with Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. To be "baptized into Jesus Christ" (Rom. 6:3) is the same as "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13). There is a difference between water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit (John 1:33).
When a sinner trusts Christ, he is immediately born into the family of God and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A good illustration of this is the household of Cornelius when they heard Peter preach (Acts 10:34-48). When these people believed on Christ, they immediately received the Holy Spirit. After that, they were baptized. Peter's words, "Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins" gave to them the promise that they needed. They believed—and they were saved!
What is baptized into Jesus death means?
4a Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death,What is buried with Him through baptism into death means?
It means we buried all our sinful old life (old man) with Jesus Christ, ...
If you are really buried your old sinful life then
you will never say that I will do this (sin) from my childhood.
you will not hold old sinful or bad character.
What happens to Jesus after He baptized into death?
4b that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.Jesus did not stay in the grave but resurrected from his death.
How we should walk?
4c even so we also should walk in newness of life.(David Guzik) Paul also builds on the idea of going under the water as a picture of being buried and coming up from the water as a picture of rising from the dead.
In this regard, baptism is important as an illustration of spiritual reality, but it does not make that reality come to pass. If someone has not spiritually died and risen with Jesus, all the baptisms in the world will not accomplish it for them.
But Paul's point is clear: something dramatic and life changing happened in the life of the believer. You can't die and rise again without it changing your life. The believer has a real (although spiritual) death and resurrection with Jesus Christ.
(Warren Wiersbe) This means that the believer has a new reÂlationship to sin. He is "dead to sin." "I am crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20). If a drunk dies, he can no longer be tempted by alcohol because his body is dead to all physical senses. He cannot see the alcohol, smell it, taste it, or desire it. In Jesus Christ we have died to sin so that we no longer want to "continue in sin." But we are not only dead to sin; we are also alive in Christ. We have been raised from the dead and now walk in the power of His resurrection. We walk in "newness of life" because we share His life. "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live" (Gal. 2:20).
What happens to us when we united together in likeness of Jesus death?
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,What is united together in the likeness means?
(Morris) This expresses a close union. The phrase "exactly expresses the process by which a graft becomes united with the life of a tree . . . The union is of the closest sort, and life from Christ flows through to him".
(David Guzik) This fits in with Jesus' picture of abiding from John 15.
This close union is both in His death and in His resurrection. God has both experiences for us. Paul expressed a similar idea for his own life in
NLT: Philippians 3:10-11 - 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!
Philippians 3:10-11 - 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Some are all too ready to be united together in the glory of resurrection, but are unwilling to be united together in His death.
(David Guzik) Our participation in the death of Jesus makes our participation in His resurrection certain.
It is too easy for some Christians to focus solely on the "crucified life," failing to see that it is a part (and an essential part) of a bigger picture: preparation for resurrection life.
Illustration of believers death and resurrection with Jesus Christ:
(Warren Wiersbe) This tremendous spiritual truth is illustrated in the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11).
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days; so there was no question about his death.
By the power of His word ("Lazarus, come forth!") Jesus raised His friend from the dead.
But when Lazarus appeared at the door of the tomb, he was wrapped in graveclothes. So Jesus commanded, “Loose him, and let him go!" He had been raised to walk "in newness of life."
In John 12, Lazarus was seated with Christ at the table, in fellowship with Him. Dead—raised from the dead—set free to walk in newness of life—seated with Christ: all of these facts illustrate the spiritual truths of our identification with Christ as given in Ephesians 2:1-10.
Know that believers are no longer slaves of sin and freed from sin - Romans 6:6-7
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.What is old man means?
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him,It means our life before accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior or life before we become Christian. That is...
our old sin nature,
our old sinful life style,
our old self (NIV),
our old sinful selves (NLT),
(David Guzik) The old man is the self that is patterned after Adam, the part of us deeply ingrained in rebellion against God and His commands.
What is old man crucified with Jesus means?
(Warren Wiersbe) In Jesus Christ, we died to sin; and the old nature was crucified so that the old life is rendered inoperative.
Paul explains this old man crucified with Jesus in three ways
6b the body of sin might be done away with,
6c that we should no longer be slaves of sin
7b freed from sin
Is this old man crucifixion is experience or fact?
(Warren Wiersbe) Paul was not describing an experience; he was stating a fact. The practical experience was to come later.
It is a fact of history that Jesus Christ died on the cross.
It is also a fact of history that the believer died with Him; and
"he that is dead is freed from sin" (Rom. 6:7).
(David Guzik) The death of the old man is an established fact. It happened spiritually when we were identified with Jesus' death at our salvation.
What is slaves of sin means?
6b the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sinSlaves of sin means
our body is slave to sin,
our body is ruled by sin (NIV),
our body serves sin,
our body continue in sin,
our body is keep obeying whatever sin says,
NIV: John 8:34 - Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
John 8:34 - Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
Sin is a terrible master, and it dictates or controls the human body as slaves.
Since our body is ruled by sin so we are spiritually dead because of sins or dead in Sins as described in Ephesians 2:1-3.
NLT: Eph 2:1-3 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
Eph 2:1-3 - 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
What are all the ways that our body ruled by sin (slave of sin)?
Eph 2:2-3 describes three major ways our body were ruled by sin:
Follow the dictates of our selfish desires due to your sin nature - (Eph 2:3, Jer 18:12b) - Conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.
Confirming to the world - (Eph 2:2) - walked according to the course of this world
1 John 2:15-17 - 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Obeying Satan - (Eph 2:2) - walked ... according to the prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
(David Guzik) The flesh is a problem in the battle against sin because it has been expertly trained in sinful habits by three sources.
First, the old man, before he was crucified with Christ, trained and "imprinted" himself on the flesh.
Second, the world system, in its spirit of rebellion against God, can have a continuing influence on the flesh.
Finally, the devil seeks to tempt and influence the flesh towards sin.
What is no longer slaves of sin means?
6b the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sinOnce anyone become believers in Christ or become Christians then they are no longer slaves of sin which means
their body is no longer slave to sin,
their body is no longer ruled by sin,
their body is dead to sin.
So, new believers
No longer need to confirm to the world - (Eph 2:2) - walked according to the course of this world
No longer need to obey Satan - (Eph 2:2) - walked ... according to the prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
No longer need to follow the dictates of our selfish desires due to old sin nature - (Eph 2:3)
The believer in Christ may backslides and fall into old sinful ways but they never become slaves to sin or undo the crucifixion of old man (self). Because once anyone become believer in Christ on that day onwards they are died to sin or their old sinful selfish ways (old man) are crucified with Christ death and they are no longer slaves of sin from that point onwards.
Do believers are free to sin once they are saved by the grace of God?
No.
(Warren Wiersbe) Not "free to sin" as Paul's accusers falsely stated; but "freed from sin."
What is freed from sin means?
7 For he who has died has been freed from sinOnce anyone become believers in Christ or become Christians then they are freed from sin which means
they are or their body no longer slaves to sin,
they are or their body freed from serving sin,
they have or their body has freedom to say no when sin dictates their body to obey, ...
(David Guzik) Our slavery to sin can only be broken by death. In the 1960 film Spartacus, Kirk Douglas played the escaped slave Spartacus, who led a brief but widespread slave rebellion in ancient Rome. At one point in the movie Spartacus says: "Death is the only freedom a slave knows. That's why he is not afraid of it." We are set free from sin because the old man has died with Jesus on the cross. Now a new man, a free man, lives.
Know that believers are died to sin once for all but live with Jesus to God - Romans 6:8-10
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.What happens if we die with Christ?
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,What is the main difference between Romans 6:4-5 and Romans 6:8?
