Friday 25 December 2009

Romans Chapter 7 – The Battle for Holiness

Posted in by JS Gillespie |
Notes from a message preached on Romans Chapter 7 - The Battle for Holiness by Dr J Stewart Gillespie There are 3 great enemies of the believer (James 3:15): 1.The World 2.The Flesh 3.The Devil Romans 6 the apostle speaks on the subject of consecration, of a life given over wholly to the service of God, particularly 6:12-20. As the apostle turns to look at impediments to that consecration in chap 7 it is to the flesh that he devouts this section to!
The Devil may well be a smarter enemy The world may well be a bigger enemy but The flesh is the weakest enemy and paradoxically therefore perhaps the most significant! The flesh provides the final common pathway for the attack of the other two: 1.If it were possible to remove the flesh then the Devil would be unable to gain a foothold in my life? Is that correct? Consider: “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” (Joh 14:30) 2.If it were possible to remove the world then the Devil would be unable to gain a foothold in my life? Is that correct? Consider: “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life...” (1Jo2:16) 3.If it were possible to remove the flesh then sin would be unable to gain a foothold in my life? Is that correct? Consider Rom 7:5, 23. The flesh then is the final common pathway of the world, sin and the Devil. A hit on the flesh scuppers the effects of all 3! One of the greatest discoveries, practically in the Christian life is that the battle to be fought is primarily internal rather than external. There is within my person – 2 distinct pulls: 1.Flesh – pulls to the physical, the material, the sensual, ties me to earth, self ward 2.Spirit – pulls to the spiritual, ties me to heaven, God centred The pursuit of the one is the persecution of the other Very practical, I need to sit down and analyse my behaviour and ask does this pursuit / behaviour promote the one or the other (6:13) That will empower me with a level of discernment beyond mere rules or 'what's the harm in it?' Gods desire for you is not simply to preserve you from committing gross evil but it is the active pursuit of holiness: 6:19,22. This appreciation of the battle is critical in the pursuit of holiness. The High Priest dressed in garments of glory and beauty had: (1)Written on his heart – on the breastplate, the names of the 12 children of Israel. Consider his sympathy. (2)Written on his shoulders – on 2 stones, the names of the 12 children of Israel. Consider his support. (3)Written on his head, upon his miter – holiness to the Lord. Here is the highest calling and ambition of the High Priest: Holiness. To miss that goal is to miss the point to our salvation! Not service, not sacrifice but sanctification!
Romans 7 then is the front line in the battle for holiness That front line is internal and not external If I view my spiritual battle as primarily external then I will pursue / be dominated by certain ideas:
1.Separatism – because – you are the problem, you are the hindrance to my spiritual growth – this is rarely the case. Often behind schism lies pride! You're my problem! Usually I'm my problem! 2.Monasticism – because – it is the problem – the world is the hindrance to my spiritual growth. 3.Exclusivism – because that teaching is the hindrance to my spiritual growth. 4.Mysticim – because the Devil and his emissaries are the hindrance to my spiritual growth. 5.If the problem is my flesh then what is the solution? Consecration to the Spirit (8:1). The world and the Devil, find a friend in the flesh. All the time you are trying to battle the flesh is selling you out, double dealing behind your back with the enemy! I need to start here! Depending upon how you view the battle determines how you go about the fight! If I view the battle as primarily external what I need is another meeting! If I view the battle as primarily internal what I need is to put into practice the things I heard at the last meeting. If I view the battle as external; I may be heard to say: 'great preacher, great meeting.' If I view the battle as internal; I am more likely to say: 'challenging message.' If I view the battle as external; I will be looking for the perfect church! If I view the battle as internal; I will be looking for a closer walk with Christ! In chapter 7 we move from: Death and sin in chapter 6 - death frees us from sin to Death and law in 7:1-4 - death frees us from law 3 sections in chapter 7: 1.Death and Law - Freedom (7:1-4) 2.Law and Flesh - Failure (7:5-13) 3.Flesh and Will - Frustration (7:14-25) Death and Law - Freedom (7:1-4) i.The Rule of Law (v1) "The law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth" - the principle stated The rule or dominion of law extends only to death, as does sin (Rom5:12) In eternity there is no sin and can be no sin for there is no law either! On the surface, a point that is straight forward enough! But the apostle seems to chose a very complex parable as the means of conveying this truth. So complex that some would suggest that Paul has bitten off more than he can chew! That he has mad a bit of a mess of the illustration! In the chapter the believer is freed (7:4), just like the woman but it isn't the woman who dies it is her husband! But the parable illustrates something more than just the basic truth! So some have said the parable is a bit mixed up! A kind of mixed metaphor! Maybe Paul has overstretched himself! Others holding to the inspiration of the Word of God wouldn't maybe just go as far as saying that but would perhaps tacitly acknowledge it by saying, 'don't look too deeply into the parable,' or perhaps that the parable is only meant to illustrate the basic truth, perhaps indicating that underneath the surface the whole illustration is a bit of a mess! But this is the inspired Word of God and "not one jot or title shall pass away" "the Word of God is living and powerful..." Interestingly there are plenty of simple examples that Paul could have