Tag Archives: Christianity

What is the Law? (Romans 6:15)

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Shall we sin because we are no longer under Law but under grace?”  Romans 6:15

Again, Paul answers: “By no means!”

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Source: 2wired2tired.com

Wait . . . Rewind . . . Repeat that again? We (believers) are not under the Law . . . .? I admit, this sounds more like a riddle, especially when you look at passages like Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”

It helps to know that this section deals with sanctification: God growing the Christian in holiness. But the question remains . . . .

Which Law is Paul referring to?

The following excerpt from the NIV Study Bible helped me sift through this confusing topic:

Part of the Jewish Law included those laws found in the Old Testament. When Paul says that Gentiles (non-Jews) are no longer bound by these laws, he is not saying that the Old Testament laws do not apply to us today. He is saying certain types of laws may not apply to us. In the Old Testament there were three categories of laws:

  1. Ceremonial Law: This kind of law relates specifically to Israel’s worship (see, for example, Leviticus 1:1-13), its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ. Therefore, these laws were no longer necessary after Jesus’ death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them—to worship and love a holy God—still apply. The Jewish Christians often accused the Gentile Christians of violating the ceremonial law.
  2. Civil Law: This type of law dictated Israel’s daily living (see Deuteronomy 24:10-11). Because modern society and culture are so radically different, some of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands should guide our conduct. At times, Paul asked Gentile Christians to follow some of these laws, not because they had to, but in order to promote unity.
  3. Moral Law: This sort of law is the direct command of God—for example, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). It requires strict obedience. It reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies to us today. We are to obey this moral law not to obtain salvation, but to live in ways pleasing to God.

Which Law do you think Paul is referring to in Romans 6:15?

And What About Grace?

Another analogy found in the NIV Study Bible helped clarify Romans 5:20, “The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“As a sinner separated from God, you see his law from below, as a ladder to be climbed to get to God. Perhaps you have repeatedly tried to climb it, only to fall to the ground every time you have advanced on one or two rungs. Or perhaps the sheer height of the ladder seems so overwhelming that you have never even started up. In either case, what relief you should feel to see Jesus offering with open arms to lift you above the ladder of the law, to take you directly to God! Once Jesus lifts you into God’s presence, you are free to obey—out of love, not necessity, and through God’s power, not your own. You know that if you stumble, you will not fall back to the ground. Instead you will be caught and held in Christ’s loving arms.”

I hope this makes sense. Although I’m not an intellect like Paul, his teachings challenge me (in a good way).

I hope you’re enjoying summer!

 

 

Slaves to Righteousness, Romans 6:15-23

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If a Christian fails morally, it is not because the needed power was not available. It is because it is not appropriated.” – J.W. MacGorman

***

Paul’s reasoning in Romans reminds me of Math, building upon previous concepts.

(properkernel.com)

What’s wrong with this ad? (properkernel.com)

 

If one step of a math problem is wrong, the entire answer will be wrong. I for one need lots of review, even when I think I’ve mastered a concept!

Summary: Three Types of Jewish Law

My last post reviewed three types of Jewish Law found in the Old Testament: Ceremonial Law, Civil Law, and Moral Law. “When Paul says that Gentiles (non-Jews) are no longer bound by these laws, he is not saying that the Old Testament laws do not apply to us today. He is saying certain types of laws may not apply to us” (NIV Study Bible). Although the laws God gave the Jews during Moses’ leadership—Ceremonial and Civil Laws—don’t specifically apply to us, the Moral Laws (Ten Commandments) still apply to us today.

Paul also reminds us that God gave us the Law to point out our sin so that we might seek His forgiveness (Romans 5:20). He never intended for law keeping to be our means for salvation. This leads to the question Paul must have gotten frequently, (which I stated in my last post, but didn’t get very far):

“What then? Shall we sin because we are no longer under Law but under grace?”  (Romans 6:15)

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Using an analogy of slavery, Paul counteracts a leisurely attitude toward sin by contrasting the two masters that everyone chooses from. These two masters lead to opposing freedoms, fruits, and destinies.

The Master of Righteousness

Those who serve this master find freedom from sin, which result in sanctification (holiness) and eternal life. Paul’s use of the terms sanctification and justification (God declaring the sinner not guilty) are closely related.

The Master of Sin

Those who continue in sin will be enslaved to shameful behavior and ultimately death. Their only freedom is freedom from righteousness. Romans 6:22-23 sums up this section.

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So What?

The master we choose—sin or righteousness through Christ—will not only affect our freedom, or lack of, but also our destinies: life or death.

When we were under the Law—striving to keep a perfect record—sin was still our master with the currency of death spiraling out of control. The Law can’t conquer sin or justify sinners. Only Jesus Christ can cleanse us from sin and declare us not guilty. He alone can clothe us in His righteousness when we place our trust in Him.

Eternal life is a free gift in Jesus Christ. It is the believer’s choice and responsibility to rely on the indwelling Holy Spirit’s power to say no to sin.

Which master do you belong to?

Dead to the Law, Romans 7:1-6

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I, Jody, take you, John, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse . . . ‘Till death do us part.”

(stylegrace.com)

(stylegrace.com)

Sealed with a kiss, this vow—in the covenant of marriage—is valid as long as the husband is alive.

Paul’s readers understood that a violation of this law would disgrace Jody as an adulteress. If her husband dies, however, she is free to marry another man.

