The Source of New Life (Romans 5:20 - 6:23)

(Class Notes)

• The Reign of Sin vs. The Reign of Grace (5:20 - 6:5)
  • The Law and Sin vs. Grace and Righteousness (5:20-21)
    • "The LAW entered that the OFFENCE might abound" (5:20):
      • The "OFFENCE", i.e. Adam's COVENANT TRANSGRESSION (5:17-18 cf. 5:14; Hosea 6:7 **)
        • ** "MEN" = Hebrew ('adam), i.e. "ADAM"
      • The LAW was a MARRIAGE COVENANT between God and Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-32 cf. Exodus 24:7-8)
      • The "OFFENCE" did indeed "ABOUND" under the LAW - "But we are ALL as an UNCLEAN thing, and ALL our RIGHTEOUSNESSES (plural) are as FILTHY RAGS" (Isaiah 64:6 cf. Deuteronomy 6:25)
    • "But where SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND" (5:20):
      • Note the TESTIMONY of the APOSTLE OF GRACE who was BEFORE "the CHIEF OF SINNERS" (I Timothy 1:12-16 cf. Acts 9:13-16)
      • Although "the LEAST OF the APOSTLES", but yet "BY the GRACE of God ... LABOURED MORE ABUNDANTLY THAN they ALL" (I Corinthians 15:9-10 cf. II Corinthians 11:23-28)
    • UNDER the LAW, "SIN ... REIGNED UNTO DEATH" (5:21):
      • The LAW was "the MINISTRATION of DEATH" (II Corinthians 3:7 cf. Leviticus 20:2,27; Deuteronomy 22:21,24)
      • The LAW was "the MINISTRATION of CONDEMNATION" (II Corinthians 3:9 cf. Deuteronomy 31:26) and, thereby, pronouncing ALL GUILTY OF SIN (3:19-20)
    • GRACE, REIGNS "through RIGHTEOUSNESS unto ETERNAL LIFE" (5:21):
      • SIN should have NO DOMINION OVER THOSE who are "NOT UNDER the LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE" (6:14)
      • LOVE is a FAR MORE POWERFUL motivator THAN FEAR (II Timothy 1:7)
        • With the LAW there was FEAR OF JUDGMENT (8:15 cf. Deuteronomy 28:58)
        • With GRACE there is the SECURITY OF ABIDING LOVE (II Corinthians 13:14 cf. I Timothy 1:14)
      • UNDER GRACE, FAITH AWAITS "the HOPE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Galatians 5:4-6), i.e. He WHO LIVES WITHIN each believer (Romans 8:9-10)
  • Grace - Dead to Sin by Baptism inti Christ (6:1-5)
    • QUESTION - the MORE SIN, the MORE GRACE? (6:1):
      • Since "where SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND" (5:20) - then should we "CONTINUE IN SIN, THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND"? (6:1)
      • This was indeed the case of those who were "PUFFED UP" and "GLORYING" (I Corinthians 5:2,6) IN an EXCEEDING GROSS SIN (I Corinthians 5:1)
        • They were STERNLY REBUKED FOR their ERROR (I Corinthians 5:3-5)
        • They were SOBERLY REMINDED that GOD WILL JUDGE THE WORLD FOR ITS SINS AT THE APPEARING OF HIS KINGDOM (I Corinthians 6:9-10 cf. Ephesians 5:5-6; Revelation 11:15,19)
        • Finally, it is BY His MERCY and GRACE - that the BELIEVER has been "WASHED ... SANCTIFIED ... JUSTIFIED" - IN CHRIST (I Corinthians 6:11 cf. Titus 3:5; II Timothy 1:9)
    • ANSWER - "GOD FORBID" (6:2):
      • The TRUTH ABOUT GRACE is that HOW can one who is "DEAD TO SIN, LIVE ANY LONGER THEREIN?" (6:2)
    • "DEAD TO SIN" (6:2) by having been "BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST" (6:3):
      • This BAPTISM is an IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST (6:3-5 cf. Colossians 2:11-12)
        • In His DEATH (6:3) - "UNTO SIN" (6:10)
        • In His BURIAL (6:4)
        • In His RESURRECTION - UNTO "NEWNESS OF LIFE" (6:4)
      • Just as BELIEVERS have been "PLANTED TOGETHER in the LIKENESS of HIS DEATH" - so shall they "be also in the LIKENESS of HIS RESURRECTION" (6:5 cf. Ephesians 2:5-6) - and so God sees EACH BELIEVER as having been ALREADY GLORIFIED (8:30)
      • The BAPTISM of BELIEVERS INTO CHRIST'S DEATH (6:3-5 cf. Colossians 2:11-12) is LIKENED TO the BAPTISM of ISRAEL UNTO MOSES THROUGH the WATERY GRAVE OF the EGYPTIANS (I Corinthians 10:1-2 cf. Exodus 14:26-31)

