Romans 6:15-23

Text

Romans 6:15-23. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid. Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; Romans 6:18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification. Romans 6:20 For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness. Romans 6:21 What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 6:15-23

250.

Being free from the law could offer license to sin. How?

251.

We cannot continue in sin even though free from the law because we belong to the one whom we serve. Who is this?

252.

Not only do we belong to our master, but we receive wages from him. Tell what wages each master gives.

130.

Who are the two kings described and what relationship to them do we hold?

131.

What relation do Romans 6:13-14 bear to the rest of the section?

253.

What is the righteousness of Romans 6:16 b?

254.

What obedience from the heart is described in Romans 6:17?

255.

We were obedient to a form of teaching. What was it?

256.

In what sense are we free from sin, as in Romans 6:18 a?

257.

Are we to be slaves to righteousness?

258.

What portion of this discussion was spoken after the manner of men? In what way?

259.

Explain the expression, infirmity of flesh, as in Romans 6:19 a?

260.

Is it possible to offer ourselves as servants to Satan even after we have become Christians?

261.

Notice in Romans 6:19 b that sin never lessens its hold on man, it rather grows. What warning is in this?

262.

What is the outcome of serving righteousness? What is sanctification?

263.

Give the meaning of the word free, as in Romans 6:20 a.

264.

Paul seems to place the subject of service to Satan on a practical level in Romans 6:21. Can you explain how?

265.

What marvelous advantage do we have in Christ? See it and believe ityea, live it!as in Romans 6:22.

266.

How does Romans 6:23 sum up the whole section? Or does it?

Paraphrase

Romans 6:15-23. What then do we teach? That we will sin, because we are not under law but under grace? By no means. Our account of law and grace demonstrates, that we cannot possibly teach any such doctrine.

Romans 6:16 This however we say, that even under the gospel ye may be the slaves of sin or of righteousness, as ye choose: only ye should consider, that to whatsoever master ye make yourselves slaves to give him obedience, ye are his slaves whom ye obey, and must be contented both with his work and with his wages, whether it be of sin, whose service ends in death, or of the obedience of faith, whose service ends in righteousness.

Romans 6:17 By thus speaking, I do not insinuate that ye have made yourselves slaves to sin; on the contrary, I thank God, that although formerly ye were the slaves of sin, ye have willingly obeyed the mould of doctrine into which ye were cast at your baptism:

Romans 6:18 And that being set free from the slavery of sin by your faith, ye have voluntarily become the slaves of righteousness, whom therefore ye ought to obey.

Romans 6:19 I speak according to the customs of men respecting slaves, on account of the weakness of your understanding in spiritual matters, that I may give you a just idea of the influence which sinful lusts have had over you formerly, and of the influence which holy affections ought now to have. Wherefore, as in your unbelieving state ye presented your members servile instruments to unclean affections, and to unjust desires, to work wickedness; so now present your members servile instruments to righteousness, to work holiness.

Romans 6:20 To devote yourselves to the service of righteousness, without serving sin at all, is reasonable: For when ye were slaves of sin, ye were free men as to righteousness; ye gave no obedience to righteousness.

Romans 6:21 And what advantage did ye then reap from those base actions with which ye served sin, and of which ye are now ashamed? Instead of being profited, ye have been hurt by them; for the reward of all such things is death eternal.

Romans 6:22 But now being set free from sin, both in respect of its power and punishment, and having become the servants of God, your state is entirely changed; ye are real free men, and ye have holiness as your service, and, as the reward thereof, everlasting life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages which sin gives to its slaves is eternal death; but the gracious gift which God bestows on his servants is everlasting life; a reward gratuitously bestowed through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Summary

It is not true that we may sin because under favor, and not under law. We are to sin in no case and for no end. If we attempt to serve sin we become slaves to it, and in the end will be condemned to eternal death; but, on the other hand, if we are obedient to Christ, the effect will be release from all our sins. Though formerly sinners, we have now sincerely obeyed the gospel; and the consequence is freedom from all sins. Being thus freed, we are now living in holiness. When slaves to sin we were, in a sense, free from righteousness; and so now, being servants to righteousness, we are free from sin. We owe it nothing, and cannot serve it. Indeed as we derived no benefit from our former sins, it would be manifest folly to return to them again. The end would be death, and by this we must be restrained. But we can no longer serve sin; for we are now servants of God, and are living holy lives. We cannot serve both. The result of serving God will be everlasting life, which we cannot afford to forfeit. The end of serving sin is eternal death.

