Post by arete on Sept 1, 2014 20:07:14 GMT
Introduction:
I’ve heard it said that there’s no such thing as a dumb question… I’m not certain that many people who have had to teach or train someone would necessarily agree with that statement. There’s no shame in ignorance – genuinely not knowing – but there should be shame in an almost stubborn refusal to be taught. This is especially so with mature students. The same is true for mature believers – or at least those who consider themselves to be mature. Yet, Paul, a gifted teacher has heard his share of questions and moves this morning to square off against anyone that stubbornly insists that one can be a believer and still remain lawless
Context:
Last time in Romans, I mentioned a possible word for a word a day calendar, that being antinomian. To avoid the strange word, we settled on calling it lawlessness. Paul told the Romans and us that lawlessness was not the way of Christ. That while we had been slaves to sin, by Christ dying for us and paying our debt, we now belonged to him. Part of that belonging was identifying with his death and resurrection. The death we are to identify with is being dead to sin. The life is the gift of Christ – eternal life now and forever. We now move to Paul’s answer to any further stubborn insistence that believers in Christ can remain in sin…
Body – Romans 6:15-23 – ESV
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Essence of Sin vv. 15-16
Paul imagines that since he told the Romans that they were now under grace and not under sin, then they might think that obeying God’s commands to be unnecessary. Let’s be clear – we are not under the Law in any sense that obeying the Law alone saves. In fact, the Law cannot be kept in perfect obedience. Instead, we are under grace – God’s grace extends salvation that we cannot earn and his grace empowers us to obey his commands
So, the question Paul imagines someone asking is that since we are under grace, that means we get to sin and break God’s commands. Paul one again uses his strongest negative statement. By No Means! God Forbid! Or again, in the language here, it is not even lawful to give birth to such a thought in our minds.
Paul moves to a real world example for his audience. Slavery was a cultural norm. Specifically here, he mentions the type of slavery that one might sell themselves into – to pay a debt or to get a higher standard of living than would otherwise be possible. He reminds them of what they know – when a slave willingly submits to a master, that slave will obey
If a person submits to sin, then they obey sin, it is their master. In fact, apart from Christ every natural person is a slave to sin and cannot do anything but sin. And sin is a harsh master and that way always leads to death
The other option is to belong to God which can only be accomplished by salvation in Christ alone. God is the best master. He is the master that empowers us to be able to obey. Such slavery leads to righteousness.
Illustrations:
1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything… The next verses, Paul specifically teaches on sexual sin and then concludes with…19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Application:
Most of us are familiar with the idea of a boss. We either have one now, had one once, we are one, or we have a parent acting in that role for us. The boss expects us to show up on time, to do our work, and faithfully represent the company, organization, etc. Why shouldn’t God expect the same? He does. Do we do it? We are not our own, we have been bought with a price. We are slaves to a wonderful master who cares for and provides for us in every possible way. In return, we should be moved to obedience. We should work faithfully and we should represent him well to those who don’t know him yet…
Eager Servant vv. 17-19
Paul next reminds his audience of something we should all be reminded of – we were once slaves to sin. We need this reminder to keep our attitudes right when we are around other people who remain slaves to sin. They need the grace & mercy we have from God
Yet, the slavery to sin is past tense for us and our salvation should be marked by obedience. However, such obedience is not meant to be surly. You know what I mean; likely we have all had a child act surly when told to do something. Even more, you all should know what I mean because we can also be rather surly. True obedience to God is from the heart. Our obedience to him flows from our love for the one who saved us.
What are we to obey? The commands of God – as given in the Law and the Prophets from Paul’s perspective. We are even more blessed than the Romans for we have the Law, the Prophets, and the New Testament of God to man.
Also our slavery to sin can only be put to an end by switching masters. Everyone has a master or boss. If our master is anything other than God, we are enslaved to sin. When we are freed from that slavery, we become slaves to righteousness.
Paul reminds the Romans that he is using real world examples of slavery to make this teaching easier for them to grasp. He also clarifies, that we are to pursue righteousness with the same intensity that we once pursued sin. We are to be as zealous for God’s right as any sinner is for depravity.