• Crucified to Sin and Alive unto Righteousness (6:6-14)
  • "KNOW" (6:6-10)
    • "KNOWING this, that our OLD MAN is CRUCIFIED WITH HIM" (6:6):
      • The "OLD MAN" is the "FIRST MAN" (ADAM) who was made a "LIVING SOUL" (I Corinthians 15:45 cf. Genesis 2:7) - he had a "NATURAL", i.e. "SOULISH" BODY (I Corinthians 15:44) which was "OF THE EARTH, EARTHY" (I Corinthians 15:47 cf. Genesis 2:7 & 3:19)
      • The "SECOND MAN" (CHRIST) "is the LORD FROM HEAVEN" (I Corinthians 15:47 cf. John 3:13), Who as "the FIRSTFRUITS of THEM THAT SLEPT" (I Corinthians 15:20) - is also the MAKER of "the SPIRITUAL BODY", i.e. the GOD CENTERED BODY (I Corinthians 15:44) - in which there is NO POSSIBILITY FOR SIN - for it will be "FASHIONED LIKE UNTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY" (Philippians 3:21)
      • The "OLD MAN" was "CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, that the BODY OF SIN might be DESTROYED" (6:6 cf. 8:9-10) "that HENCEFORTH we should NOT SERVE SIN" (6:6 cf. 8:11-12)
      • "For he that is DEAD, is FREED FROM SIN" (6:7 cf. Galatians 5:24)
      • "NOW if we be DEAD WITH CHRIST, we believe that we SHALL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM" (6:8 cf. 8:13) - for HIS LIFE IS OUR LIFE (Colossians 3:4-5)
    • "KNOWING that CHRIST being RAISED FROM THE DEAD DIETH NO MORE" (6:9):
      • "CHRIST DIED unto sin ONCE" (6:10) and so "DEATH has NO MORE DOMINION OVER HIM" (6:9): "and in that HE LIVETH, HE LIVETH unto God" (6:10)
      • It was the RESURRECTED CHRIST (I Corinthians 15:21-22), i.e. "the LAST ADAM", that "was MADE a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT" (I Corinthians 15:45 cf. John 7:37-39; Isaiah 12:2-3)
      • The LIVING MEMBERS of CHRIST'S BODY "have been ALL made to DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT" (I Corinthians 12:13)
  • "RECKON" (6:11-12)
    • "RECKON yourselves ... DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, BUT ALIVE UNTO GOD" (6:11):
      • What is TRUE OF CHRIST is also TRUE OF US - "DIED UNTO SIN ... LIVETH UNTO GOD" (6:10)
      • FAITH AWAITS by Christ's Spirit - the MANIFESTATION of "the HOPE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Galatians 5:5), i.e. the RESURRECTION LIFE OF CHRIST (II Corinthians 4:10-11)
      • "RECKON" is a "FAITH" term that means to "FULLY COUNT ON" - in this case, our IDENTIFICATION ("BAPTISM") with the DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION OF CHRIST (6:3-4, Ephesians 2:5-6, Colossians 2:11-12)
    • "LET NOT SIN therefore REIGN IN your MORTAL BODY" (6:12):
      • This will ONLY be TRUE - IF we "WALK IN THE SPIRIT" Galatians 5:16)
      • This SPIRIT "WALK" is a FAITH "WALK" (Galatians 5:5) which PROMISES "ye SHALL NOT FULFILL the LUST OF the FLESH" (Galatians 5:16)
      • It is CHRIST'S SPIRIT that is ABLE TO - DELIVER us FROM the FLESH AND ITS LUST (Galatians 5:17), i.e. FREE us FROM "the LAW of SIN and DEATH" (8:2) in our "MEMBERS" (7:23)
      • To FOLLOW the SPIRIT'S LEADING is to NOT PLACE SELF UNDER the LAW (Galatians 5:18)
  • "YIELD" (6:13-14)
    • "YIELD (PRESENT) ... your MEMBERS as INSTRUMENTS of RIGHTEOUSNESS" (6:13 cf. 12:1):
      • We who HAVE CHRIST'S SPIRIT - also HAVE HIS LIFE (8:9-10)
      • It is CHRIST'S SPIRIT that is ABLE TO "QUICKEN (MAKE ALIVE)" our "MORTAL BODIES" unto RIGHTEOUSNESS (8:10-11)
    • "SIN shall NOT HAVE DOMINION over you ... ye are NOT UNDER the LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE" (6:14):
      • UNDER the LAW, "SIN REIGNED UNTO DEATH" (5:20)
      • "For what the LAW COULD NOT DO, in that it was WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH" (8:3)
      • Therefore, "GOD SENT HIS OWN SON in the LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH" and "FOR SIN, CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH" OF HIS SON (8:3) - "ON THE TREE" (I Peter 2:24)
      • He did this so that we who "WALK AFTER THE SPIRIT" and "NOT AFTER THE FLESH" might FULFILL "the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF the LAW" (8:4) - "by the GRACE OF GOD" (I Corinthians 15:10), according "to HIS WORKING ... MIGHTILY" in us (Colossians 1:29)