In Romans 6:4-5 we have literally and figuratively demonstrated our death and resurrection through water baptism. Paul has introduced the concept of new life in here.
Romans 6:4-5 - 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Here Paul says that we have not only demonstrated His death and resurrection through water baptism but if we have really died or crucified our old man with Jesus Christ then we are living with Jesus Christ.
How we live with Jesus Christ?
We live with Christ because Christ lives with in us from the day we become believers in Christ.
2 Cor 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.
Col 1:27 - 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Eph 1:13 - 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Not only that in place of the old man (or old sin nature), God gives a new man (or new nature) to the believer. This new man enable our body to hold Holy Spirit (Our God's Spirit) and it is ready to obey and please God. This new man described in New Testament in various places:
1 Cor 6:19 - 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Ephesians 4:24- 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:10 - 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
2 Peter 2:4 - 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Did Christ raise to die again?
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.Jesus who lives now never going to die again. Death has no power over Him.
In what way this impact us?
We are in Christ so,
Sin and Death have no dominion over us:
(Warren Wiersbe) Sin and death have no dominion over Christ. We are "in Christ"; therefore, sin and death have no dominion over us.
We reign in life:
(Warren Wiersbe) This idea of dominion takes us back to Romans 5:12-21 where Paul dealt with the "reigns" of sin, death, and grace. Through Christ we "reign in life" (Rom. 5:17) so that sin no longer controls our lives.
We live forever (eternal life):
(David Guzik) Since we have already died to sin with Jesus, death no longer has dominion over us. The new man not only has life; he has eternal life.
Why Jesus died?
10a For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all;Through out the scriptures we read that Jesus died for our sins on our behalf in our place but her it says Jesus died to sin.
What is "Jesus died to sin" means?
Does He died to His sin?
No, because Jesus is sinless so He don't have to die for His sin.
Heb 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest [Jesus Christ] who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
To whose sin Jesus died?
He died to our sin. He nailed our sinful nature on the cross.
(Warren Wiersbe) Jesus Christ not only died "for sin," but He also died "unto sin." That is, He not only paid the penalty for sin, but He broke the power of sin.
(Lenski) The crucifixion of the old man is something that God did in us.
None of us nailed the old man to the cross. Jesus did it, and we are told to account it as being done. "In us there was nothing even to sicken and to weaken our old man, much less to murder him by crucifixion; God had to do this."
Why Jesus lives?
10b but the life that He lives, He lives to God.Even though Jesus Christ is God and has power to do anything as He likes but He lives a life that always pleasing and obedient to God the Father.
John 5:19 - Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
Luke 22:42 - 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
Phil 2:8 - And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
John 5:22 - 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
NLT: 1 Cor 15:27-28 - 27 For the Scriptures say, "God has given him authority over all things." (Of course, when it says "authority over all things," it does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28 Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.
Same way....
(David Guzik) The new life we are granted isn't given so we can live unto ourselves. With the new life, he lives to God. We aren't dead to sin, free from sin, and given eternal life to live as we please, but to live to please God.This change in the life of the one who is born again was understood and predicted as a feature of God's New Covenant, where because of new hearts our innermost being wants to do God's will and be slaves to righteousness (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
The eleventh of the original 42 articles of Church of England states this truth with a beauty that Sixteenth Century English expresses well: "The grace of Christ, or the holie Ghost by him geven, dothe take awaie the stonie harte, and geveth an harte of flesh." God takes away our rock-like heart and gives us a soft heart of flesh.
What one more point Paul is keep repeating in Romans 6:6-10 compare to Romans 6:1-5?
Romans 6:1-5 - 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Romans 6:6-10 - 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
So, we also
died to sin forever because Jesus died to sin once for all, death has no longer dominion over Him
no longer slave to sin, permanently freed from sin
live for God forever because Jesus live forever He dies no more
What this really means to us?
Like how God sealed us with His Holy Spirit as a guarantee until we see Him face to face through these work of God, He secures us eternally in Jesus Christ.
Reckon/Account/Believe that believers are dead to sin and live for God - Romans 6:11
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.What is reckon means?
(Warren Wiersbe) In some parts of the United States, "to reckÂon" means "to think" or "to guess." "I reckÂon" is also the equivalent of "I suppose." But none of these popular meanings can apply to this verse. The word reckon is a translation of a Greek word that is used forty-one times in the New Testament nineteen times in Romans alone. It appears in Romans 4 where it is translated as "count, reckon, impute." It means "to take into account, to calculate, to estimate." The word impute—"to put to one's account"—is perhaps the best translation.
To reckon means "to put to one's account" It simply means to believe that what God says in His Word is really true in your life.
What is believers in Christ needs to do first?
Believers in Christ needs to do two things ie.
Reckon/account/consider/believe that you are dead indeed to sin (or old sinful life),
(David Guzik) Paul tells us to account or to reckon the old man as forever dead.
God never calls us to "crucify" the old man, but instead to account him as already dead because of our identification with Jesus' death on the cross.
but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
(David Guzik) The death to sin is only one side of the equation. The old man is gone, but the new man lives on (as described in Romans 6:4-5, 8-10).
Conclusion:
(Warren Wiersbe) Sin is a terrible master, and it finds a willing servant in the human body. The body is not sinful; the body is neutral. It can be controlled either by sin or by God. But man's fallen nature, which is not changed at conversion, gives sin a beachhead from which it can attack and then control. Paul expressed the problem: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not" (Rom. 7:18).
A tremendous fact is introduced here: the old man (the old ego, self) was crucified with Christ so that the body need not be controlled by sin. The word "destroyed" in Romans 6:6 does not mean annihilated; it means "rendered inactive, made of no effect." The same Greek word is translated "loosed" in Romans 7:2. If a woman's husband dies, she is "loosed" from the law of her husband and is free to marry again. There is a change in relationship. The law is still there, but it has no authority over the woman because her husband is dead.
Sin wants to be our master. It finds a foothold in the old nature, and through the old nature seeks to control the members of the body. But in Jesus Christ, we died to sin; and the old nature was crucified so that the old life is rendered inoperative. Paul was not describing an experience; he was stating a fact. The practical experience was to come later. It is a fact of history that Jesus Christ died on the cross. It is also a fact of history that the believer died with Him; and "he that is dead is freed from sin" (Rom. 6:7). Not "free to sin" as Paul's accusers falsely stated; but "freed from sin."
Sin and death have no dominion over Christ. We are "in Christ"; therefore, sin and death have no dominion over us. Jesus Christ not only died "for sin," but He also died "unto sin." That is, He not only paid the penalty for sin, but He broke the power of sin. This idea of dominion takes us back to Romans 5:12-21 where Paul dealt with the "reigns" of sin, death, and grace. Through Christ we "reign in life" (Rom. 5:17) so that sin no longer controls our lives.
The big question now is, "I believe the facts of history; but how do I make this work in daily experience?" This leads to Paul's second instruction.
Application:
Are you dead to sin and live for Christ or live in newness of life? or
Are you in between sin and life?(Warren Wiersbe) Too many Christians are "betweeners": they live between Egypt and Canaan, saved but never satisfied; or they live between Good Friday and Easter, believing in the Cross but not entering into the power and glory of the Resurrection. Romans 6:5 indicates that our union with Christ assures our future resurrecÂtion should we die. But Romans 6:4 teaches that we share His resurrection power today. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above. . . . For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:1, 3 NIV).
It is clear, then, that the believer cannot deliberately live in sin since he has a new relationship to sin because of his identification with Christ.
The believer has died to the old life; he has been raised to enjoy a new life. The believer does not want to go back into sin any more than Lazarus wanted to go back into the tomb dressed again in his grave clothes!