This includes our sanctification. Salvation is an amazing gift from God and includes three major stages. At the point we are no longer slaves to sin, but to God, that is called justification. The point in time when we arrive in heaven (by death or the Lord’s return) and God removes all sin and makes us perfect – that’s called glorification. Everything in between is God removing the impurities from us and always making us ever more like Jesus and that is sanctification. While sanctification is empowered entirely by God, it is not a spectator event. God’s will for our sanctification includes our active, willing and intentional participation
Illustration:
Imagine, if you will, that you work for a company whose president decided to travel out of the country & spend an extended time abroad. So he says to every employee, “Look, I’m going to leave. And while I’m gone, I want you to manage things while I’m away. I will write you regularly. When I do, I will instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from this trip.” Everyone agrees. He leaves and stays gone for a couple of years. During that time he writes often, communicating his desires and concerns. Finally he returns. He walks up to the front door of the company and immediately discovers everything is in a mess--weeds broken windows , the receptionist dozing, loud music roaring from several offices, horseplay in the back room. Instead of making a profit, the business has suffered a great loss. Without hesitation he calls everyone together and with a frown asks, “What happened? Didn’t you get my letters?” You say, “Oh, yeah, sure. We got all your letters. We’ve even bound them in a book. And some of us have memorized them. In fact, we have ‘letter study’ every Sunday. You know, those were really great letters.” I think the president would then ask, “But what did you do about my instructions?” And, no doubt the employees would respond, “Do? Well, nothing. But we read every one!”
Application:
We should read God’s letters. We should memorize from God’s letters. But God forbid that we neglect acting on what we learn from God’s letters. In Paul’s culture and language, the word for hear bore the necessity of acting on what was heard. The idea was that you obviously didn’t hear if you didn’t act. Act! Be doers of the word and not hearers only. If obeying from the heart is hard – then just obey. Then pray to God for the heart to be put right.
Eternal Life vv. 20-23
Paul moves his focus to life before righteousness. When we were slaves to sin, we were free from right belief and right action. They were absent from us. The lost are in rebellion to God and so cannot act right. Before salvation all any of us could do was sin.
Now, we should feel shame for the way we used to live, but even more, Paul wants us to think on where a lifestyle of sin actually got us. What fruit was there to be had? Sin is death & destruction. Such a life was ultimately empty because it was missing God
However, as slaves of God, he is our provider. His fruit is life. First, eternal life begins now as he makes us always more like Jesus and we enjoy spiritual life through our relationship with God. But also, the fruit of slavery to God ends by our getting to spend forever with God in his presence in heaven
Paul now concludes with a summary of the entirety of what he has said here. Many of us know the summary, now we all know what it summarizes. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
The summary is this – sin pays death. So we can take what we have earned. Or there is a better way – grace. God’s grace, his free gift, is in Jesus. Jesus paid our debt so that such a free gift can be ours. If we want to be right with God, if we want to have a relationship with God, if we want to go to heaven someday – then only Jesus can make that happen. Anything else, anything less, anything added – is not salvation
Illustration:
The following story was often told by Charles Haddon Spurgeon: A cruel king called one of his subjects into his presence and asked him his occupation. The man said, “I’m a blacksmith.” The ruler then ordered him to go and make a chain of a certain length. The man obeyed and returned to show it to the monarch. Instead of receiving praise for what he had done, however, he was instructed to make the chain twice as long. When that assignment was completed, the blacksmith presented his work, but again was commanded to double its length. This was repeated several times. At last the wicked tyrant directed the man to be bound in the chains of his own making and cast into a fiery furnace. Like that cruel king, sin exacts from its servants a dreadful price: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). But the good news is the last part of that verse: “The gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” If you are not a Christian, consider the consequence of your sin. Then “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). - RWD
Application:
What more can be added beyond, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
So What?
While we all like to think of ourselves as being our own boss, I’m afraid it isn’t true. Here in Alaska (and indeed many places are like this), we are known for independence, but even that can be taken too far. The Bible is clear – we need God, and we need him desperately. We need him to save us and we need him to help us live the way we should. We also need one another. We need to worship together and we need to be family to one another. We’re fellow slaves to righteousness and due to God’s grace, we’re brothers and sisters in Christ too. Again, this being Alaska, we are often eager to help and slow to ask for help. Ask God often for his help in living right. He will answer that prayer. Also, ask your family in Christ quick. Don’t steal the blessing of lending a hand from a brother or sister
While we have a boss and a wonderful one in our God, we also have his instructions. I’ve worked a job or two where they didn’t train you or worked on an item or two that had no manual or specs – God provided for us in giving us the total of his revelation to man – he reveals himself and his will in the Bible. Read it. Memorize from it. And above all – do it!
Finally, let’s get real about sin. It can’t fulfill. It can’t satisfy. It can’t do anything but destroy us, destroy those around us and even cause unbelievers to blaspheme God. When it rears its ugly head, we need to remember who we serve and that we don’t belong to sin, we belong to Christ. When we fail and submit to sin, let us be quick to submit again to our real master. Thank God for God - he will forgive us when we truly repent.
So, let’s not ask the dumb question – can we sin and still be right with God – No we can’t. But let’s also lose the less than intelligent habits that allow us to dabble in sin or entertain it as an option. Let’s treat sin like the death it is. Instead, let us live lives of heartfelt and willing obedience to our loving God and quickly as forgiveness when we fail…
Benediction
"And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified."
