Choose this Day....

1. The Next Major Question and Answer—Rom 6:15 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

a. Chapters 6 and 7 of Romans are dominated by several questions, in particular five major questions, and this is the second one: Rom 6:1-26:15, 7:7, 7:13, 7:24

b. Again, the basic question: shall grace make us sin, or shall grace give us license to sin?
(1) Some say that grace salvation doctrine gives license to sin.
(2) that grace makes Christianity conduct-neutral (explain)
(3) The truth is, that true grace makes us sensitive to and aware of our sin.

c. But the language reveals a shift in emphasis that is crucial to understanding
(1) In Rom 6:1, the verb tense is the present tense—so the question asked is “…shall we continue in a life of sin?”
(2) Rom 6:15 is much stronger. The verb is an aorist subjunctive, and Paul thereby is saying, “…shall we freely give in to sin, even occasionally?”
(3) AT Robertson says the question really amounts to this: “…Surely, the objector says, we may take a night off now and then and sin a little bit “since we are under grace.”
d. Therefore, the answer to the question is, again, NO!


2. The Axiom that explains everything—6:16

a. What is an axiom? A law or principle for which no proof is required—it is just plainly true.

b. Know Ye Not…. This is common knowledge type stuff—anyone on earth should know this principle.

(1) If a criminal surrenders, he has given up his freedom.
(2) If a young person enlists in the military, they have given up much of their freedom.
(3) If you take a job with a company, you have agreed to follow their rules and regulations.
(4) If a soldier on the battlefield surrenders, he has submitted himself to the will of his enemy. And A formal surrender is not needed. If you obey someone, you have made yourself their servant.
(5) Example from business—if you yield to your boss’ dishonest suggestion, then you are stuck from then on out, because he has something on you.
(6) The way that government people and soldiers have been trapped by spies is to first do this little favor, then that one, and then they are hooked.
(7) If you yield to an addictive drug, it then has you as a slave.
(8)
c. The question is, whose servant are YOU?
(1) Are you a servant of death?
(2) Are you a servant of righteousness?
(3) Even taking a night off to sin will yield a great amount of difficulty, and can end up being a devastation and devouring, as with David.
(4) Prov 5:7-14


3. The Way Of Salvation--Rom 6:17 "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

a. Thank God, first of all
(1) How You Are Saved—by Him and by Him alone—that is why He is thanked! See 1 Cor 1:4, 1 Thes 1:2-10
(2) You are saved because of God, and because of Him alone
(3) Why you cannot save yourself, in whole or in part—
(a) A lost person has no capacity to respond to God. 1 Cor 2:14
(b) A lost person has no interest in seeking God. Rom 3:9-12

b. What You Were—You were (imperfect tense—continual, but in times past) slaves to sin
c. Heart Salvation—but you have obeyed from the heart (aorist)
(1) Obeyed—God commands repentance and faith, and we must give—Acts 17:30-31
(2) Rom 10:8-13

d. How is it then that a dead, blind, hard, heart believes? We have a real problem here—Acts 8:37. As natural men and women, we do not have control of our hearts—they are spiritually dead. The New Testament talks about blinded hearts, darkened hearts, and hardened hearts. Eph 4:18, Jer 17:9-10, Acts 2:37, Acts 16:14

e. Saved by doctrine—

(1) Rom 6:17, 1 Cor 15:1-11,
(2) The form of words—
(a) 2 Tim 1:13, 2 Tim 2:1-2, Col 1:23, Col 2:7, 1 Tim 3:9

f. These doctrines were “delivered” (aorist) at the right time, to be used once for all—Jude 3, 4

4. He died to make us Holy—Rom 6:18

a. First, the two key words in this verse are not “sin” and “righteousness” they are “made free” and “became.”
(1) They are both aorist participles
(2) They are both in the passive mood
(3) So what? This means that they were made free and became holy by some act and Actor outside of them
b. First, we were freed at a point in time
c. We were slaves to sin, now we are no more
d. This freedom took effect in each of our lives as the instant of justification
e. At that same instant, we became servants of righteousness—now we must come to know it, reckon it, and do it.
f. AT Robertson—“…there is no middle ground …in this war…”

5. Paul Explains the analogy again—6:19

a. He essentially apologizes for using slavery as an example, then bores in on the fact
b. The word is very appropriate, with “habitual” sins, addictions, and proud self-sufficiency reigning in so many lives today
(1) Servants to uncleanness
(2) Patently true in sexual sins, in drunkenness, and all fleshly sins, especially in slaves like drug addicts.

c. He is saying: “Give it up, but give it up to God!
d. Instructions—
(1) Just like the old master, yet not at all really like him—
(2) Yield to God!