Are you serving money or God?
Matt 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Matt 6:32-34 - 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Did you die to sin and living for God by think fresh and feeding God's word?
Matt 9:17 - Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
(Spurgeon)
"If God has given to you and to me an entirely new life in Christ, how can that new life spend itself after the fashion of the old life?
Shall the spiritual live as the carnal?
How can you that were the servants of sin, but have been made free by precious blood, go back to your old slavery?"
How Believers in Christ or Christians have to live for God and not allow sin to reign them? - Romans 6:12-23
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
What we need to do once we reckon/believe that we died to sin and live for God?
(Warren Wiersbe) Paul didn't tell his readers to feel as if they were dead to sin, or even to understand it fully, but to act on God's Word and claim it for themselves.
Reckoning is a matter of faith that issues in action. It is like endorsing a check: if we really believe that the money is in the checking account, we will sign our name and collect the money.
Reckoning is not claiming a promise, but acting on a fact.
God does not command us to become dead to sin. He tells us that we are dead to sin and alive unto God and then commands us to act on it. Even if we do not act on it, the facts are still true.
Faith without works is dead. So, if you didn't believe or put your faith that you are dead to sin and alive for God then you will not act on it.
James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
What are our responsibilities listed in Romans 6:12,13?
Do not let sin reign you:
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.Do not present yourselves to sin:
13a And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,Present yourselves to God:
13b but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Is Paul is saying not to continue live in sin?
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.Yes, Paul not saying this directly but indirectly.
Why Paul said do not let sin reign in your mortal body instead of saying do not continue live in sin or sin no more?
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.The reason he said this way is because
Sin is external to us because God has crucified our old man:
(Spurgeon) "Evil enters us now as an interloper and a stranger, and works sad havoc, but it does not abide in us upon the throne; it is an alien, and despised, and no more honored and delighted in. We are dead to the reigning power of sin."
Sin has no authority over us:
(David Guzik) God uses our death to the old man, the sin nature, to liberate us from sin. A dead man can no longer have authority over us, so we are to remember and account the old man as crucified with Him.
Satan has no authority over us because Jesus judged him on the cross:
John 16:8,11 - 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
We have authority to rebuke Satan like Jesus did or ask God to rebuke Satan.
Matt 16:23 - 20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
Jude 9 - Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
Believer's have capacity, power and authority to not allow sin to rule their members of the body:
(David Guzik) This is something that can only be said to the Christian, to the one who has had the old man crucified with Christ and has been given a new man in Jesus. Only the person set free from sin can be told, "do not let sin reign."
The Christian is the one truly set free. The man or woman who isn't converted yet is free to sin, but they are not free to stop sinning and live righteously, because of the tyranny of the old man.
In Jesus, we are truly set free and are offered the opportunity to obey the natural inclination of the new man - which wants to please God and honor Him.
Why didn't God change us to stop sinning and make us to obey Him automatically once He crucified our old man when we accepted Him as Lord and Savior?
Did God create Adam as slave of unrighteousness to sin?
No, there is no sin and he was in sinless environment.
God even never tempt anyone, so He never created Adam to be slave of unrighteousness to sin.
James 1:13 - 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Did God create Adam as slave of righteousness to obey God?
No.
God created Adam and commanded him what to do and what not to do.
Gen 2:17 - 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Did God expect Adam to be a slave of righteousness to obey God?
 Yes, God expected Adam to obey His commandments.
But Adam choose to obey Satan/Sin and disobeyed God.
Did God not have power to create Adam to obey Him automatically from the day He created?
Yes, God can create Adam to obey Him automatically from the day He created because He is created everything out of nothing.
Why then God didn't create Adam to obey Him automatically from the day He created?
God gave total freedom to Adam to choose whatever he wants.
God gave free will to Adam and to everyone.
He didn't created us robots.
Same way here God can change us to stop sinning and make us to obey Him automatically once God crucified our old man when we believed and accepted Him as Lord and Savior but God didn't touch our freewill so we have total freedom to choose good from bad.
At the same time God expects everyone to voluntarily submit or commit our life to Him and obey Him.
John 14:15 - "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Application:
Why many Christians never experience this freedom but still continue to live in sin or remain slave to sin?
One possibility they are not really born again in God's Spirit
NLT: Romans 8:9 - But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)
Or many look and act like Christians because they are brought up in Christian family or environment but they they are not Christians at all.
2 Tim 3:5 - 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away
This question is really for the born again true Christians or true believer in Christ.
(David Guzik) The old man is dead, and there is new life - free from sin - in Jesus. Yet, many Christians never experience this freedom. Because of unbelief, self-reliance, or ignorance, many Christians never live in the freedom Jesus paid for on the cross.
D. L. Moody used to speak of an old black woman in the South following the Civil War. Being a former slave, she was confused about her status and asked: "Now is I free, or been I not? When I go to my old master he says I ain't free, and when I go to my own people they say I is, and I don't know whether I'm free or not. Some people told me that Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation, but master says he didn't; he didn't have any right to."
This is exactly the place many Christians are. They are, and have been, legally set free from their slavery to sin, yet they are unsure of that truth. The following verses (Romans 6:12-23) give practical help in living out the freedom Jesus has granted us.
Most of the believers has fear that if they voluntarily submit to Him to be a bond slave to Jesus then they think that they will
suffer forever, go through hardships, scarifies a lot, deny all desires, loose peaceful life, not have rest or enjoyment, ...
How many times in Romans 6 Paul says "know" and "do not"?
Romans 6:3,6,9,16 - 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ........ 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ......... 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. ...... 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience
Romans 6:12,13a,14 - 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Why Paul is teaching more knowledge than commandments?
To voluntarily present, submit or commit our life to Him and obey Him we need to Know our God the father and Lord Jesus Christ personally.
Since, we believe in Him, God is now accessible to us so we do not want the instructions to approach Him but we need to know Him to develop, maintain and enrich our relationship.
The more we know Him we will experience His grace and peace and overcome this corrupted world:
2 Peter 2:4 - 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
What are the few major things we need to know about God, His plan, His priorities, His timings before we voluntarily present, submit or commit our life to Him and obey Him?
We may go through ups and downs in our life but we are not alone He carries us or walk us through those trials and develop a intimate relationship with Him and strengthen our faith. So, do not afraid to voluntarily submit or commit our life to Him and obey Him.
NLT: 1 Peter 1:6,7 - 6 So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Jesus requested disciples to take rest:
Mark 6:31 - And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
God fulfills our desires in His timing and if it is best for us or if it is His will.
Psalm 20:4,5 - May He grant you according to your heart's desire, And fulfill all your purpose. 5 We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Psalm 145:19 - He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Never under estimate God. He has great plan for us which is way higher than our plan that we could ever imagine.
Jer 29:11-12 - 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Is 55:8-9 - 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
That is why God saved us for His purpose:
Eph 2:10 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
When we delight in Him He will put His desires in our heart.
Ps 37:4-5 - 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
1 John 5:14-15 - 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Try to understand God. We cannot fully figure out Him but we slowly understand what He wants us to do in His Sovereign plan.
Eph 5:17 - Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Psalm 32:9 - Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
First understand God's overall plan and His Timeline and Priorities:
From Adam to Jesus Christ: Time to subdue or establish the earth.
In Genesis God asked Adam to subdue this earth or populate and rule over the earth.
Genesis 1:28 - Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
After Jesus Christ till Church is raptured/taken up (Church Age): Time to prepare, draw and equip people to and for His Kingdom.
Now we are living in end times. Time is very short and we need to reach out people who do not know Jesus Christ.
Matt 6:33 - 25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
 So, now the priority is not to subdue or establish this earth even New Testament recommends celibacy during this time so that unmarried saints can serve the Lord more dedicatedly.
