Once you grasp what Paul is teaching throughout his writings and especially in Romans, you will be able to walk in the newness of life he speaks about. Instead of focusing upon your sins and asking for forgiveness for them every day and "dying to yourself," you can focus upon your Savior who has freed you from your sins!
Neither yield ye
your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but
yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your
members as instruments of righteousness unto God {Romans 6:13}. Our members are our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, hands, feet, reproductive organs
and head. Now that the believer is in Christ and therefore dead to sin, he has
the power to not yield to lusts that still reside in the mortal body {now dead
in Christ}.
For sin will not
have mastery over you, because you are not under Law but under grace {6:14}. A
person under the Law is enslaved to the habits of sin, whereas one who is under
grace is freed from the dominion of sin. Though many think the Law so forcefully
upholds righteousness, while grace is permissive {as many wrongly believe
today}, it is GRACE that actually delivers us from sin's dominion! It's is God's grace that gives us the strength to walk in holiness and separated from sin.
What then? shall
we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid {6:15}. This brings us back to what was asked in Romans 6:1. This is not an option any
believer would consider. The Law comes as a crushing stone; grace comes as a loving embrace. Under the Law, one should not continue in sin; in Christ, based on the
constraints of the Spirit and our participation in the death and resurrection
of Christ, one cannot continue in sin.
Know ye not, that
to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye
obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? {6:16} The
bottom line is that your lifestyle reveals your life-source. If one yields his
members to sin, then he is the servant of sin, and as such will die the eternal
death of the damned. On the other hand, if one is under grace then he has the
power and the will to walk in obedience, the end being righteousness. This is
intended to satisfy Paul's accusers: "Shall we continue to sin?" His
answer, "Don't be ridiculous; under any system, those that are servants of
sin are damned."
But God be
thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart
that form of doctrine which was delivered you {6:17}. Thank God that servitude
to sin is a thing of the past. Your heart responded to the grace of God and you
were in full compliance with everything you heard. Heart obedience is the
opposite of obedience to the Law. The pressure and curse of the Law is lifted,
leaving the sinner free to love God and respond in faith and thankfulness.
The next verse begins HERE. The study begins HERE.
The next verse begins HERE. The study begins HERE.