used to illustrate his point that the rule of law extends only to death and then law has no more demands upon us: a)Ahithophel - was he ever called to account for betraying the Lord's anointed? No he wasn't! Why? He hung himself! b)Naomi's two sons were they ever dealt with by the law and put out of the congregation of Israel for marrying Moabite girls? No! Why? They both died in Moab! c)Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were they ever broad before the law for fornication? No! Why? They both died in battle! d)Samson and his fornication and adultery? But he doesn't chose a simple illustration, for as we shall see a simple example of this principle just would not have done, it would have been critically lacking in at least 2 perhaps 3 key areas. Pauls example illustrates at least 4 key principles: i.The Rule of law ii.The Release from Law iii.The Role of Relationship in the release from Law iv.The Result of Release from Law The Rule of Law (v1) "The law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth" - the principle states The rule or dominion of law extends only to death, as does sin (Rom5:12) The principle stated is simple enough The Release from Law (v2,4) Death releases me from the rule of law In the parable however the death is not my death, the death of the woman, but the death of another! Has Paul got mixed up? Actually this point is quite consistent with the context of Romans so far In chp 3+4 we came into blessing; the blessing of justification by faith, through death, the death of another! In chp 5 Divine Grace was poured out, through the death of another. In chp 6 our consecration to God was made possible because of our identification with Christ in His death – the death of another. Not only is it the case that death frees from the law but that death is significantly the death of another! Notice how that release by death occurs. Our simple illustrations would again be inadequate here. This is not release from the law in the same way that perhaps Hophni and Phinehas, Ahithophel, Naomis sons or Samson were released from the law. This is not the release of a guilty party because of the weakness of the law, unable to pursue the sinner beyond death. In our parable, significantly, it is the release of a guiltless individual who is now regarded as having fulfilled all legal obligations and death has now brought the claims of law to an end. This is the release of the righteous rather than the unrighteous! “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Co 5:21) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Rom 3:28) The Role of Relationship in the release from the law: My relationship with another who is dead to the law in certain exceptional circumstances can affect my status before the law too! The death of another to the law can release me! I think in the context of Roms 4 to 6 this is highly significant! The nature of that relationship is also very interesting: marriage relationship! Right the way through the NT scriptures the relationship between Christ and His church is consistently viewed as a marriage relationship: (Eph 5:24ff; Rev21). In verse 4 we are "dead to the law" but it is by the "body of Christ" - the death of another! Notice the logic of verse 4: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” Notice that nothing less than the “body of Christ” is needed to break me free from the demands of the law! The theme of redemption in scripture: the person of Christ, the work of Calvary, the sacrifice of the lamb, the sufferings of Christ (Ps22; Ps69; Isa53) all of this mighty work and sacrifice impacts upon my life at this point! To release me from that which binds me that I might be free to “bring forth fruit unto God.” What is this fruit? “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Rom 6:22)
Holiness is no add on to Christianity Holiness is no after thought on Gods part to Christian experience Holiness is the very essence of Christian experience! Holiness is the impression of Calvary upon my being! The Result of Release from the Law: In this complex parable of death releasing us from the law we see illustrated a point that could not be illustrated by a simple example of the death of the accused releasing him from the rule of law: (a)Ahithophel - what happened next? - Nothing he's dead. (b)Naomis' two sons - what happened next, after they were released from the law? Nothing - they were dead! (c)Eli's two sons - what happened to them next after they had been released from the law? Nothing - they were dead. But in the parable of Romans 7 after the release from the law there is a 'what happened next...' The woman released from the law is ready to move on and be married to another (7:4) And in our case: "that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (7:4) So this death is not simply an end but a beginning! Only because of the complex nature of this illustration is this point possible! Some take 7:1-4 to indicate that divorce and remarriage effectively exclude people from assembly fellowship (7:3) That interpretation sheds more light on the thinking of those who teach it than it does on the teaching of scripture on divorce and remarriage! The teaching in this section relative to the woman marrying another is whilst she is "bound by the law." There is no provision in the law for operation of Divine Grace. Those who draw their teaching on divorce and remarriage from this section likewise draw no provision from Divine Grace. The conclusion of this section brings us to our true standing today of being "dead to the law" (7:4) and in our dealings with men and women we must likewise recognise that there is likewise "therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." There is good indication elsewhere that people from a background of divorce and remarriage were received into assembly fellowship: 1 Tim2; 1 Co7, John 4. Salvation isn't the end it is the beginning! Once you are save, you haven't 'done it' but rather God has 'begun it.'
Wednesday 23 December 2009

