Romans 6 - What Shall We Say Then?

At the end of chapter 5 Paul leaves us with the idea that where "sin increases, grace increases all the more," which naturally leads to the question of whether or not sin can be desirable, in an effort to make grace abound.  Paul deals with this immediately and decisively at the beginning of chapter 6.

Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! (v. 1-2)

Our old self was crucified with Christ (v. 6) so that the body of sin is dead.  We have been set free from sin (v. 7).  We must not offer our bodies to wickedness, but rather as servants to God and slaves to righteousness (v.13).  We are reminded that sin = death (v. 23).  

OK, so sin is bad and never to be embraced.  Got it.  Simple as that seems, why does it get more complicated as we live out our lives?  Why does sin hold appeal?  How do we become slaves of righteousness?  I'll be reading the next few chapters with those questions in mind.

Romans 5 -- So Much to Talk About

Continuing on the theme of chapter 4, that our right standing God comes only through faith in Christ, we see in the first couple verses of chapter 5 that we are "at peace with God" and that we have "gained access" to Him and His grace by faith. 

Then we took at two issues that become major themes in Paul's writing and the rest of the New Testament:

1.  Struggles and trials are to be embraced and celebrated.
2.  Our Heavenly Father's love for us must be absolutely off the charts amazing for Him to send His Son to be punished for our justification.  Verse 8 is a well-known, often quoted verse to that effect.

In verse 10 we are described as God's enemies.  And yet, the Son of God is offered as a sacrifice to save those enemies.  I picture a battlefield, and some soldier laying down his life and taking a bullet for someone on the other side of the battle lines.  But not just for someone on the other side, but actually EVERYONE across enemy lines.  It's crazy if you think about it.  But that's just it -- God's love for us is totally crazy from our worldly perspective, where we really have no idea how to love the way He does. 

Finally, Paul positions Jesus as the new Adam.  Jesus is the one through whom all can be made righteous, since through Adam all are born sinful.  And in verse 20, we see that where sin increases, the grace of God through Christ increases "all the more".  That's something of a controversial statement that Paul will address in chapter 6.

Romans 4 -- Justified by Faith

Paul makes it pretty clear that our right standing with God -- our righteousness and justification is a result of faith rather than actions/works on our part.  Using Genesis 15 and Abraham's story as a proof text, we see that "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 

So the teaching of the New Testament is that Abraham's righteousness came through faith (Romans 4:14), and interestingly, so does ours (v. 23-24).  Seems like good news to me.  So what's the catch?  Faith costs nothing, so right standing with God apparently is free.  So why doesn't it feel that way sometimes?  Why do I try to earn my way toward Him?  Why is my obvious unworthiness so discouraging? 

Where will Paul lead us from here? 

Romans 3 -- The Gospel Coming Into Focus

Paul's letter to the Romans is heavy, deep theology.  No doubt about that.  But sometimes I think it helps to simplify the message.  Here's what I see in chapter 3.

God is inherently good.  Men are inherently sinful.  No one can be declared righteous, or in right standing with God as a result of following His law, mostly since "all have sinned".  This is for Jews and Gentiles alike.  Finally, God provided an atoning sacrifice in the person of Jesus Christ, and we are justified only by faith in Him. 

Not too complicated.  See you next week.