1 Corinthians 7:32-34 - 32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:7-9,32-34 - 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Matt 19:12 - For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."
For this reason Jesus given Great Commission to all believers to reach out the unreached and equip the saints:
Matt 28:19-20 - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
After Church taken up till Jesus 2nd Coming i.e. during the Seven year Great Tribulation period: It is not time to subdue or establish this earth by given into marriage, having baby...
Jesus spoke of woes upon those with children and families in that day
Matthew 24:19-21 - 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
God reached out 144,000 virgin men to be the evangelist to minister to Israelites during Great Tribulation period. Once their task is done they will be in heaven.
Rev 7:3-4 - 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
Rev 14:1 - Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
Rev 14:4 - 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
So, now the priority is not to subdue or establish this earth by storing up treasures in this earth but the priority is to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Application:
Are you willing to voluntarily present, submit or commit our life to Him and obey Him?
As a true believer make sure that you are willing to voluntarily submit or commit our life to Him and obey Him.
How many times in Romans 6:12-23 Paul says "yield or present"? What it means?
(Warren Wiersbe) 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." 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.
To what Christians must not present themselves?
13a And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,We must not present ourselves to sin.
(David Guzik) This is the first key to walking in the freedom Jesus won for us. We must not present the parts of our body to the service of sin. The New Living Translation communicates the idea well: Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning.
Your members are the parts of your body - your ears, lips, eyes, hands, mind, and so forth. The idea is very practical: "You have eyes. Do not put them in the service of sin. You have ears. Do not put them in the service of sin."
Instruments could be better-translated weapons. The parts of our body are weapons in the battle for right living. When the parts of our body are given over to righteousness, they are weapons for good. When they are given over to sin, they are weapons for evil.
An example of this is how God used David's hands to slay Goliath in the cause of righteousness. Later, sin used David's eyes for unrighteousness when he looked upon Bathsheba.
To what Christians must present themselves?
13b but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.We must present ourselves to God.
(David Guzik) This is the second key to walking in the freedom Jesus won for us. It isn't enough to take the weapons away from the service of sin. They must then be enlisted in the service of righteousness - and, as in any warfare, the side with superior weapons usually wins.
The idea is similar to the manner in which the priests in the Old Testament consecrated their bodies to God. Sacrificial blood was applied to the ear, to the thumb, and on the big toe, showing that those parts of their body (and all other parts) belonged to God and were to be used for His glory (Exodus 29:20).
We present ourselves to God as being alive from the dead. This first has the idea that all connection with the previous life - the old man - must be done away with. That life is dead and gone. Secondly, it has the idea of obligation, because we owe everything to the One who has given us new life!
Why does the Lord want your body/flesh/members of your body/yourself?
(Warren Wiersbe) To begin with, the believer's body is God's temple, and He wants to use it for His glory (1 Cor. 6:19-20; Phil. 1:20-21). But Paul wrote that the body is also God's tool and God's weapon (Rom. 6:13).
1 Cor 6:19-20 - 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Phil 1:20-21 - 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
(Warren Wiersbe) God wants to use the members of the body as tools for building His kingdom and weapons for fighting His enemies.
God created us and saved us to fulfill His purpose according to His unique plan for us.
1 Cor 12:12-31 - 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
What could be the outcome of our flesh if we present to Sin?
(Warren Wiersbe) But you can also read in the Bible accounts of the members of the body being used for sinful purposes. David's eyes looked on his neighbor's wife; his mind plotted a wicked scheme; his hand signed a cowardly order for the woman's husband to be killed. As you read Psalm 51, you see that his whole body was affected by sin: his eyes (Ps. 51:3), mind (Ps. 51:6), ears (Ps. 51:8), heart (Ps. 51:10), and lips and mouth (Ps. 51:14-15). No wonder he prayed for a thorough cleansing! (Ps. 51:2)
Psalm 51 - 1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
What could be the outcome of our flesh if we present to God?
(Warren Wiersbe) The Bible tells of people who permitted God to take and use their bodies for the fulfilling of His purposes. God used the rod in Moses' hand and conquered Egypt. He used the sling in David's hand to defeat the Philistines. He used the mouths and tongues of the prophets. Paul's dedicated feet carried him from city to city as he proclaimed the Gospel. The Apostle John's eyes saw visions of the future, his ears heard God's message, and his fingers wrote it all down in a book that we can read.
Jer 1:9 - 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." 6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." 7 But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
Is 6:8 - 5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
How we must present ourselves as instruments for God? or How we are to "yield or present" to God?
(Warren Wiersbe) This is an act of the will based on the knowledge we have of what Christ has done for us. It is an intelligent act not the impulsive decision of the moment based on some emotional stirring. It is important to notice the tenses of the verbs in these verses. A literal translation is: "Do not constantly allow sin to reign in your mortal body so that you are constantly obeying its lusts. Neither constantly yield your members of your body as weapons [or tools] of unrighteousness to sin; but once and for all yield yourselves to God." That once-and-for-all surrender is described in Romans 12:1.
There must be in the believer's life that final and complete surrender of the body to Jesus Christ. This does not mean there will be no further steps of surrender, because there will be. The longer we walk with Christ, the deeper the fellowship must become. But there can be no subsequent steps without that first step. The tense of the verb in Romans 12:1 corresponds with that in Romans 6:13—a once-and-for-all yielding to the Lord. To be sure, we daily surrender afresh to Him; but even that is based on a final and complete surrender.Romans 12:1 - 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
What is the real challenge we face to completely surrender ourselves to God?
To understand this better answer the following question ...
Why do true believers in Christ feel a pull to sin inside even though they reckon/believe that their old man is crucified?(David Guzik) A person can be "officially" set free, yet still imprisoned. If a person lives in prison for years, and then is set free, they often still think and act like a prisoner. The habits of freedom aren't ingrained in their life yet. Here, Paul shows how to build the habits of freedom in the Christian life.
Jesus set them forever free legally, and they may walk in that freedom from sin whenever they choose. But since they keep yielding their bodily appetites to the service of sin, they live a life of defeat, discouragement, and imprisonment.
(David Guzik) It comes from the flesh, which is distinct from the old man. It's hard to precisely describe the flesh; some have called it "the screen on which the inner man is displayed." Our inner being has desires and impulses and passions; these are played out in our mind, in our will, and in our emotions. The flesh is what acts out the inner man.
The flesh is a problem in the battle against sin because it has been expertly trained in sinful habits by three sources.
First, the old man, before he was crucified with Christ, trained and "imprinted" himself on the flesh.
Second, the world system, in its spirit of rebellion against God, can have a continuing influence on the flesh.
Finally, the devil seeks to tempt and influence the flesh towards sin.
Our flesh (mind, heart, emotions,...) trained in old sinful ways from the birth till they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So, even after crucifixion of old man they still trying to live or do the same old thing.
Our flesh is the real challenge to surrender to God completely on daily basis.
What God asked us to do with our flesh? or What do we do with the flesh with the old man dead?
God asked us to crucify our flesh daily:
Gal 5:24 - And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires
Jesus asked us to deny ourselves first and then take up the cross and follow Him daily:
Luke 9:23 - Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
God also expressed this in Old Testament:
Num 33:55 - But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.
Josh 23:11-13 - 11 Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. 12 Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations--these that remain among you--and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, 13 know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.
So, crucify your flesh daily:
(David Guzik) Gal 5:24 - And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires: God has a place for our flesh, with all its passions and desires. He wants us to nail it to His cross, so that it may be under control and under the sentence of death.
