Romans 6:1-23
We are almost at the end of chapter 6 of Romans. Lets back track a
little, and give some thought how Paul began this letter to the Jews
at Rome. First, they weren't doing no better than those they were judging
of sin. Secondly, Paul said that he was addressing those who called
themselves Jews and knew the law. Thirdly, Paul gave witness to them
of how a man was no longer justified by his or her own works of the
law, but through Christ Jesus. Fourthly, God did not impute righteousness
upon Abraham because of his works and David said: "Blessed is the man
whom the Lord does not hold sin against."
Then we learned that 'where there's no law, there's no transgression
(sin). Then we learned that God is no longer dealing with man according
to the law of sin and death, but according to justification by grace,
peace, and righteousness. We also learned that it was through the disobedience
of one man (Adam) that the entire world became guilty before God of
sin, and through the obedience of Christ the whole world was made righteous
in God's eyes. Then we finally reached chapter 6 and Paul says that
we are all dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Sin has no longer
dominion over anyone.
Now we read in verse 20 of chapter 6 "For when you WERE (past tense)
the servants of sin (speaking to the Jews), you were free FROM righteousness."
In other words, there was a time when you were the servants of the
law, and since through the law righteousness cannot be attained, the
only way you are going to be free from the law of sin and death is if
you acknowledge that through Christ we have all become servants of righteousness
because of what He finished on the cross. We are now Servants of life.
Servants of grace. Servants of peace. Servants of freedom, and all because
of Christ.
So now we can all say along with the apostle Paul "O death, where
is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is SIN;
and the strength of SIN is the law, But thanks be to God which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Friends, if the above
passages found in 1 Cor. 15:55-57 doesn't say it all, then legalism
is your master and you are its slave. Now, verse 21 pretty much says
this: "Listen to me Jews, I want to know what good fruit have you
produced by attempting to keep the law, the which has brought you nothing
but shame? For the END of your rotten fruit and self-righteous works
has only brought you to one place, and that is the place of death."
Now, it gets really good at verse 22 "But now (not tomorrow)
being made FREE from SIN, and become servants to God, you have your
fruit unto holiness, and the end result is everlasting life." How
many were made free from the law of sin and death? How many became sinners
because of the disobedience of one man? How many were made righteous
servants because of another man? How did the whole world become holy
before God? Who and what was it that made it all possible for everyone
to be counted as producing good fruit unto everlasting life? Who was
it that brought us out of death?
Friends, rest assured that it had nothing to do with what Evangelical
Christianity teachings has deceived us with all of these years...our
works! It had nothing to do with what we added or deleted from our lives.
This entire promise of God's redemption for the entire world came as
the result of a covenant of grace, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional
love that took place between the Father and the Son. Man was left completely
out of the equation, and I am happy to find out about it, and that's
the reason why I do not fear the man behind the pulpit. He has no power
over anything or anyone.
The only power that the pulpit has is the power we humans have allowed
them to have by believing their lies and falling prey to their manipulating,
legalistic deceptive teachings of control. Whom the Son has set freed
is free indeed. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ," v. 23. How many times have
you used this verse as a witness tool not realizing that you were taking
it out of context and condemning people with it? Friends, the payment
for sin is death as long as you continue to fail to keep to the entire
law of Moses, if you are still trusting in the traditions of the old
dead law.
But if you have accepted and embraced that you are now dead to the law
of sin and death, and alive to God in Christ, then the end results is
eternal life through Jesus Christ. Christ brought us life and the given
law of Moses brought us death. Paul explains this in chapter 7 of Romans.
There is much to rejoice about in these first 6 chapters of Romans.
I could have gone more in-depth and said a whole lot more, but I need
to leave room for some thinking on your part, and encourage you to know
that there is no greater teacher than the Holy Spirit and if you want
to learn more, look to His truth and guidance.
To be continued...
Grace N Peace
Eddie Narvaez