|
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 6:15-18; 14 “For
sin shall not be master 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? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you
present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are
slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of
obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that
though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that
form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been
freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness..”
When ever grace is presented in its biblical context there is a real
danger that it will be misinterpreted or misapplied. Paul opens that
discussion in verse 15 where he envisions “grace under fire.” Lets
look at . . .
A. The Concept
Considered
vs. 14
Romans 6:14 “For sin shall
not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.” Grace
and Law are mutually exclusive when it comes to acceptability
before God and accountability to God.
Paul argues “But if it is by grace, it is no
longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” Romans
11:6
B. The Conflicted Stated vs. 15
Romans 6:15 What then? Shall
we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
(Antinomianism) Paul warns against this; 1st
Corinthians 8:9; “But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow
become a stumbling block to the weak.”
C. The Case Resolved vs. 16-18
a. By Conformity vs. 16
Romans 6:16 Do you not know
that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for
obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin
resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? “
. . . you are slaves of the one whom you obey, . . .”
The issue here is one of conformity. You are identified by whether you
choose to obey God or to sin against God.
1/ Negative Conformity
- “ . . . either of sin resulting in death . . . ”
This is not a very happy choice! You see, there is no middle-ground
here.
2/ Positive Conformity
- “ . . . or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”
A Christian has no need to labor over this choice. The conflict is
settled by obedience to God and His will!
b. By Commitment vs. 17
Victory is secured upon our redemption in Christ. Paul directs his
praise to God based upon their emancipation from the slavery of sin and
their new found freedom to obey God evidenced by commitment to His Word!
They were made free by the power of the Gospel and were made victorious by
their commitment to sound Bible teaching!
Romans 6:17 But thanks be to
God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart
to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
c. By Consecration vs. 18
Romans 6:18 “and having been
freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness..”
When the bonds of slavery to sin are broken the believer becomes
enslaved to Christ.
1/ It is Not a Burden
Jesus said “my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30; 28 “Come unto
me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of
me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light. KJV
2/ It is a Blessing
Paul speaks about genuine freedom in our relationship to Christ.
Galatians 5:1-4; 1 It was for
freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not
be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you
that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3
And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is
under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed
from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen
from grace.
Enslavement to Christ frees us to do
what God has designed us to do. Its the difference between seeing a
sailboat strapped to a trailer or seeing her glide gracefully, slicing
through the waves with her sails embracing the breeze as the sun sinks
slowly in the western sky. Wow! I like that! John quoted Jesus as saying,
“If the Son therefore shall
make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 Lets
Glide!
The agency or operative power in our being reckoned dead to sin and
alive unto God is a matter of faith functioning by means of God’s
wonderful, matchless grace. Jesus said to Paul “My
grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
(2nd Corinthians 12:9) Is He your sufficiency in
every circumstance as well?
If you have never entrusted your life to Him, why not come to Him today
for Salvation.
"And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men, by which we must be
saved." Acts
4:12
|