Crucified is an important word. Paul could have simply chosen the word "killed," but he used the word crucified because it speaks of many things:
It reminds us of what Jesus did for us on the cross.
It reminds us that we are called to take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).
It reminds us that the death of the flesh is often painful.
It reminds us that our flesh must be dealt with decisively.
Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh: This speaks of something that the believer does, being directed and empowered by the Spirit of God. It was not and is not the sovereign, "unilateral" work of God.
The old man, the self inherited from Adam, is crucified with Jesus as the sovereign work of God when we are born again. Romans 6:6 says, Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him. We are simply told to reckon, or account, the old man as dead (Romans 6:11), we are not told to put him to death. But the flesh is another matter. We are called to choose to work with God to do to the flesh exactly what God did all by Himself to the old man: crucify the flesh.
"Please notice that the 'crucifixion' of the flesh described here is something that is done not to us but by us . . . Galatians 5:24 does not teach the same truth as Galatians 2:20 or Romans 6:6. In those verses we are told that by faith-union with Christ 'we have been crucified with him'. But here it is we who have taken action." (Stott)
Boice on have crucified: "The verb is in the active voice and points rather to what the believer has himself done and must continue to regard as being done."
The problem of our flesh will not be finally dealt with until we are resurrected. Until then, we are to constantly "nail it to the cross," so that it hangs there, alive yet powerless over us. "To resist the flesh . . . is to nail it to the Cross. Although the flesh is still alive it cannot very well act upon its desires because it is bound and nailed to the Cross." (Luther)
With its passions and desires: In Jesus Christ, you can live above the passions and desires of your flesh. The resources are there in Jesus. Look to Him. See your life in Him. If you are one of those who are Christ's, then you belong to Him - not to this world, not to yourself, and not to your passions and desires.
(David Guzik) God calls us, in participation with Him, to actively do day by day with the flesh just what He has already done with the old man - to crucify it, make it dead to sin (Galatians 5:24).
But when we allow the flesh to be continually influenced by the old man's habits of the past, the world, and the devil, the flesh will exert a powerful pull towards sin.
If we let the new man within us influence the mind, the will, and the emotions, then we will find the battle less intense.
Paul continue in admonishing how we need to present ourselves to God: You are not bound under the law but you are under the grace of God. Do not take this freedom as license to sin instead equip and grow in the grace of God by obeying God out of His love as per the leading of God:
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Does sin dominion over Christians or believers in Christ?
14a For sin shall not have dominion over you,No, sin shall not dominion over Christians or believers in Christ.
(Spurgeon) These words give us a test, a promise, and an encouragement.
It is a test of our claim to be Christians. Does anger have dominion over you? Does murmuring and complaining? Does covetousness have dominion over you? Does pride? Does laziness[gossip, busybody] have dominion over you? If sin has dominion over us, we should seriously ask if we are really converted.
1 Peter 4:15 - But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.
Gal 5:19-21 - 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
It is a promise of victory. It doesn't say that "sin will not be present in us," because that will only be fulfilled when we are resurrected in glory. But it does promise that sin will not have dominion over us because of the great work Jesus did in us when we were born again.
NLT: Rom 6:12a,14a - 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace.
ESV: Rom 6:12a,14a - 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 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. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
It is an encouragement for hope and strength in the battle against sin. God hasn't condemned you under the dominion of sin - He has set you free in Jesus. This is encouragement for the Christian struggling against sin, for the new Christian, and for the backslider.
Why sin shall not have dominion over Christians or believers in Christ?
14b for you are not under law but under grace.Because Christians or believers in Christ are not under the law but under grace.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
What it means that Christians or believers in Christ are not under law?
14b for you are not under law but under grace.Under the law means we are under the subjection of the law or we need to keep or obey the law perfectly to enter into the kindom.
Is it possible for anyone to enter into heaven by keeping the law?
No one can keep the law perfectly and enter into heaven or obtain salvation.
If they miss even one law they will be condemned
James 2:10 - 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
So, law brings curse or condemnation:
Gal 3:10 - 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Romans 5:20 - Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Why God gave the law?
Law reveals our sin:
Rom 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Law is the tutor that lead us to Jesus:
Gal 3:19-25 - 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Why Christians are no longer under the law?
Because Jesus fulfilled the law.
Matt 5:17 - "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Paul explains this in detail in initial portion of the Romans 7.
Are Christians subject to moral law such as Ten Commandments and Jesus' and apostles' teaching on New Testament?
Paul explains this in detail in Romans 7.
Romans 7:7 - What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
So, read through the Bible and know God's commandments or promise verses.
At the same time....
NLT: Romans 7:8 - But sin took advantage of this law and aroused all kinds of forbidden desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.
Since the law aroused all kinds of forbidden desires within believer, we will not be under the subjection of the law but we need to walk as per the leading of the Holy Spirit and produce fruit of the Spirit:
Gal 5:16,18 - 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gal 5:22-23 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Therefore Christians or believers in Christ are not under law but walk as per the leading of the Holy Spirit and produce fruit of the Spirit.
God crucified our old man, set us free and take us to the period of Adam to Moses as descried in Romans 5:13-14.
Romans 5:13,14 - 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-- 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
Read Romans 5:13,14 notes and especially Does God imputes/records their sins to those who believe in Him? topic under application.
Gal 5:16,18 - 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gal 5:22-23 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
What it means that Christians or believers in Christ are under grace?
14b for you are not under law but under grace.(Spurgeon) "God has so changed your nature by his grace that when you sin you shall be like a fish on dry land, you shall be out of your element, and long to get into a right state again. You cannot sin, for you love God. The sinner may drink sin down as the ox drinketh down water, but to you it shall be as the brine of the sea. You may become so foolish as to try the pleasures of the world, but they shall be no pleasures to you."
(Bruce) This shows again that a life lived truly under grace will be a righteous life. Grace is never a license to sin. "To treat being under grace as an excuse for sinning is a sign that one is not really under grace at all."
(David Guzik) God makes us "safe" for grace by changing us as we receive His grace; He sets us free and equips us to live righteously before Him. Once dead to sin, it is unthinkable to continue our former practice of sin. Once the caterpillar has been made a butterfly, the butterfly has no business crawling around on trees and leaves like a caterpillar again.
What it means that Christians or believers in Christ are not under law but under grace?
14b for you are not under law but under grace.(David Guzik) This is the path, the means, by which we can live in this freedom. It will never happen in a legalistic, performance oriented Christian life. It will happen as we live not under law but under grace.
Law clearly defined God's standard, and shows us where we fall short of it. But it cannot give the freedom from sin that grace provides. Remember that grace reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21). Grace, not law provides the freedom and the power to live over sin.
(Warren Wiersbe) It is because of God's grace that we yield ourselves to Him. Paul has proved that we are not saved by the Law and that we do not live under the Law. The fact that we are saved by grace does not give us an excuse to sin; but it does give us a reason to obey. Sin and Law go together. "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law" (1 Cor. 15:56). Since we are not under Law, but under grace, sin is robbed of its strength.
Sin and Law go together, Grace and righteousness go together:
Romans 5:20-21 - 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Are we growing in the grace of God?
(David Guzik) This is another way to describe the radical change in the life of someone who is born again. For the Jewish person of Paul's day, living life under law was everything. The law was the way to God's approval and eternal life. Now, Paul shows that in light of the New Covenant, we are not under law but under grace. His work in our life has changed everything.
Paul has answered his question from Romans 6:1. Why don't we just continue in habitual sin so grace may abound? Because when we are saved, when our sins are forgiven, and God's grace is extended to us, we are radically changed. The old man is dead, and the new man lives.