Romans Chp 6 Verse 12 to 20 : 'Because I Serve Another'

Posted in by JS Gillespie |
Taken from a message preached on: Romans Chp 6 Vs 12 to 20 : 'Because I Serve Another' by Dr J Stewart Gillespie “Shall we continue in sin?” (Rom6:1) We considered 4 reasons:
1.We are Dead to Sin (6:1-6) 2.We are Alive to Christ (6:5-11) 3.Because I Serve Another (6:12-20) 4.Because Sin remains Sin (6:21-23) Because I Serve Another: It is instructive by way of contrast to compare Romans 6 with Deuteronomy 6. In Deut 6 why shouldn't I sin? Why shouldn't I serve other gods: Deut 6:13ff – reason not to sin – because God will wipe you out if you do (Deut 6:15) That's a good reason mark you! The theme continues in Deut 7:4; 11:13-17. The reason not to sin was really very clear! The OT scriptures don't only present the rod mind you they do also present the staff – leading us into blessing The bulk of Romans 6: verses 12 to 20, though deals with a positive reason not to sin. How do we “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” (6:11) Only by being: “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (6:11) If I am 'dead unto God' none of this will work. Sin will no longer “reign in your mortal body” (6:12) as I yield that body over to the practical service of and devotion to Christ (6:12-20) Being “dead indeed unto sin” (v11) means not giving sin its way / freedom to use our body for its purpose / ends (v12), not to allow sin to use me for its purposes, to achieve its goals, but rather to take my body and give it over to Gods service (v13) The best protection against sin is the practice of sanctification! The best defence is attack Amongst the armour of God in Eph 6 are the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel – not only defence but attack and progress! The best protection against sin is the practice of sanctification! What do I mean by sanctification? I mean being actively, positively as well as negatively being set apart for the service of God! (1)There's a man who struggles with alcohol. What are you going to tell him to do? Go to the pub with his pals and drink lemonade instead or go to the prayer meeting and pray fro the Spirits power to overcome the flesh? You see the different approach? That is the practice of sanctification: leaving the sin behind – the negative and cleaving to Christ – the positive!
(2)There's a sister who struggles with her relationship with another sister. What do you advise her to do? Avoid the sister? The world would advise that! How about pray for her? Positive sanctification. You're just making these up Stewart! This is the Biblical approach: “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12:20-21)
(3)There's a believer with a growing awareness that he is wasting a lot of his time on the TV / internet / Bebo / twitter / face book – what do you advise him to do? Switch off the TV / internet – that will just leave a gap that he may fill with something even less profitable! What did the Spirit counsel Timothy to do? “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1Ti 4:13-16). This is the positive practice of sanctification. The best protection against sin is the practice of sanctification! How do I begin then to reckon myself dead indeed unto sin (v11)? This is a deliberate exercise of the will! I need to do it! A man, his master, his motive and his members! Consider how the whole body is used in service: 1.Our master (6:12) – Our Head 2.Our mortal body (6:12) – Our Human Desires / Lusts of the Body 3.Our members (6:13) – Our Hands 4.Our motive (6:17-19) – Our Heart 1.Our master (6:12) – Our Head Know your master We can say no! We don't have to obey sin! Sometimes we do things because we have always done it! You don't have to! Who is in charge? Who is my master? There are only 2 possibilities: i.Sin (5:21) ii.Christ (5:21; 6:10,11) Who is my head in this action? The head controls the body – what the head says the body obeys, even when we don't want to: seizure, spasms, jerks, migraine There are 2 great spiritual realities which are above us, we do not control them rather we choose between them – Christ or Sin! Being “free from sin” and “dead to sin” we are now able to choose where before we had no choice I no more control sin and Satan than I control Christ and righteousness. There are many such examples in scriptures of men who thought they could control their sin but their sin controlled them:
