Romanos 6:12-23

Romans 6:12-Isaiah : . The Christian’ s Severance from Sin.

Romans 6:12 f. The conflict turns on the possession of the body: sin and God both claim the use of your “ limbs” ; sin must not “ reign in your mortal body,” though that body is in death’ s domain ( Romans 7:25, Romans 8:10 f.; cf. Romans 5:21). With the new man “ living to God in Christ Jesus” ( Romans 6:11), his “ limbs must be presented for weapons of righteousness,” no longer to be plied against God ( cf. Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 6:18).

Romans 6:14 f. The plea for continuance in sin ( Romans 6:1), “ You are not under law but under grace,” is a conclusive argument against it; for this very reason “ sin shall not lord it over you.” Law inflames, grace kills the love of sin ( Romans 6:6; Romans 8:2-Joshua :).

Romans 6:16-Job : . Remember what happened in your conversion, the bonds you then took upon you. Now “ obedience” makes the “ bondman,” to this moral master or that ( Romans 6:16). There is no doubt whose “ slaves you were” aforetime ( Romans 6:17; Romans 6:19); but you “ have passed,” with full consent and intention, from sin’ s service to that of righteousness” ( Romans 6:18). The transference is complete and irrevocable.

Romans 6:19 a . Paul excuses the harsh reflection made on the past of men unknown to him: “ I speak to human experience, in view of your weak ( cf. Romans 5:6) sinful nature.”

Romans 6:19 b , Romans 6:20 . “ Iniquity” is “ for iniquity”— has no other end; “ the goal of righteousness” is “ sanctification.” Let the new service be as thorough as the old: “ when bondmen of sin, you renounced the claims of righteousness” ; there must be a complete reversal.

Romans 6:21 f. Look at the wages paid by the two masters: sin’ s shameful service yields “ the stipend” (as for soldiers cheated by fine promises) “ of death” ; God’ s service “ bears fruit in sanctification, crowned by life eternal.” Undeserved by us, this is “ God’ s grace-gift in Christ Jesus” ( cf. Romans 5:15, etc.).—“ What fruit therefore had you then, of the deeds that now cause you shame?” No fruit at all, unless shame be such!