In light of these remarkable changes, it is utterly incompatible for a new creation in Jesus to be comfortable in habitual sin. A state of sin can only be temporary for the Christian. As Spurgeon is credited with saying: "The grace that does not change my life will not save my soul."
John states the same idea in another way: Whoever abides in Him does not [habitually] sin. Whoever [habitually] sins has neither seen Him nor known Him . . . Whoever has been born of God does not [habitually] sin, for his seed remains in him; and he cannot [habitually] sin, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:6 and 3:9).
The changes may not come all at one time, and they may not come to each area of one's life at the same time, but they will be there and they will be real and they will be increasing as time goes on.
(David Guzik) The system of law is unable to deal with the old man, because it can only tell the old man what the righteous standard of God is. The law tries to reform the old man, to get him to "turn over a new leaf."
But the system of grace understands that the old man can never be reformed. He must be put to death, and for the believer the old man dies with Jesus on the cross.
Warnings:
No Christians should say or think that since we are not under the law but under grace so this sin or that sin is ok. Remember grace always reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21).
By enjoying the freedom from sin and law we need to grow in the grace if we are not growing in the grace of God then you need to question your salvation.
15a What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
15b Certainly not!What are the differences in the question in Romans 6:1 and Romans 6:15?
Compare Romans 6:14,15 with Romans 5:20; 6:1-2
Romans 5:20 - 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:1b-2a - 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Romans 6:14,15 - 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
There are two major difference:
Verse 1 says "Shall we continue in sin" verse 15 says "Shall we sin"
(David Guzik) Paul has convinced us that a lifestyle of habitual sin is not compatible with one whose life is changed by grace. But what about an occasional sin here and there? If we are under grace and not law, must we be so concerned about a little sin here and there?
Shall we sin: Again, the verb tense of the ancient Greek word sin is important (the aorist active tense). It indicates dabbling in sin, not the continual habitual sin described in the question of Romans 6:1.
(Wuest) "The verb in verse one is in the present subjunctive, speaking of habitual, continuous action. The verb in verse fifteen is in the aorist subjunctive, referring to a single act."
Verse 1 says "grace may abound" verse 15 says "not under law but under grace"
Based on overall context Paul raised the question based on grace abound in Romans 6:1 but here he is making sure that since we are not under the law and we must not take advantage of this and sin thinking that it is ok to sin now and then.
Because we are not under the law and grace abounds it does not mean that we can either continue practicing the sin or sin occasionally now and then.
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
What it means?
To whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether
of sin leading to death,
orof obedience leading to righteousness?
NLT: Rom 6:16 - Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.
What is the outcome if you choose obey someone or something?
We become slaves to someone or something when we choose to obey someone or something.
We become slaves to whom we choose to obey.
(David Guzik) For example, if I obey my appetite constantly, I am a slave to it. So we have a choice in our slavery: sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness.
Do you realize the importance of this verse? (Explain this verse with some biblical examples and personal examples)
For example:
If Joseph obeyed Potiphar's wife or yield to sexual temptation then
he might have stayed as slave to her forever.
he might have later caught by Photiphar and he might have either killed or put him in a jail forever.
he might have not encountered God the way he did in his life.
In your work if your boss asked to take some more responsibilities because you are doing great and to move on to next level in your career then we take that happily and put all our effort to to move on to next level in our career.
Is this wrong?
No.
Have you ever thought about how long does this take to finish before you take this responsibilities?
Normally we never think about these but to accomplish these works you definitely need more hours.
Without realizing or estimating this finally we end up overloading yourself with lot of work.
Where do you get new time or how do you make up this time?
One easy way to acquire time for this work is by cutting the time you spend daily with God because God understand and He is gracious.
Then, you acquire time for this work is by cutting the time you spend daily with your family, friends,...
By this way slowly and steadily you choose to obey your demands of your work/boss by taking additional responsibilities that you cannot handle in normal work hours and become slaves to your work instead of God.
Taking more responsibilities is not sin but if it affects
your time that you spend with the Lord,
your spiritual growth, or
the service you do for God
is dangerous and it spoils your relationship with the Lord.
So, before you take more responsibilities or more work go to God and check with Him.
Don't ever think or fear that if you don't take this work/task then you will lose your job because God is the one who provided this job. He is our refuge and He is our provider. So, put Him first in your life.
Matt 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
He will guide us and lead us the way we should go.
He knows our best and He holds our future.
God asked us to seek His kingdom first and He will provide all these things.
Matt 6:32-34 - 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
To realize the depth of this verse let us go through following questions which is taken from my artcile The Kingdom of this world Vs The Kingdom of God:
To Whom the kingdom of this world now belongs to?
The kingdom of this world belongs to Satan/Devil.
Luke 4:5-7 - 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "
John 14:30 - 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
NLT: Eph 2:2 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
Is it not the kingdoms of this world now belongs to our Lord? Is it not Jesus Christ reigning this world now and forever and ever?
Today, God rules from heaven; but in future day after His 2nd coming, He will reign physically in this earth with a rod of iron. (Rev 11:15, 17)
Rev 11:15, 17 - 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
According to Hebrews 7:1-2, Jesus Christ is "King of Righteousness" and "King of Peace."
He is enthroned with the Father (Rev 3:21), and
He will reign until He defeats all His foes (1 Cor 15:25).
In the mean time Satan is ruling this earth.
Did God delivered this world to Satan?
No.To Whom God delivered this world?
God gave this world to Adam & Eve (Mankind) and asked them to populate, rule and reign the world:Gen 1:28 - 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
When and Who delivered this world to Satan?
We all know that Adam and Eve disobeyed God.
Gen 2:16-17 - 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Gen 3:1-15 - 1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." 11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" 12 Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
Does that mean that Adam & Eve gave this world to Satan?
Yes, God gave this world to them but they gave the world to Satan.
How Adam's disobedience to God made him to give this world to Satan?
Is there any verse in the Bible shows that provides clear evidence about this transaction?
No, there is no any explicit verse that explains this in detail.
Adam and Eve didn't gave this world explicitly by signing any agreement or giving the title dead.
But there is only one verse that provides Godly principal that clearly explains this....
NLT: Rom 6:16a - Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master?
But they choose to obey Satan and because of this one simple sin...
they gave this world to Satan.
they become slave to Satan
they made Satan as their master instead of God.
NLT: Eph 2:2 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
Do you thing Adam and Eve committed a big sin like adultery?
No, only we human beings put one sin higher than other sin. But for God every sin is same.
Sin is missing the mark, missing the God's standard or not obeying God.
Application: This is how if you choose to obey even the simple sin such as envy, pride, prestige, lie, gossip, busybody, eavesdropping , lust, ... make us to slave to it.
So, as a believers in Christ we need deliberately put all your efforts, energy to choose to obey God otherwise we will choose to obey sin, Satan or the course of this world.
NLT: Rom 6:16 - Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.
NIV: John 8:34 - Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
John 8:34 - Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
One way or another, we will serve somebody so, with all your heart, mind and soul choose to obey God.
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
What does "obeyed from the heart" describes?
Wholeheartedly obeyed what we believe.
(David Guzik) Obeyed from the heart is a wonderful description of faith. It shows that faith comes from the heart, not only the mind. It shows that faith results in obedience because if we really believe something, we will act according to that belief.
He also says that we have been set free by faith, which he describes as obedience from the heart.
To which we have obeyed wholeheartedly?
We have obeyed wholeheartedly that form of doctrine/teachings.
What is "that form of doctrine" means?
 Doctrine/teachings starts with gospel, Lord's teachings and the apostle's teachings or the entire Bible.
That form of doctrine means the doctrine/teachings that forms, molds or transforms into the image of God those who obey these wholeheartedly.