i.Noah and his wine – Lost his dignity ii.Lot's wife and a love for the world – Lost her home, family and life iii.Achan and materialism – Lost his life iv.Solomon and his wives – Lost his Kingdom v.Israel and her idols – Lost the Glory of God vi.Judas and his love of money – Lost his soul Who exactly was in control? We have a great advantage here, we are able to look back on these biblical characters and take in the whole scope and panorama of their life! Our freedom lies in our ability to choose not in our freedom from the consequences of those decisions we make! 2.Our mortal body (6:12) – Our Human Desires Know your mortal body What is driving the activities of my mortal body? The body itself was created by God and has God given desires that are good and right: i.Appetite for food ii.Thirst iii.Sexual desires iv.Appreciation of beauty v.Love of art So all of these things are good aren't they? So surely we can just follow our desires can't we? The human body and its desires are not on 'automatic pilot' we are not computers preprogrammed and set to run automatically! Our bodies are subject to our human nature and that nature is a fallen human nature corrupted by sin – referred to as the “flesh” The flesh constantly pulls me in the direction of gratifying the natural desires of the body, those desires are physical and earth bound and keep me tied to earth. Only with conversion and the power of Gods Spirit can I rise any higher that the desire to simply satisfy the natural desires of the body and only with His Spirit do I really appreciate that there is anything beyond the material to aim for and desire! Rom 8:5-13 The desire and goal of the believer goes beyond simply enjoying the stimulation of bodily appetites satisfied: Rom 6:19, 22 – we have fruit to bring for God – our goal is “holiness”! Is it the flesh driven by “lust” which is using: i.My hands for its deeds? ii.My eyes for its satisfaction? iii.My lips for its message? Are these desires lusts or: i.Sinful desires (1 John2:16) ii.Selfish desires (James 4:1-4) iii.Satanic desires (Jo 8:44) iv.Sanctified desires 3.“Our members” (6:13) – Our Hands Know your members Think about what you do and why you do it! We often correctly regard laziness and slothfulness as an attribute worthy of condemnation and so it is: i.2 Thess 3:6ff ii.1 Tim 5:13ff iii.Prov 6:6: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” and because of that we then wrongly deduce that any business is a virtue! This section and other scriptures prompt us to look beyond mere activity. Not only what are we doing but what are we achieving? When I use my: i.Time ii.Treasure iii.Talents what am I actually achieving? Consider Mary and Martha (Lk10:38-42) Paradoxically when we apply the teaching of this section we may find that to be truly productive in the things of God we need to stop doing some things as we consider what they are actually achieving! I am a believer in that principle, of stopping service in a particular sphere as well as starting it! (Matt10:14; Mk6:11). “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin... your members as instruments of righteousness unto God... whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?...as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” (Rom 6:13-19) We are looking at outcome not only occupation! Outcome in terms of “righteousness” - does it promote righteousness and “holiness” - does it further my pursuit of deeper holiness to God and encourage others in their pursuit of holiness, and “unto God” - is it acceptable to God? But you say I am busy! Busy but barren? Tests of worth / value: 1.What is the cause of my actions / activities (6:12-13). Is sin and the flesh the cause or is God the cause of this kind of action / activity / these words? If an ungodly person would do what I am about to do, say what I am about to say, go about tackling the problem the way I am about to tackle it, it is probably sin and the flesh that is the cause of my actions rather than the Spirit of God. 2.What is the character of my actions? Could I categorise it as “righteous” (v13) and consistent with Gods Word (v18) or is it “unrighteous”? 3.What are the consequences of this action (v19)? Where does it lead to? Is it “unto iniquity” (v19) or is it “unto holiness” (v19). This is a profound truth that certain actions / activities / conversations/ language / behaviour / interests can draw me towards God, ie. They promote “holiness” and certain actions / activities / conversations/ language / behaviour / interests can draw me away from God: “unto iniquity.” “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?” (Psa 24:3) 4.What about the conclusion of these actions? Do they end in death and with death (v16,21) or do these actions have eternal and enduring consequences (v22)? There are some things I can engage in, in time that have consequences that endure for eternity: “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” (Luk 16:9) “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”(Mat 6:20) “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1Co 9:25) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”(1Th 2:19) “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”(2Ti 4:8) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”(Jas 1:12) “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”(1Pe 5:4) “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”(Rev 2:10) 4.Our motive (6:19) – Our Heart What is our purpose in this? Holiness (v19) What fruit have you? Is it fruit unto holiness? (v22) What fills my heart and drives me forward? The word is sown: “form of doctrine” Sown in the heart An army doesn't fight on an empty stomach To fight I need food The food for the fight is “that form of doctrine” Faulty doctrine results in faulty behaviour Satan attacks the doctrine and disables the believer
