Romans 6:12-23

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).

Romans 6:16. 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!