2 Cor 3:18 - 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(David Guzik) This phrase is part of a beautiful picture. The word form describes a mold used to shape molten metal. The idea is that God wants to shape us - first He melts us by the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Then He pours us into His mold of truth - that form of doctrine and shapes us into His image.
Adam Clarke on that form of doctrine: "Here Christianity is represented under the notion of a mould, or die, into which they were cast, and from which they took the impression of its excellence. The figure upon this die is the image of God, righteousness and true holiness, which was stamped on their souls in believing the Gospel and receiving the Holy Ghost. The words . . . refer to the melting of metal, which, when it is liquefied, is cast into the mould, that it may receive the impression that is sunk or cut in the mould; and therefore the words may be literally translated, into which mould of doctrine ye have been cast. They were melted down under the preaching of the word, and then were capable of receiving the stamp of its purity."
Why was Paul thanking God instead us who wholeheartedly obeyed the Gospel?
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.While we were slavery in sin God enlighten our heart to know Him and understand His truth:
2 Cor 4:6 - For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
John 8:32,34,36 - 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
So, Paul thanking God.
In other words Paul is thanking God because...
God has freed us from the slavery of sin
God has enlighten our hearts to obey that form of doctrine to which we were delivered.
How did we become Christian or accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior while we were yet sinners?
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.God has freed us from the slavery of sin and He has enlighten our hearts to obey the Gospel or put our faith in God and followed His teachings.
(David Guzik) "You put your faith in God and His Word, and now you are set free. Now live every day consistent with that freedom."
What happens once we set free from sin or once we became Christians or accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior?
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.Once we set free we became slaves of righteousness
Does set free from sin means that we never have to sin again?
Yes.
(David Guzik) Set free from sin means that we never have to sin again. Though sin is inevitable until our flesh is resurrected in glory, it isn't because God has designed a system by which we must sin.
Gal 5:17 - 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Does sinless perfection in this body is an illusion?
(David Guzik) Sinless perfection in this body is an illusion.
1 John 1:8 makes this clear: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Yet we know that in the power of Jesus we each can resist the next temptation - and that is what Jesus wants us to be concerned with.
(Wuest) "Because of the frailty of man, the Christian at infrequent intervals does yield to the evil nature and sin. But the point is, God has so constituted him, that he need not do so."
(David Guzik) It is mockery to tell a slave, "Don't behave as a slave" - but you can say that to someone who is set free. Jesus Christ tells us to no longer behave as if we were slaves to sin. We have been set free; now we are to think and live as free people.
Does slave to righteousness means slave to God?
Yes, our God is righteous. Compare Romans 6:18 & Romans 6:22.
Romans 6:18,19 - 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
Are we really became slave of righteousness?
Yes.
Let us see the progression of this thought developed in Romans 6th chapter:
Romans 6:4-5 - 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Romans 6:10-11 - 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Romans 6:16-19 - 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
Romans 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
We are spiritually justified, sanctified, freed from sin, slaves to righteousness or slaves to God and positionally we are seated in heavenly places:
Eph 2:6 - 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
1 Cor 6:11 - 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 6:18 - And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
John 3:32,36 - 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ..... 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Because of this supernatural freedom we have choice to choose either sin or righteousness to obey.
Since God didn't take away our free will so physically here in this earth it is our daily choice and responsibility to choose to be slave to God:
Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
NLT: Rom 6:16 - Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.
So, we need to physically present ourselves to be slave to God as described in Romans 6:13,19.
What does it mean to be free from sin and became a slave of righteousness or slave of God?
(David Guzik) Having been set free from sin means that sin is no longer your boss or your master. Now righteousness is your boss, so serve righteousness instead of sin. It isn't right to think about pleasing your old boss when you change jobs.
Matt 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Matt 6:32-34 - 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
How did we live before we become Christian?
19a I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness,We presented our members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, in the following three major areas:
Follow the dictates of our selfish desires due to your sin nature - (Eph 2:3; Jer 18:12b) - Conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.
Jer 18:12 - And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart."
NLT: Eph 2:1-3 - 1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
Eph 2:1-3 - 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Follow the dictates of our society or try our level best to confirm to the world - (Eph 2:2) - walked according to the course of this world
Follow the dictates of Satan - (Eph 2:2) - walked ... according to the prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
How are we need to present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness?
How are the Christians or believers in Christ needs to present ourselves to God?
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.Paul has come down to our level and trying to explain this by making us to think about how we presented our members as slaves to sin in our old life and follow the same principal to present our members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
We presented our members as slaves of Righteousness leads to holiness, in the following three major areas:
Deny the dictates of our selfish desires take up the cross and follow God - (Luke 9:23; Ps 37:4).
Luke 9:23 - Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Deny the dictates of our society or do not confirm to the world - (Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15-17)
Romans 12:2 - 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 John 2:15-17 - 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Deny the dictates or schemes of Satan but Follow the dictates of God - (Jer 18:1-6; Rom 9:20-21).
How we need to follow the dictates of God?
Do on focus on sinless perfection either it leads to pride and self righteousness or it brings hopelessness (despair, depression) and keep you away from God. So, we need to present, yield or completely surrender ourselves to God as the clay in the potter's hand.
God is potter we are clay:
Jer 18:1-12 - 1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred [disfigure] in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. 11 "Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." ' " 12 And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart."
Just patiently present, yield or surrender yourself to God.
Romans 9:20-21 - 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
God created and saved us for unique purpose. So, he can make us shape us as per His plan and purpose:
1 Cor 12:12-31 - 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism [division] in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Application: Have you become slaves to righteousness or slaves to God? or
Are you ready to surrender your life as slave to God?Jer 18:6 - "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
See the obedience of Hosea, Ezekiel, Isaiah, ... They are really demonstrated as clay in God's hand.
David is man after God's own heart because he obeyed God as per His direction. Even though David desired to build the temple but God didn't permit David to build the temple. David didn't ignore or rebel against God but he just obeyed God.
David requested God to build a temple for Him:
2 Sam 7:2-6 - 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." 3 Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you." 4 But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle
God didn't permit David His temple but He promised to establish David's house forever:
2 Sam 7:12-13,16 - 12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ... ... ... 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." ' "
David's response:
2 Sam 7:27-29 - 27 For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. 28 And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever."
The apostles and disciples just obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit as it recorded in the book of The Acts of the Apostles.
Hosea married harlot or prostitute to demonstrate how Israelites committing spiritual adultery
NLT: Hosea 1:2-3 - 2 When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, "Go and marry a prostitute, so some of her children will be born to you from other men. This will illustrate the way my people have been untrue to me, openly committing adultery against the LORD by worshiping other gods. 3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son
NLT: Hosea 3:1 - 1 Then the LORD said to me, "Go and get your wife again. Bring her back to you and love her, even though she loves adultery. For the LORD still loves Israel even though the people have turned to other gods, offering them choice gifts. " 2 So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and about five bushels of barley and a measure of wine.
Ezekiel ate cow dung
NLT: Eze 14:15 - 13 For this is what the LORD says: Israel will eat defiled bread in the Gentile lands, where I will banish them!" 14 Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, must I be defiled by using human dung? For I have never been defiled before. From the time I was a child until now I have never eaten any animal that died of sickness or that I found dead. And I have never eaten any of the animals that our laws forbid." 15 "All right," the LORD said. "You may bake your bread with cow dung instead of human dung." 16 Then he told me, "Son of man, I will cause food to be very scarce in Jerusalem. It will be weighed out with great care and eaten fearfully. The water will be portioned out drop by drop, and the people will drink it with dismay. 17 Food and water will be so scarce that the people will look at one another in terror, and they will waste away under their punishment.