1 Samuel Chp 30 David finds an Egyptian in the field A strange incident – the Egyptian appears and then disappears from the pages of scripture What is it all about? There are too many pictures, patterns and prophecies of Christ links with David for it not to mean something! David is full pictures of Christ: i.1 Samuel 16: David “anointed” : “mâshîyach” from the Hebrew word Messiah ii.1 Samuel 16: David, now the anointed one, heads out to the valley of Elah: the valley of the oak tree iii.1 Samuel 16: David heads out to the valley of Elah with bread in one hand and wine in the other! iv.1 Samuel 16: oh yes and transport has been provided as he heads out to the valley of the oak tree: an ass (16:20) v.1 Samuel 17: at the valley of the oak tree David will meet Goliath of Gath, a giant of a monster, marked by 666 – 6 items of armour, the spears head weighing 600 shekels, his height 6 cubits and a span vi.1 Samuel 17: at the valley of the oak tree David will slay Goliath with his own sword (Heb 2:14). vii.1 Samuel 18: The victory in the valley of Elah brings him a bride: Michal viii.1 Samuel 19 - 31: Such a victory ought to bring David the throne but instead he now knows rejection ix.1 Samuel 19: David in rejection ascends to Naioth : 'the residence' in Ramah 'high place' x.1 Samuel 19: David having ascended to Naioth : 'the residence' in Ramah 'high place' there is a descent of the Holy Spirit and a pouring out of the Spirit of prophecy in 3 distinct waves xi.1 Samuel 25: David will call his bride by missionary endeavour announcing a 3 fold “peace” to those who are afar off by sending his representatives to Nabal (25:6) xii.1 Samuel 25: those like Abigail who have a heart for and an appreciation of David will respond with repentance (25:28) xiii.1 Samuel 25: Abigail exhorts the person, power, privilege and purpose of David in terms reminiscent of Psalm 110 (25:28) xiv.1 Samuel 30 – having called his bride in chp 25, David will now come for and claim his bride in chp 30. xv.2 Samuel 5 – David will be crowned with his bride and will reign over all of Israel after a gap of 7 years – difficult years of tribulation for Israel. It is hard in view of all these pictures and pointers to Christ to lack the desire to ask why and what is the purpose of this Egyptian in the field? This Egyptian, a man of the world , is found in a “field” in 1 Sam 30. The “field” sometimes occurs in the language of parables as a picture of the world (Matt 13) Consider the Egyptian and: 1.His master (6:12) 2.His mortal body (6:12) 3.His members (6:13) 4.His motive (6:19) The Egyptian is brought to David (30:11,12) David will: 1.Refresh his thirst with water to drink cf. John 4. 2.Feed his hunger with bread to eat cf. John 6. 3.Bring fruit; figs and raisins cf. John 15. This Egyptian has been left for dead by the Amalekites like the man left by the side of the road in the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke chp 10. This man has known death to the flesh and sin. There has been a gap of 3 days and 3 nights The phrase 3 days and 3 nights only occurs on 3 occasion in scripture: 1.Jonah 1:17 2.Matt 12:40 3.1 Sam 30:12 On the other 2 occasions it is linked with resurrection and specifically the resurrection of Christ, of which Jonah is a picture. This Egyptians death and burial and resurrection is then followed by Life at the hands of David, sustained by: 1.water to drink cf. John 4. 2.bread to eat cf. John 6. 3.fruit; figs and raisins cf. John 15. Do you think Amalek would ever have had a clue as to how David found them? I doubt it – for as far as Amalek were concerned that Egyptian was dead. This man had been left behind sick (30:13) and with no food and water (30:12) – he had been left to die! Is this not how the world still leaves us? This Egyptian was once a “servant” of the Amalekites (30:13): i.“we made an invasion” (30:14) ii.“we burned Ziklag” (30:14) Now that he is restored to life and brought back by david will he return to serve Amalek? This man sees a change of status from serving Amalek to serving David. Not only will he serve David but he will destroy Amalek (30:15-17) I don't continue in sin because: I am happy not to sin. https://graceinchrist.org/romans
Tuesday 15 December 2009