• The Servants of Sin vs. The Servants of Righteousness (6:15-23)
  • Question concerning Service (6:15-18)
    • QUESTION - should the believer SIN being NOT UNDER the LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE? (6:15):
      • Previously asked - DOES SIN GLORIFY GRACE? (6:1)
      • Previously answered - "GOD FORBID" (6:2)
        • WHY? Because the believer's BAPTISM INTO CHRIST (6:3-4) makes the believer "DEAD TO SIN" in the sight of God (6:2)
      • SAME ANSWER concerning SERVING SIN UNDER GRACE - "GOD FORBID" (6:15)
        • WHY? Because SIN "REIGNED UNTO DEATH" (5:21) - "UNDER the LAW" (6:14)
        • WHY? Because GRACE REIGNS "THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE" (5:21)
    • SERVICE - the RENDERING OF OBEDIENCE TO a MASTER (6:16):
      • OBEDIENCE OF SIN UNTO DEATH (6:16), i.e. the experience of the "CARNALLY MINDED" (8:6)
      • OBEDIENCE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS (6:16), i.e. the experience of the "SPIRITUALLY MINDED" - "LIFE and PEACE" (8:6)
    • THANKSGIVING - for the believer's CHANGE OF SERVANTHOOD (6:17-18):
      • IN THE PAST - "SERVANTS OF SIN" (6:17 cf. Ephesians 2:2-3)
      • BUT NOW - "FREE FROM SIN ... "SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" (6:18 cf. 6:6-10)
      • WHY the CHANGE? Because they "OBEYED FROM the HEART" the DOCTRINE that was delivered into them (6:17)
        • "God ... hath SHINED IN our HEARTS ... the LIGHT OF the KNOWLEDGE OF the GLORY OF God in the FACE OF ... CHRIST" (II Corinthians 4:6)
        • "MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISIONS and OFFENCES CONTRARY TO the DOCTRINE which ye have LEARNED; and AVOID THEM" (16:17), i.e. those who "would PERVERT the GOSPEL OF CHRIST" (Galatians 1:7) concerning "the GRACE OF CHRIST" (Galatians 1:6)
  • Exhortation concerning Service (6:19-23)
    • Addressing the WEAKNESS OF the FLESH (6:19):
      • It was the LAW that REVEALED the WEAKNESS OF the FLESH, i.e. OF "SINFUL FLESH" (8:3)
      • "The LAW OF SIN which is IN MY MEMBERS" (7:23; James 4:1)
      • BEFORE the time of SAVING FAITH (Ephesians 2:4-5), our "MEMBERS" were "SERVANTS TO UNCLEANNESS AND TO INQUITY" (6:19; Ephesians 2:2-3)
      • BUT NOW, with the "SPIRIT OF CHRIST", our "MEMBERS" are able to be "SERVANTS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS" through the INDWELLING "SPIRIT OF CHRIST" (8:9-11) - "BY FAITH" (Galatians 5:4-6)
    • BEFORE the time of SAVING FAITH (Ephesians 2:4-5), being "SERVANTS OF SIN ... FREE FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS" (6:20):
      • We were "DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS" (Ephesians 2:1) and "were BY NATURE the CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as others" (Ephesians 2:3)
      • There was NO "FRUIT ... IN THOSE THINGS WHEREOF ... NOW ASHAMED" (6:21)
        • WHY? Because "the END THEREOF are the WAYS OF DEATH" (Proverbs 14:12)
      • "BUT NOW ... MADE FREE FROM SIN and BECOME SERVANTS TO GOD" we can "HAVE FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS" and UNTO "EVERLASTING LIFE" (6:22; Galatians 6:6-9)
    • "For the WAGES OF SIN is DEATH: but the GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS our Lord" (6:23):
      • The "WAGES OF SIN" is ETERNAL "DEATH" (6:23), i.e. the "SECOND DEATH" (Revelation 20:14)
        • WHY? Because the JUDGMENT is "ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS" (Revelation 20:12) and, thus, they were "NOT FOUND written IN the BOOK OF LIFE" (Revelation 20:15)
      • The "GIFT OF GOD" is "ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" (6:23)
        • WHY is ETERNAL LIFE the "GIFT OF GOD"? Because it was PAID FOR BY the BLOOD OF CHRIST (3:24-26; Acts 20:28)
        • WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE? TO "KNOW ... the ONLY TRUE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST, Whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3)
        • WHY IS THAT SO? "For as the FATHER HATH LIFE IN HIMSELF, SO HATH HE GIVEN the SON TO HAVE LIFE IN HIMSELF" (John 5:26)

Study Outline

The Reign of Sin vs. The Reign of Grace (5:20 - 6:5)

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Crucified to Sin and Alive unto Righteousness (6:6-14)

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The Servants of Sin vs. The Servants of Righteousness (6:15-23)

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