Comment

2.

Objection Concerning Freedom from the Law. Romans 6:15 to Romans 7:6

Objection Stated: Since you have said we are not under law (Romans 6:14) but under the favor of God, what is to restrain us from continuing in sin?

The soundness of this thought is repudiated (Romans 6:15). Then follow the reasons for the disavowal:

a.

Reason Number One. Romans 6:16-19

(1) The first answer to the objection is found in Romans 6:16 through Romans 6:19. The thought of this answer is, Shall we continue in sin simply because we are free from the law, continue in unrighteousness because we are now living under the covenant of God's grace? God forbid. Do you realize the application of a very well known fact to this situation? You are acquainted with the fact that when you become a bond-servant of another that you are bound to your master. When you obey, you are obeying your master. In a very real sense you belong to this man and as long as you remain in his service and obey him you are his property. Well, now, apply this thought to sin. If you obey the lusts or desires of sin are you not then a bondservant to sin? Remember too, that if the master of any slave were to suffer any disaster the slave suffers with him. If the master were to move the slave would move with him; they abide together in whatever place the master occupies. Now think a moment: what is the end of Satan and sin? You know it is the lake of fire, the second death. If you are then the slave of sin, what will be your final end? If on the other hand you choose not to obey sin but rather to obey Christ you will be given the end of obedience to him, i.e., justification here and eternal life hereafter, Romans 6:16

(2) But thanks be to God this is not the situation at all (giving the persons addressed the greatest benefit of the doubt), for the picture I have just drawn is a portrayal of your former condition and action. You were one time indeed the bondservants to sin, yet you escaped this bondage by dying out to sin and being baptized for the remission of your sins. Yes, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching of which we have just been speaking (Romans 6:1-4); and thus having become free from sin you have become bondservants to righteousness. Just as your bondservice to sin was a voluntary service, so is your righteousness. Romans 6:17-18

(3) I have used words which describe the everyday things of your life in metaphorically portraying this spiritual truth, so says the apostle. But I have only done so because you in your present state of weakness in comprehending spiritual matters would not have understood it if I spoke to you in any other way. Romans 6:19 a

132.

State the second objection.

133.

Give the first answer.

134.

What bearing do Romans 6:17-18 have to the objection?

135.

What is the thought of Romans 6:19 a?

(4) One final word in this answer comes from the apostle. Still using the metaphor of the slave, Paul says: As you formerly came to the tyrant sin and offered him your hands, your feet, your mind, as his servants to be used in acts and thoughts of uncleanness and iniquity, so now come to Christ and present these same members as his servants in acts of righteousness to the end that you may be holy. In so doing, you will be set aside as God's possession. Romans 6:19 b

b.

Reason Number Two. Romans 6:20-23

(1) While yet maintaining the thought of the relationship of a slave to his master, Paul introduces another reason why freedom from the law does not give license for sin. He suggests this thought: It is true that while you were living in sin you were free from any obligation to live a righteous life. (I see by your thinking that you would fain return to that position and yet have the hope provided by Christ.) Yet, what pleasure did you derive from your life of sin? Did it yield any peaceable fruit? In participating in those things of which you are now ashamed, did Satan give you any real satisfaction? The answer is self-evident. And after all, the end of such rebellion is eternal death. Romans 6:20-21

(2) But now let us lift our eyes from our past and look at the present. We are free from sin and are servants of God. What fruit do we have in this service? Ah, yes, the blessed fruit of sanctification, the benefits of a Christian that are to be found in the sanctified or holy life he lives. All of those elements of character that come as a result of living wholeheartedly for Christ are the fruit of holiness. cf. Romans 6:1-5; 2 Peter 1:5-8. The end of this life of joy and peace is eternal life. Romans 6:22

(3) How true it is in viewing the whole subject of living in and for sin that the wages of sin is death. After we have faithfully served sin and Satan, suffering all the time under the galling yoke, we will finally be paid for our service with eternal death. But the free gift of God, not something for which we must work, no, not by works but the free gift freely bestowed, is eternal life. But this gift is only given through Jesus Christ and in obedience to him. Romans 6:23

We cannot continue in sin even if we are delivered from the law, for a life of sin pays off with eternal death.

136.

How does Romans 6:19 b relate to the answer found in Romans 6:16-19?

137.

What is the second answer as found in Romans 6:20-23?

138.

How does Romans 6:22 relate to what is said in Romans 6:20-21?

139.

Show how Romans 6:23 is a conclusion to the answer given in Romans 6:20-22.