Romans Chapter 6 Verse 6 : 'The Body of Sin'

Posted in by JS Gillespie |
Taken from a message preached by Dr J Stewart Gillespie:


In response to the question of Roms 6:1 “shall we continue in sin?” we saw 4 reasons why we should not continue in sin:

1.We are dead to sin
2.We are alive to God
3.We no longer serve sin – we serve God
4.Sin remains sin

1.because I'm dead to Sin (6:1-7)

What does it mean to be “dead to sin”?
Does it mean to be unresponsive to sin?

Dead people are unresponsive, aren't they?
In this case then the bulk of Roms 6 would be redundant – the middle section (6:12-20) and 3rd reason for not sinning (cf. Vs 11-13).
If we were “dead to sin” in the sense of being unresponsive to sin there would be no possibility of : “yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin” (v13) and we would hardly require to “reckon” ourselves “dead indeed unto sin” for we would be “dead indeed” (6:11) unto sin!
Be careful what you use to interpret the scriptures!
Personal experience, common sense or even a reliable medical text book is not appropriate!
We only have Divine warrant for using scripture to interpret scripture (1Co2:13; 2 Tim2:15; Rom15:4; 2Peter1:19) guided by the Spirit of God (John 16:13; 1Jo2:27)
This death is positional 'in Christ' (Rom6:3, 5, 6, 8)
What is the significance of being “dead to sin”?
Death is the boundary line for the rule of 'king sin' (5:21)
I have been taken out of the realm / rule / reign of sin by the death of Christ
I am no longer under the absolute authority of King Sin
Every Kingdom has a boundary and the boundary of sin is death (Rom5:21)
By virtue of my position in Christ I am “dead to sin”