This is the picture Paul gives us to compare Christians and the Law. Not only do believers die to sin, but also to the Law, thus cancelling the Law’s “lordship” or claim over the believer (vs. 4).

Similar to the picture of baptism, death to sin begins when the believer places his/her trust in Christ. By identifying with the crucified Christ and joining in union to Him, the resurrected Christ becomes the believer’s new “husband”. The Holy Spirit enables the believer to produce good fruit for God.

So What?

Because of Christ’s sacrifice, the way to God is open through faith. No longer trying to earn salvation through an external code of law keeping or following Christian customs, the believer is free to serve God with a new heart out of love and gratitude.

The Law and Sin, Romans 7:7-25

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“Is the Law sin?” Paul asked as though repeating a reporter’s question. Given his previous replies, this one shouldn’t surprise: “certainly not!”

Romans 7 paints a small picture of Paul’s spiritual experience. He sets the stage here for the triumphant entry in chapter 8.

In verses 7-11 Paul seeks to explain a relationship he finds between the Law and sin. “I would not have known what sin was except through the Law . . . .” He reasons that apart from the Law sin can’t be labeled “sin,” even though it still exists.

Shepherd’s Notes gives this example and commentary: “There may be dangerous microbes in the air, but unless some instrument detects them, they will go unnoticed. The Law does more than show sin for what it is. It provokes sin. Sin seizes the opportunity and arouses within a person a desire to do evil.”

Question #2

Paul brings up another question: “Did that which is good—that is the Law—become death to me? By no means!” (vs. 13). Paul tells that through the Law he realized just how dark and enormous sin was, even achieving its evil end through something as good as God’s Law so death might be accomplished through it. The Law was never the culprit, just sin.

The Christian’s Struggle

As Paul furthers the relation between the Law and sin, he flips from past to present tenses: “We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” The phrase “sold as a slave to sin” means bought and delivered to sin, as a slave to a master. This same verb was used in Matthew 18:25 to describe a debtor being sold into slavery (Shepherd’s Notes). Paul uses this analogy to show that no matter how much he loved God’s Law, he was enslaved to sin—powerless to completely obey it.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” -vs. 15

More than a tongue twister, Paul’s cry describes the Christian’s struggle against sin, or trying to please God by rule keeping apart from the Holy Spirit’s help.

Verses 21-24 remind me of the children’s book: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day with struggling being the common denominator.

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (vs. 24)

But Paul’s conclusion rings with sweet victory: “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (vs. 25)

So What?

Law makes us aware of sin by defining it.

There is a two-sided reality of the Christian life. Although our acceptance with Christ is secure—making believers complete in Him—we still feel the pull of sin. Shepherd’s Notes observes: “Sanctification is a gradual process that repeatedly takes the believer through this recurring sequence of failure through dependency upon self to triumph through the indwelling Spirit.” Although conflict and struggle are part of our earthly journey, despair and defeat are not thanks to the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ who provides power to live freely above sin’s lure and captivity.

How do you deal with this struggle?

Life Through the Spirit, Romans 8:1-11

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“You may go free, not guilty!” What would these words mean to you if you were on death row?

The reality is, we are all on death row because we have broken God’s holy Law multiple times. But thankfully, God has made a way to clear our record, declare us not guilty, through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:12

This verse, along with the rest of this chapter, is one of my favorite passages. In a world of condemning voices and pointing fingers, this verse gives reason to celebrate. Jesus liberates the believer from the old bondage to sin and death!

Two laws are cited in this passage:

  1. The Law of Sin and Death. It lurks around every corner, challenging every good motive, enslaving the one who strives to fulfill the Law through self-determination. Romans 7:14-25 describes its havoc.
  2. The Law of the Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, this law defeats the old law’s grip on sin and death, setting people free. Shepherd’s Notes observes: “Twenty-one times in Romans 8 the Greek word for Spirit or spirit occurs. At least 18 of these are references to the Holy Spirit . . . . We have in Romans 8 Paul’s fullest discussion of the new life of the Spirit.” (For more information on our sinful nature vs. our new life in Christ, see 6:6-8; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:3-15.)

Verse 3 not only explains how the Law of the Spirit sets people free, but also contains the following two doctrines:

The Incarnation

God’s Son, Jesus Christ, became one of us. Paul describes Christ’s coming as “in the likeness of sinful man.”

The Atonement

God achieved our freedom from captivity to sin through Jesus’ sacrificial death (“sin offering”) on the cross. Jesus bore the brunt of the world’s sins. The NIV Study Bible notes: “In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were continually offered at the temple. The sacrifices showed the Israelites the seriousness of sin: blood had to be shed before sins could be pardoned (see Leviticus 17:11). But animal blood could not really remove sins (Hebrews 10:4). The sacrifices could only point to Jesus’ sacrifice, which paid the penalty for all sins.”

In verse 9, Paul tells his readers that they are not controlled by their sinful nature, but their lives are guided by the indwelling Spirit (Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is also God’s guarantee of eternal life for the believer.

So What?

Christians can rise above sin and experience life through the empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

A Christian is anyone who has the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) living in him/her. Jesus promised His Spirit to anyone who sincerely trusts Him for salvation and acknowledges Him as Lord.

Although our feelings come and go, we can stand confidently on God’s promises of living forever with Him. (See also Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:14.)

Have you placed your complete trust in Christ?