ROMANS CHAPTER 6

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

You will notice that verse 6:1 refers to a point made in chapter five, so we will begin there and move into chapter 6:

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Immediately below is an excerpt that reviews this context in chapter 5 or

Skip to verse 6:1

********* EXCERPTS FROM CHAPTER 5 *******

BY GOD'S DESIGN LAW CAME SO THAT MEN MIGHT BE CONSCIOUS OF SIN AND THEREBY TRESPASSES AGAINST LAW MIGHT INCREASE THUS EXPOSING MAN'S SIN NATURE FOR WHAT IT IS. HENCE SIN HAS REIGNED PRODUCING PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH / SEPARATION FROM DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SO MUCH THE MORE WHERE SIN ABOUNDS, GOD'S GRACE IS DEMONSTRATED AS ABOUNDING ALL THE MORE AND REIGNING IN THE LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPRESS A MOMENT OF FAITH IN THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME FROM JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

a) [Compare Ro 3:19-20]:

b) [Compare Ro 4:15]:

BY GOD'S DESIGN LAW CAME SO THAT MEN MIGHT BE CONSCIOUS OF SIN AND THEREBY TRESPASSES AGAINST LAW MIGHT INCREASE THUS EXPOSING MAN'S SIN NATURE FOR WHAT IT IS. HENCE SIN HAS REIGNED PRODUCING PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH / SEPARATION FROM DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SO MUCH THE MORE WHERE SIN ABOUNDS, GOD'S GRACE IS DEMONSTRATED AS ABOUNDING ALL THE MORE AND REIGNING IN THE LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPRESS A MOMENT OF FAITH IN THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME FROM JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD UNTO ETERNAL LIFE, (cont.)

*********** END OF EXCERPTS FROM CHAPTER 5 *******

I) [Ro 6:1]:

A) PAUL ASKS THE BELIEVER WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN IN VIEW OF GOD'S EVER ABOUNDING GRACE COVERING MAN'S EVER INCREASING SINS

B) THE QUESTION IS THEN ASKED, 'SHALL WE BELIEVERS REMAIN IN SIN, I.E., LEAD A LIFESTYLE OF SIN IN SUBJECTION TO THE REIGN OF THE INTRINSIC SIN NATURE?

C) SINCE GOD'S GRACE COVERS THE BELIEVER'S SINS THE BELIEVER IS ETERNALLY SECURE

D) SHALL BELIEVERS CONTINUE IN SIN, I.E., REMAIN UNDER THE REIGN OF THE SIN NATURE SO THAT GOD'S GRACE TO COVER THEIR SINS MAY INCREASE

II) [Ro 6:2]:

A) PAUL USES THE STRONGEST OF NEGATIVES TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, 'ARE WE BELIEVERS TO REMAIN IN SIN THAT GRACE MAY BE ABOUNDING?'

B) BELIEVERS HAVE DIED TO, I.E., HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY - FROM THE SLAVERY TO - THEIR OLD SIN NATURES IN THEIR DAILY LIVES

1) [Compare Ro 6:6]:

II cont.) [Ro 6:2]:

C) HAVING DIED TO SIN, I.E., THE SIN NATURE DOES NOT SIGNIFY THAT THE SIN NATURE NO LONGER EXISTS, NOR THAT IT NO LONGER CAN HAVE INFLUENCE OVER THE BELIEVER

D) A QUESTION IS PHRASED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ELICIT THE ANSWER THAT THE BELIEVER WILL NOT BE LIVING UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SIN NATURE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM ITS CONTROL OVER HIM

III) [Ro 6:3]:

A) ALL BELIEVERS WERE BAPTIZED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, I.E., IDENTIFIED WITH & PLACED INTO CHRIST JESUS ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO RECEIVING THE BENEFITS BROUGHT ABOUT BY HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS

B) THE BELIEVER'S POSITION IS ONE OF BEING PLACED INTO CHRIST JESUS AND PLACED INTO HIS DEATH VIA HOLY SPIRIT, NOT WATER BAPTISM

III cont.) [Ro 6:3 cont.]:

C) THE BELIEVER HAS BEEN PLACED INTO THE DEATH OF CHRIST THROUGH HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM SUCH THAT HE HAS RECEIVED THE PAYMENT FOR AND FORGIVENESS OF HIS SINS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

1) [Compare Ro 3:21-24]:

D) HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM IS EXCLUSIVELY DONE TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL BY GOD AND GOD ALONE AT THE MOMENT THAT AN INDIVIDUAL TRUSTS ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE

IV) [Ro 6:4]:

A) THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST PROVIDE THE BELIEVER WITH THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE AND THE CAPACITY TO LIVE A NEW AND GODLY LIFE. OR HE CAN REVERT TO SLAVERY TO THE OLD UNGODLY NATURE WHICH STILL REMAINS WITHIN HIM

B) HAVING BEEN BAPTIZED INTO THE DEATH OF CHRIST IT THEREFORE IS IN GOD'S VIEW AS IF WE BELIEVERS DIED WITH CHRIST FOR OUR SINS AND WERE BURIED WITH HIM

C) PAUL FOCUSES ON A COMPELLING CONSIDERATION OF THE BELIEVER BEING BURIED WITH CHRIST THROUGH BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH WITH OUR LORD'S RESURRECTION ESPECIALLY IN VIEW EVIDENTLY PROVIDING A NEW CAPACITY TO CHOOSE TO LIVE A NEW LIFE

D) A COMPARISON IS MADE BETWEEN OUR LORD'S DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION AND THE BELIEVER'S ENABLEMENT TO LIVE A NEW AND GODLY LIFE

E) CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AS A RESULT OF GOD'S GLORIOUSLY OMNIPOTENT POWER

F) AS A RESULT OF THE BELIEVER BEING BURIED WITH CHRIST INTO THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION THROUGH HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM, THE BELIEVER CAN NOW CHOOSE TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE

G) THE BELIEVER HAS BEEN GIVEN A UNIQUE CAPACITY TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE, I.E., IN A NEW KIND OF LIFESTYLE: A GODLY ONE

H) THIS NEW LIFESTYLE ENTAILS CHOICES FOR THE BELIEVER -

RE-ENSLAVE HIMSELF TO THE SIN NATURE REMAINING WITHIN HIM

OR

WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE NOW PROVIDED WITHIN HIM VIA THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I) THOSE WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS ARE EXHORTED TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE WHICH HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH THEIR IDENTIFICATION WITH (BAPTISM INTO) CHRIST, HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION RATHER THAN TO GO ON SINNING SO THAT GRACE MAY INCREASE

V) [Ro 6:5]:

A) SINCE BELIEVERS HAVE ACTUALLY BECOME UNITED WITH CHRIST IN HIS DEATH UNTO FORGIVENESS OF SINS THEY CERTAINLY SHALL BE RESURRECTED IN THE MANNER HE WAS - UNTO ETERNAL GLORY - A MOTIVATION TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE

VI) [Ro 6:6]:

A) THE BELIEVER'S UNDERSTANDING THAT HE HAS BECOME UNITED WITH JESUS CHRIST IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH AND THAT HE SHALL BE ALSO BE UNITED IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION LEADS TO KNOWING THAT HIS OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST HE HAS BECOME UNITED WITH JESUS CHRIST IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH AND THAT HE SHALL BE ALSO BE UNITED IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION LEADS TO KNOWING THAT HIS OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

B) THE OLD SELF = LIT, 'THE OLD MAN' = THAT PART OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL (INCLUDING BELIEVERS) WHICH CONTROLS THE PRACTICE OF EVIL WHICH HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED = PUT TO DEATH, I.E., IT'S CONTROL IS DEACTIVATED BUT NOT ANNIHILATED AT THE MOMENT ONE BECOMES A BELIEVER

VI cont.) [Ro 6:6 cont.]:

C) THE RESULT OF OUR OLD SELF BEING CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, I.E., PUT TO DEATH, IS THE BODY OF SIN BEING RENDERED POWERLESS SO THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN

D) SINCE HIS SIN NATURE WAS RENDERED POWERLESS, THE BELIEVER SHOULD NO LONGER BE A SLAVE TO SIN BUT HE CAN CHOOSE TO CONTINUE IN SIN. HOWEVER THE QUESTION WAS PREVIOUSLY ASKED WHY?

VII) [Ro 6:7]:

A) DEATH WITH CHRIST CANCELS THE BELIEVER'S ENFORCED SLAVERY TO SIN

VIII) [Ro 6:8]:

A) SINCE BELIEVERS DIED WITH CHRIST THEY WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER

IX) [Ro 6:9]:

A) THE REASON AN INDIVIDUAL BELIEVES HE WILL LIVE ETERNALLY WITH CHRIST IS THAT HE KNOWS THAT SINCE CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, CHRIST CANNOT DIE AGAIN; SO IN THE SAME WAY SINCE HE DIED WITH CHRIST THE BELIEVER CANNOT DIE ETERNALLY BUT WILL LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER

X) [Ro 6:10]:

A) RELATIVE TO CHRIST'S DEATH - IT IS A FINALITY, A ONE TIME PAYMENT FOR THE SINS OF ALL HUMANITY WHO WILL EVER LIVE

B) OUR LORD'S DEATH TO SIN IS CONTRASTED WITH HIS RESURRECTED LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO GOD IN WHICH LIFE ALL BELIEVERS WILL LIVE WITH HIM ACCORDINGLY

XI) [Ro 6:11]:

A) IN THE SAME WAY THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED TO SIN ONCE FOR ALL AND LIVES TO GOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO WE BELIEVERS ARE TO COUNT OURSELVES DEAD TO SIN - TO ITS CONTROL OVER OUR LIFESTYLE

B) IN THE SAME WAY THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED TO SIN ONCE FOR ALL AND LIVES TO GOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO WE BELIEVERS ARE TO COUNT OURSELVES DEAD TO SIN - TO ITS CONTROL OVER OUR LIFESTYLE BUT COUNT OURSELVES ALIVE TO THE CONTROL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS TO LIVE BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

XII) [Ro 6:12]:

A) SIN, I.E, THE SIN NATURE, REMAINS IN THE BELIEVER, IT CAN REIGN IN THE BELIEVER'S MORTAL BODY AND IS CHARACTERIZED AS HAVING EVIL DESIRES

B) THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BELIEVER'S POSITION IN CHRIST JESUS AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOW THE BELIEVER CONDUCTS HIMSELF IN HIS MORTAL BODY IN HIS DAILY EXPERIENCE - WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE RIGHTEOUS

C) IN VIEW OF THE BELIEVER'S ETERNAL POSITION IN CHRIST JESUS AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THEY ARE NOT TO LET SIN REIGN IN THEIR MORTAL BODIES IN THEIR DAILY EXPERIENCE

D) JUST AS CHRIST LIVES TO GOD IN AN INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM; IN THE SAME WAY THE BELIEVER IS TO EMULATE CHRIST BY NOT LETTING SIN REIGN IN HIS MORTAL BODY SO THAT HE TOO CAN LIVE TO GOD IN AN INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM

XIII) [Ro 6:13]:

A) THE PARTS OF THE BELIEVER'S BODY ARE NOT SINFUL BUT CAN BE - AND SHOULD NOT BE - OFFERED TO SIN, I.E., TO THE INTRINSIC SINFUL NATURE WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL AS INSTRUMENTS OF WICKEDNESS

B) THE BELIEVER IS COMMANDED TO OFFER THE PARTS OF HIS BODY TO GOD AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

C) THE BELIEVER IS COMMANDED TO OFFER HIS PARTS TO GOD AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN VIEW OF HIS KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS BEEN BROUGHT FROM ETERNAL DEATH TO ETERNAL LIFE

XIV) [Ro 6:14]:

A) THE WORD "FOR" = BECAUSE IS FOLLOWED BY THE REASON WHY A BELIEVER SHOULD OBEY THE COMMAND TO OFFER THE PARTS OF HIS BODY TO GOD AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: WHILE HE DOES THIS SIN WILL NOT BE HIS MASTER

B) THE BELIEVER IS COMMANDED TO OFFER THE PARTS OF HIS BODY TO GOD AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS RESULTING DURING THAT TIME IN SIN NOT BEING HIS MASTER BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER UNDER LAW WHICH CONDEMNS HIM TO SLAVERY TO SIN, BUT UNDER GOD'S GRACE WHICH HAS FREED HIM FROM SUCH SLAVERY, WHEN HE BECAME A BELIEVER. THIS GIVES HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FREE FROM SLAVERY TO SIN WHILE HE OFFERS THE PARTS OF HIS BODY TO GOD AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

C) ONCE ONE BECOMES A BELIEVER, SIN WILL AT THAT MOMENT NOT BE IN CONTROL - BUT THE OPTION OF THE BELIEVER TO RE-ENSLAVE HIMSELF IS STILL THERE

D) ONCE ONE IS A BELIEVER, ONE IS NOT OBLIGATED TO KEEP ANY LAWS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE; INSTEAD ONE IS UNDER GOD'S GRACE WHICH PROVIDES CONTINUAL FORGIVENESS AND JUSTIFICATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

1) [Compare Ro 5:20]:

XV) [Ro 6:15]:

A) SHOULD THE BELIEVER CONSIDER PERFORMING AN ACT OF SIN AT ANY TIME IN ANY CASE?