Man in creation was able to sin
Man after the fall was unable not to sin
Man in redemption is able not to sin
Man in eternity is unable to sin

I don't continue in sin because:
1 - I don't have to sin
2 - because I'm alive to God (6:8-11)

We saw that we were definitely dead in Roms 6:

(a)v2 - “dead”
(b)v3 - “baptised” + “dead”
(c)v4 - “buried” + “baptised” + “dead”

We are definitely dead!
This seemed a rather strange thought until we realised that in fact it was a very familiar truth but viewed from an unusual perspective – from the back!
We noticed a transition in v5: “planted” - that's burial with a future!
To be dead to sin is the other side of being alive to God!
We though that we ought to stretch ourselves a little and try to understand what this meant practically!
Keeping my feet firmly planted on earth what does this actually mean?
We looked at 2 Kings 4 and the son of the Shunammite

I see through His eyes:

This gives the believer a different perspective on others!
Isn't it amazing how callous the unsaved can be about others?
Referring to some as useless, as the dregs of society, as a waste of space and finding individuals to look down their nose at.
We look at others not through the eyes of the critic but through the eyes of Christ!
This would revolutionise fellowship in the local assembly.

I speak with His lips

I work with His hands:

Some things I just do not see, I cannot imagine the hands of Christ turning to:

Dealing drugs
Rolling a joint
Holding a can of beer
Punching someone's lights out
Filling in a lottery form
Flicking through a pornographic magazine

Then we turned to Colossians chp 3 and we saw that it wasn't just vivid imagination on my part that saw in the hands, eyes and mouth of the resurrected lad of 2 Kings 4 a picture of our dependence upon Christ as the source of life for our new life but rather these are the very features of a NT believer whose life is given over to Christ!
I don't continue in sin because:
I don't like to sin.

These 4 reasons for not continuing in sin are not an unconnected 'list' but rather they follow on from one another in a logical spiritual order.
We have seen already the connection between the 1st 2 reasons – they are really just opposite sides of the same reason!
Between the first 2 reasons and the last reasons there is a crossroads: 6:6.
An important verse and perhaps the most difficult verse in the chapter.
If we fail to understand this verse:

i.we will miss the connection between these reasons
ii.we will fail to see the chapter as one integral whole and probably only see a load of disjointed thoughts
iii.we will most likely fail to understand the reason why we ought not to serve sin any longer
iv.we will miss the main reason in Roms 6 behind our sanctification ie. The reason 'WHY' we ought not to sin.
v.we will probably thus find that our own personal holiness will suffer – if we lack a reason for holiness we will lack motivation to holiness!



Romans 6:6 presents a complete view of holiness:

1.Past: “our old man was crucified”
2.Present: “that henceforth we should not serve sin”
3.Future: “that the body of sin might be destroyed”

Notice in this list I have given these tenses in their chronological order, according to time but this is different from the order in the verse!
Herein lies to key to understanding the verse!
Paul gives us 2 great events – past and future, consider what has happened in the past “our old man was crucified” and consider what will happen in the future: “that the body of sin might be destroyed” and now live your life in the light of that!
The believer lives out his life between what has been completed and what will be completed and ought to make intelligent decisions in the light of these 2 great events!


1.“the old man” - What we were before we were saved, our old life as ruled by the flesh drawing us to constantly live a life taken up with satisfying the apetites of the body, lusts of the flesh and the cares of this world (Eph 4:22; Col3:9)


2.“that the body of sin might be destroyed” - is this:

(a)Sin Personified – Sin viewed as a person dieing on the cross? - John Calvin and Hodge, JN Darby all had this view of the verse – that in this verse I am looking back at Calvary, I see Christ hanging on the cross, I see Him dieing for my sins (Col 2:14) and I see their my sins hanging with Him, judged at Calvary.

