Reading and meditation on Chapter 6 of the Letter to the Romans:
In light of what Paul wrote regarding the undeserved kindness that allows for the forgiveness of sins based on Christ’s sacrifice, he goes on to explain that we must not abuse it by willfully practicing sin, for one main reason:
“What are we to say then? Should we continue in sin so that undeserved kindness may increase? 2 Certainly not! Seeing that we died with reference to sin, how can we keep living any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 So we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in a newness of life. 5 If we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old personality was nailed to the stake along with him in order for our sinful body to be made powerless, so that we should no longer go on being slaves to sin. 7 For the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin. 8 Moreover, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that Christ, now that he has been raised up from the dead, dies no more; death is no longer master over him. 10 For the death that he died, he died with reference to sin once for all time, but the life that he lives, he lives with reference to God. 11 Likewise you, consider yourselves to be dead with reference to sin but living with reference to God by Christ Jesus” (verses 1-11).
The primary reason we must not practice willful sin is that we have been baptized into Christ’s death. In Christian baptism, the brief moment when the body is submerged in water represents the death of our old personality, with its flaws and serious sinful practices. Christ’s three-and-a-half-year ministry has been a baptism into death that would culminate in his sacrificial death, followed by his resurrection on the third day. Our baptism into death lasts for the duration of our ministry in the present system of things. Prior to this ministry—which began with our baptism—we gradually put our old personality to death; subsequently, following this baptism into Christ’s death, we will be resurrected, just as Christ was.
« For the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin »: This important biblical truth allows us to understand that when a person dies, he is automatically acquitted of all the sins committed during his lifetime. It is God, through His Son Jesus Christ, who will judge whether or not that person will be resurrected. For instance, in the case of Judas Iscariot, it is evident that he will not be resurrected, because Jesus Christ called him the « son of destruction »—a title implying eternal destruction with no possibility of resurrection (John 17:12). On the other hand, Jesus Christ stated that, in the future, there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. This resurrection of the unrighteous will be made possible precisely because they have been acquitted of the past sins they committed—out of error—before their deaths in the former system of things (John 5:28,29). This resurrection of the dead is made possible by the ransom value—or exchange price—of Christ’s sacrifice (Matthew 20:28).
“Therefore, do not let sin continue to rule as king in your mortal bodies so that you should obey their desires. 13 Neither go on presenting your bodies to sin as weapons of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, also your bodies to God as weapons of righteousness. 14 For sin must not be master over you, seeing that you are not under law but under undeserved kindness” (verses 12-14).
In light of our baptism into Christ’s death, we have buried our former personality, and we must ensure that the sin dwelling within us does not dominate our behavior; it must not rule over us. If we sincerely wage this daily battle against the sin within us, then the mercy of God and Christ will apply, bringing the forgiveness of sins and the extension of undeserved kindness to us (read Romans 7:21-25). Paul concludes by urging us no longer to be slaves to sin, but rather to be slaves to righteousness:
“What follows? Are we to commit a sin because we are not under law but under undeserved kindness? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thanks to God that although you were once the slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over. 18 Yes, since you were set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh; for just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free as to righteousness” (verses 15-20).
Chapter 6 is concluded with a simple sentence showing that the ruthless consequence of sin is death; however, the merciful gift presented to us by God, the Heavenly Father, is the possibility of everlasting life:
“What, then, was the fruit that you used to produce at that time? Things of which you are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death. 22 However, now that you were set free from sin and became slaves to God, you are producing your fruit in the way of holiness, and the end is everlasting life. 23 For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 21-23).
The Earthly Resurrection of the Righteous – They Will Not Be Judged (John 5:28, 29)
The righteous resurrected will not be judged or scrutinized, but will obtain a resurrection of everlasting life…
The Earthly Resurrection of the Unrighteous – They Will Be Judged (John 5:28, 29)
The unrighteous resurrected will be judged or scrutinized before possibly obtaining everlasting life…
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The chapter-by-chapter commentaries on the Epistle to the Romans will not follow a linear approach (such as a verse-by-verse study); instead, they will focus on key points emerging from the chapter under discussion…
When we read the Letter of James, it is surprising to see the likeness of his way of teaching, with that of his older brother Jesus. He uses many illustrations as Jesus did…
The purpose of the letter of Jude is to warn against the infiltration in the Christian congregation, of individuals with twisted behaviors perverting the spiritual purity required by God and his Son Jesus Christ…
John is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is also the writer one of the Gospel which bears his name and as well as the book of Apocalypse or Revelation…
Peter is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels, he also has the name of Simon Peter (Matthew 4:18) and Jesus Christ gave him another name, Cephas (John 1:42). Among the twelve, he was one of the three closest apostles of Jesus Christ: Peter, James and John his brother. These three men saw the transfiguration of Christ (Mark 9:1-10).
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Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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