Isaiah walked naked and bare foot for 3 years
NLT: Is 20:3 - Then the LORD said, "My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign--a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Whether you were concerned about righteousness when you were slaves of sin?
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.No, we were not concerned about righteousness when you were slaves of sin
NLT: Romans 6:20 - In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right.
NIV: Romans 6:20 - When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
We set the value based on our up bringing, family and circumstance we follow the dictates of our heart (which our own unique way). We will never bothered whether our way is right or wrong.
Is this not a real freedom when we are not restricted to do something that we like even though it is not right?
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.Most of the us especially those who have not believed our God believe that this is real freedom. So, they do not want to believe and bound or subject to God or anyone superior than them.
Same way a young son of a loving father strongly desired and believed this freedom. So, as per his desire(will) he pursued...
Luke 15:11-13 - 11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal [wastefully or recklessly extravagant] living.
Is it possible to continue live a prodigal living or living in luxury forever?
Some think if our income is greater than our spending then it is ok to live whatever the life they want or like.
But if the circumstance changes like it happens to this young son.... or due to circumstance if we lose all our money or if our income stops due to job loss or sickness ... In some point we all may hit rock bottom...
Luke 15:14-16 - 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
Does catastrophes such as economy down, terminal illness,... hit every individual?
Some think that to avoid this sort of catastrophes we have insurance, retirement funds, mutual funds, low risk stocks, wealth, short/long term disability or job lose insurance, Social Security,...
If you trust these 100% then you are putting all your energy and effort to build your security.
Is there any limit or end for these investments?
No.
Is this security long lost till the end of your life?
Majority in this world believe this. So, they are investing on these and become slaves to these and serve money forever.
Application: Do you believe that this investments will solve all your problems?
Sure, they may gain the world through materialism but they lose their soul (eternal life).
Matthew 16:26 - For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
What this system really does to us?
This system make us to stay focus on ourselves (me, me, me, or I, I, I), our material blessings.
In reality these are false security and makes us to be slaves to money, materialism, sin (selfishness).
Always keeps us in fear about our future.
It takes away our trust and fear of God
This is what many doing or securing themselves but not trusting God.
In fact there are many who believing in God also do the same instead of believing and trusting God that he will provide all the necessary things when we seek His kingdom first.
Matt 6:25,32,33 - 25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ..............
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Is this what real freedom?
Even though it sounds like a real freedom to prodigal son but it is not.
(Warren Wiersbe) The Prodigal Son is an example of this (Luke 15:11-24).
When he was at home, he decided he wanted his freedom, so he left home to find himself and enjoy himself.
But his rebellion only led him deeper into slavery.
He was
the slave of wrong desires,
then the slave of wrong deeds;
and finally he became a literal slave when he took care of the pigs.
He wanted to find himself, but he lost himself! What he thought was freedom turned out to be the worst kind of slavery.
It is not a real freedom because it makes us to slave to our needs, wants, and the world system.
This is how we were all enticed and addicted to sin before we become Christians.
(Warren Wiersbe) The unsaved person is free from righteousness. But his bondage to sin only leads him deeper into slavery so that it becomes harder and harder to do what is right.
Only other option is to completely trust in God and believe that He will provide all our needs.
Once everything and everyone left the prodigal son then he came to the realization that he can not do nothing by himself. So, he trusted and believed his father and went back to him to serve him as servant (bond slave)
Luke 15:17-24 - 17 But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants [kind of bond slave]." '
Luke 15:20-24 - 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
Is it possible to realize this and make a decision?
Yes, it is possible.
Is it easy to realize this and make a decision?
No, it is not easy because
our Pride, Ego that will not allow us go back to our father.
Parents has to forgive us and accept us back.
Some parents may not all their son to go to this worst situation because of their Prestige issue. Either dad or mom watching over son situation and keep providing money and never allow their son to come this circumstance and situation to repent.
Did prodigal son find real freedom?
Yes. He found real freedom not in prodigal living but whole heartedly serving his father.
(Warren Wiersbe) It was only when he returned home and yielded to his father that he found true freedom.
Same way we enjoy real freedom when we voluntarily serve our God almighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Real freedom will takes away our fear about anyone in the world and fear about our future and makes us to fear only God:
Luke 12:4-7 - 4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:21 - 15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' 18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." ' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
We can see this real freedom from Jesus Christ. He didn't fear anyone
Religious fanatics, skeptics such as High Priest, Pharisees and Sadducees
Rulers and authorities - Herod, Pilot,...
Principalities and Power - Satan, demons,...
Followers or disciples - In fact Jesus rebuked Peter when Peter rebuked Him.
Matt 16:23 - 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
True believers will experience this freedom with the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles and disciples demonstrated this after they were baptized by His Holy Spirit in Acts 2.
Real freedom makes us to do whatever we want as per the leading of God.
When we delight in the Lord He puts His desire in our hearts and give us power to accomplish it.
Ps 37:4-5 - 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
Phil 2:13 - for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
NLT Phil 2:13 - For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
What is the fruit (outcome) of being a slaves to sin?
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.The wages of sin is death. Never forget that the death is not just a n absence from the body but it is a starting of torment in hades first and then in hell forever.
(Warren Wiersbe) If you serve a master, you can expect to receive wages. Sin pays wages death!
(David Guzik) To walk in victory over sin we must think rightly about the fruit of sin. To say, "The end of those things is death" means that the end product of sin is death - not fun.
(Clarke) Wages of sin: "Every sinner earns this by long, sore, and painful service. O! What pains do men take to get to hell! Early and late they toil at sin; and would not Divine justice be in their debt, if it did not pay them their due wages?"
What is the fruit (outcome) of being a slave to God?
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.Here we produce fruit such as holiness, righteousness, love, joy, peace,
Gal 5:22
Rom 14:17
In heaven God will reward us for all the work we did as per His leading through His Holy Spirit:
Rev 11:18 -
1 Cor 3:8,11-15 -
(Warren Wiersbe) In the old life, we produced fruit that made us ashamed. In the new life in Christ, we produce fruit that glorifies God and brings joy to our lives.
(David Guzik)
In a time of temptation, these truths can seem unreal - so we must rely on God's Word. When we are tempted, faith reminds us of the bitter fruit of sin when our feelings may forget that bitter fruit.
Answering his question from Romans 6:15, Paul has made it clear: As believers, we have a change of ownership. The Christian must fight against even occasional sin because we need to work for and work under our new Master. It isn't appropriate for us to work for our old master.
Is eternal life is gift of God or fruit (outcome) of being slave to God? Why?
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Eternal life is gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eph 2:8,9 - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
(David Guzik) When we serve God we get no pay - but He freely gives us the best benefit package imaginable.
Is "wages of sin is death" is a warning for the lost, or a warning for the Christians (believers in Christ)?
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Even though it is written for Christians but it is warning for both:
(Warren Wiersbe) We usually apply Romans 6:23 to the lost, and certainly it does apply; but it also has a warning for the saved. (After all, it was written to Christians.)
"For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep" (1 Cor. 11:30, nasb).
If the believer refuses to surrender his body to the Lord, but uses its members for sinful purposes, then he is in danger of being disciplined by the Father (Heb. 12:5-11)
Summary:
These three instructions need to be heeded each day that we live.
KNOW that you have been crucified with Christ, are dead to sin, free from sin and slave to God.
RECKON (believe, faith, consider, or ...) this fact to be true in your own life.
PRESENT (yield, offer, or ...) your body to the Lord to be used for His glory and stay as a clay in His hands.
Paul's
first instruction ("know") centered in the mind,
and this second instruction ("reckon") focuses on the heart.
His third instruction touches the will.