(Acts 20:32 NRSV)
I’ve heard it said that there’s no such thing as a dumb question… I’m not certain that many people who have had to teach or train someone would necessarily agree with that statement. There’s no shame in ignorance – genuinely not knowing – but there should be shame in an almost stubborn refusal to be taught. This is especially so with mature students. The same is true for mature believers – or at least those who consider themselves to be mature. Yet, Paul, a gifted teacher has heard his share of questions and moves this morning to square off against anyone that stubbornly insists that one can be a believer and still remain lawless
Context:
Last time in Romans, I mentioned a possible word for a word a day calendar, that being antinomian. To avoid the strange word, we settled on calling it lawlessness. Paul told the Romans and us that lawlessness was not the way of Christ. That while we had been slaves to sin, by Christ dying for us and paying our debt, we now belonged to him. Part of that belonging was identifying with his death and resurrection. The death we are to identify with is being dead to sin. The life is the gift of Christ – eternal life now and forever. We now move to Paul’s answer to any further stubborn insistence that believers in Christ can remain in sin…
Body – Romans 6:15-23 – ESV
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Essence of Sin vv. 15-16
Paul imagines that since he told the Romans that they were now under grace and not under sin, then they might think that obeying God’s commands to be unnecessary. Let’s be clear – we are not under the Law in any sense that obeying the Law alone saves. In fact, the Law cannot be kept in perfect obedience. Instead, we are under grace – God’s grace extends salvation that we cannot earn and his grace empowers us to obey his commands
So, the question Paul imagines someone asking is that since we are under grace, that means we get to sin and break God’s commands. Paul one again uses his strongest negative statement. By No Means! God Forbid! Or again, in the language here, it is not even lawful to give birth to such a thought in our minds.
Paul moves to a real world example for his audience. Slavery was a cultural norm. Specifically here, he mentions the type of slavery that one might sell themselves into – to pay a debt or to get a higher standard of living than would otherwise be possible. He reminds them of what they know – when a slave willingly submits to a master, that slave will obey
If a person submits to sin, then they obey sin, it is their master. In fact, apart from Christ every natural person is a slave to sin and cannot do anything but sin. And sin is a harsh master and that way always leads to death
The other option is to belong to God which can only be accomplished by salvation in Christ alone. God is the best master. He is the master that empowers us to be able to obey. Such slavery leads to righteousness.
Illustrations:
1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything… The next verses, Paul specifically teaches on sexual sin and then concludes with…19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Application:
Most of us are familiar with the idea of a boss. We either have one now, had one once, we are one, or we have a parent acting in that role for us. The boss expects us to show up on time, to do our work, and faithfully represent the company, organization, etc. Why shouldn’t God expect the same? He does. Do we do it? We are not our own, we have been bought with a price. We are slaves to a wonderful master who cares for and provides for us in every possible way. In return, we should be moved to obedience. We should work faithfully and we should represent him well to those who don’t know him yet…
Eager Servant vv. 17-19
Paul next reminds his audience of something we should all be reminded of – we were once slaves to sin. We need this reminder to keep our attitudes right when we are around other people who remain slaves to sin. They need the grace & mercy we have from God
Yet, the slavery to sin is past tense for us and our salvation should be marked by obedience. However, such obedience is not meant to be surly. You know what I mean; likely we have all had a child act surly when told to do something. Even more, you all should know what I mean because we can also be rather surly. True obedience to God is from the heart. Our obedience to him flows from our love for the one who saved us.
What are we to obey? The commands of God – as given in the Law and the Prophets from Paul’s perspective. We are even more blessed than the Romans for we have the Law, the Prophets, and the New Testament of God to man.
Also our slavery to sin can only be put to an end by switching masters. Everyone has a master or boss. If our master is anything other than God, we are enslaved to sin. When we are freed from that slavery, we become slaves to righteousness.
Paul reminds the Romans that he is using real world examples of slavery to make this teaching easier for them to grasp. He also clarifies, that we are to pursue righteousness with the same intensity that we once pursued sin. We are to be as zealous for God’s right as any sinner is for depravity.