Sin was certainly judged at Calvary but we notice:

i.That in vs 1-5 and again in vs 7,8 it is not sin that dies but me!

ii.If sin died or was crucified at Calvary would this be a reason for not allowing it to “reign in your mortal body” (v12) or to no longer “serve sin” (6:6)? Surely if sin was crucified at Calvary there is no longer any sin to serve for it is dead! I would expect the argument in the rest of the section to be: 'don't serve sin because sin is dead' but actually the argument is that I ought not to serve sin because I am dead!

iii.The means of destroying the body of sin was by crucifying “the old man” - would crucifying my old pre-christian life really bring about the death of sin itself? People die of cancer every day but that doesn't bring an end to cancer itself!


(b)Sin Neutralised - The Power of Sin over the Body? - Promoted by Albert Leckie and James Currie.

i.This interpretation immediately runs into a problem with the word “destroyed” because if this interpretation is correct the power of sin has been “destroyed” over the body, this is practically untrue! So these interpretors tend to change the translation of the verse to “anulled” - a valid translation elsewhere of this word when used in a legal sense elsewhere in Romans (Rom 3:3; 3:31; 4:14; 7:2) but perhaps not in a very similar contexts in 1 Corinthians (1 Co6:13). Even if we do translate the word as annulled we still have a problem as to what we mean by annulled. Here the commentators become a bit unstuck: 'Because the old man has been, in the reckoning of God judicially put to death as the result of the death of Christ, sin's power has 'been made of none effect' in relation to the believer. Henceforth he need not, he should not, serve sin...' (James B Currie p101) – actually if Mr Curries interpretation is correct it is hardly a case of 'need not' or 'should not' serve sin it would be really a case of 'cannot' serve sin!

ii.This interpretation seems to take inadequate account of the word “body” - the object of the destruction is not “sin” but the “body of sin”

iii.As already mentioned it is not “sin” that dies in any of the surrounding verses but rather self (6:2-5, 7-8,11).

iv.What is the effect of Calvary on my present human body? This interpretation suggests that Calvary liberates the body and frees it from sin. If this is the case how do we explain Rom 8:10 which seems to suggest that Calvary instead of liberating the convict puts him on death row! There is sin back again, the same sin that supposedly was 'anulled' at Calvary and it has killed the body!


(c)Sin Externalised- The Body as the instrument of sin

i.“body” has its usual meaning – the human body!

ii.At Calvary and by the work of Christ, sin was dealt with, a completed work completely saves (Heb10:14)

iii.In our experience we already see the fruit and consequences of that work, for from conversion we are the recipients of:

(1)A new heart (Ezek 36:26; Heb8:10)
(2)A new spirit (Ezek 36:26; John 3:5)
(3)A new mind (Heb8:10; Rom 12:2)
(4)A new creature (2 Co 5:17)
(5)There remains only one part of my being which has not been renewed by Calvary – my body! All that is left untouched from Adam. This too must one day be changed! A body once used to serve sin will be replaced by one fitted to serve Christ (1Co15:42-50). This new body comes as a consequence of Christ's resurrection, the subject of the previous verse (5:11).
iv.The effect of Adam is seen in tracing sin through Romans. From Rom1:1 to 5:11 there are 9 refs to sin, from 5:12-21 there are 9 refs to sin, in chp 6 there are 17 ref to sin and in chp 7, 15 ref to sin. With the introduction of Adam in 5:12 there is in Romans an explosion of sin!
v.The “body of sin” thus refers to my literal body, used to pursue the desires of the flesh and corrupted by sin. Calvary first condemns this body as it does condemn the whole of the person corrupted by sin: body, heart, mind, soul and spirit (Rom8:10), before the saving work of Calvary then renews the person, one day to complete that renewal with a new body (1Co15:42-50).
vi.Therefore I am currently a 'new creature' in a condemned house. A regenerate person in a degenerate body. This leaves me with a question: how should I live? As though the house was not condemned, pretending that there is life in the old man yet? Pretending that all of those activities I once indulged in with my body actually and finally achieve anything? Or do I live not for the old body now dead because of sin but rather I live for the new self who does have a future, unlike the old body? It is this that forms the crossroads between the 1st 2 and the last 2 reasons of Romans 6 for not continuing in sin.

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