This includes our sanctification. Salvation is an amazing gift from God and includes three major stages. At the point we are no longer slaves to sin, but to God, that is called justification. The point in time when we arrive in heaven (by death or the Lord’s return) and God removes all sin and makes us perfect – that’s called glorification. Everything in between is God removing the impurities from us and always making us ever more like Jesus and that is sanctification. While sanctification is empowered entirely by God, it is not a spectator event. God’s will for our sanctification includes our active, willing and intentional participation
Illustration:
Imagine, if you will, that you work for a company whose president decided to travel out of the country & spend an extended time abroad. So he says to every employee, “Look, I’m going to leave. And while I’m gone, I want you to manage things while I’m away. I will write you regularly. When I do, I will instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from this trip.” Everyone agrees. He leaves and stays gone for a couple of years. During that time he writes often, communicating his desires and concerns. Finally he returns. He walks up to the front door of the company and immediately discovers everything is in a mess--weeds broken windows , the receptionist dozing, loud music roaring from several offices, horseplay in the back room. Instead of making a profit, the business has suffered a great loss. Without hesitation he calls everyone together and with a frown asks, “What happened? Didn’t you get my letters?” You say, “Oh, yeah, sure. We got all your letters. We’ve even bound them in a book. And some of us have memorized them. In fact, we have ‘letter study’ every Sunday. You know, those were really great letters.” I think the president would then ask, “But what did you do about my instructions?” And, no doubt the employees would respond, “Do? Well, nothing. But we read every one!”
Application:
We should read God’s letters. We should memorize from God’s letters. But God forbid that we neglect acting on what we learn from God’s letters. In Paul’s culture and language, the word for hear bore the necessity of acting on what was heard. The idea was that you obviously didn’t hear if you didn’t act. Act! Be doers of the word and not hearers only. If obeying from the heart is hard – then just obey. Then pray to God for the heart to be put right.
Eternal Life vv. 20-23
Paul moves his focus to life before righteousness. When we were slaves to sin, we were free from right belief and right action. They were absent from us. The lost are in rebellion to God and so cannot act right. Before salvation all any of us could do was sin.
Now, we should feel shame for the way we used to live, but even more, Paul wants us to think on where a lifestyle of sin actually got us. What fruit was there to be had? Sin is death & destruction. Such a life was ultimately empty because it was missing God
However, as slaves of God, he is our provider. His fruit is life. First, eternal life begins now as he makes us always more like Jesus and we enjoy spiritual life through our relationship with God. But also, the fruit of slavery to God ends by our getting to spend forever with God in his presence in heaven
Paul now concludes with a summary of the entirety of what he has said here. Many of us know the summary, now we all know what it summarizes. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
The summary is this – sin pays death. So we can take what we have earned. Or there is a better way – grace. God’s grace, his free gift, is in Jesus. Jesus paid our debt so that such a free gift can be ours. If we want to be right with God, if we want to have a relationship with God, if we want to go to heaven someday – then only Jesus can make that happen. Anything else, anything less, anything added – is not salvation
Illustration:
The following story was often told by Charles Haddon Spurgeon: A cruel king called one of his subjects into his presence and asked him his occupation. The man said, “I’m a blacksmith.” The ruler then ordered him to go and make a chain of a certain length. The man obeyed and returned to show it to the monarch. Instead of receiving praise for what he had done, however, he was instructed to make the chain twice as long. When that assignment was completed, the blacksmith presented his work, but again was commanded to double its length. This was repeated several times. At last the wicked tyrant directed the man to be bound in the chains of his own making and cast into a fiery furnace. Like that cruel king, sin exacts from its servants a dreadful price: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). But the good news is the last part of that verse: “The gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” If you are not a Christian, consider the consequence of your sin. Then “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). - RWD
Application:
What more can be added beyond, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
So What?
While we all like to think of ourselves as being our own boss, I’m afraid it isn’t true. Here in Alaska (and indeed many places are like this), we are known for independence, but even that can be taken too far. The Bible is clear – we need God, and we need him desperately. We need him to save us and we need him to help us live the way we should. We also need one another. We need to worship together and we need to be family to one another. We’re fellow slaves to righteousness and due to God’s grace, we’re brothers and sisters in Christ too. Again, this being Alaska, we are often eager to help and slow to ask for help. Ask God often for his help in living right. He will answer that prayer. Also, ask your family in Christ quick. Don’t steal the blessing of lending a hand from a brother or sister
While we have a boss and a wonderful one in our God, we also have his instructions. I’ve worked a job or two where they didn’t train you or worked on an item or two that had no manual or specs – God provided for us in giving us the total of his revelation to man – he reveals himself and his will in the Bible. Read it. Memorize from it. And above all – do it!
Finally, let’s get real about sin. It can’t fulfill. It can’t satisfy. It can’t do anything but destroy us, destroy those around us and even cause unbelievers to blaspheme God. When it rears its ugly head, we need to remember who we serve and that we don’t belong to sin, we belong to Christ. When we fail and submit to sin, let us be quick to submit again to our real master. Thank God for God - he will forgive us when we truly repent.
So, let’s not ask the dumb question – can we sin and still be right with God – No we can’t. But let’s also lose the less than intelligent habits that allow us to dabble in sin or entertain it as an option. Let’s treat sin like the death it is. Instead, let us live lives of heartfelt and willing obedience to our loving God and quickly as forgiveness when we fail…
Benediction
"And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified."
(Acts 20:32 NRSV)