B) THE BELIEVER CAN CHOOSE TO COMMIT ACTS OF SIN WITHOUT EFFECTING HIS ETERNAL DESTINY TO HEAVEN SINCE ALL SINS ARE COVERED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. BUT PAUL'S ANSWER TO 'SHALL WE GO ON SINNING?' IS 'ABSOLUTELY NOT!'

XVI) [Ro 6:16]:

A) IT SHOULD BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT ANYONE WHO OFFERS HIMSELF TO SOMEONE TO OBEY HIM AS A SLAVE IS A SLAVE TO THE ONE HE OBEYS

B) SINCE THE TEMPORAL LIFE IS IN VIEW THEN PHYSICAL DEATH AND LIFE ARE LARGELY IN VIEW. HENCE EITHER ONE IS A SLAVE TO SIN LEADING TO EARLY PHYSICAL DEATH OR TO OBEDIENCE LEADING TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND A LONGER PHYSICAL LIFE

C) SLAVERY TO SIN LEADS TO DEATH

D) SLAVERY TO OBEDIENCE TO GOD LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LENGTHENING OF THE TIME OF ONES PHYSICAL YEARS

XVII) [Ro 6:17]:

A) PAUL IS ADDRESSING BELIEVERS, STIPULATING THAT IN THEIR FORMER STATUS AS UNBELIEVERS THEY WERE SLAVES TO SIN

B) PAUL THANKS GOD THAT THE PARTICULAR BELIEVERS IN ROME DID NOT GO BACK TO SLAVERY TO SIN AS WAS THEIR FORMER STATUS AS UNBELIEVERS BUT INSTEAD OBEYED THE FORM OF TEACHING TO WHICH THEY WERE ENTRUSTED

C) OBEDIENCE TO THE FORM OF TEACHING OF GOD'S WORD TO WHICH ONE IS ENTRUSTED LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

XVIII) [Ro 6:18]:

A) THE BELIEVER HAS BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN IN THE SENSE THAT SIN NO LONGER HAS ABSOLUTE REIGN OVER HIM

B) BELIEVERS HAVE BECOME SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS BUT CAN STILL SIN

C) THE BELIEVER HAS BEEN PLACED BY GOD UNDER THE ENSLAVEMENT OF HIS RIGHTEOUS SOVEREIGNTY

XIX) [Ro 6:19]:

A) THE ROMAN BELIEVERS ARE ADDRESSED IN HUMAN TERMS BECAUSE THEY ARE WEAK IN THEIR NATURAL SELVES. THEIR THINKING IS CARNAL AND THEY LACK SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

B) PAUL PICTURES A BELIEVER'S LIFE BEFORE HE BECAME A BELIEVER AS ONE OF ENSLAVEMENT TO IMPURITY AND EVER INCREASING WICKEDNESS

C) NOW THAT ONE IS A BELIEVER HE IS TO OFFER THE PARTS OF HIS BODY TO SLAVERY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADING TO GOD'S HOLINESS

XX) [Ro 6:20]:

A) BELIEVERS WERE FORMERLY SLAVES TO SIN AND FREE FROM THE CONTROL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, IMPLYING A NEW CONTROL BY GOD OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHEN HE BECOMES A BELIEVER

XXI) [Ro 6:21]:

A) PAUL EXHORTS BELIEVERS TO STAY AWAY FROM OFFERING THE PARTS OF THEIR BODIES TO SIN

XXII) [Ro 6:22]:

A) THE RESULT OF THE BELIEVER BEING FREED FROM THE CONTROL OF SIN IS TO BECOME A SLAVE TO GOD - UNDER GOD'S SOVEREIGN RULE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

B) BELIEVERS BEING SET FREE FROM THE CONTROL OF THE SIN NATURE & BECOMING SLAVES TO GOD REAPS THE BENEFIT OF DIRECTING THEM TOWARD RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH LEADS TO HOLINESS

C) THE RESULT OF THE BELIEVER HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND ENSLAVED TO THE RIGHTEOUS RULE OF GOD IS A BENEFIT TO THE BELIEVER WHICH LEADS TO HOLINESS AND WHICH BENEFIT IS ETERNAL LIFE

XXIII) [Ro 6:23]:

A) BELIEVERS ARE MOTIVATED TO OFFER THE PARTS OF THEIR BODIES TO HOLINESS IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GIFT OF GOD OF ETERNAL LIFE AND HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN WHICH LEADS TO ETERNAL DEATH

B) THE WAGES OF SIN IS LOSS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, PHYSICAL AND ETERNAL DEATH BUT SINCE GOD'S GRACE THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE CHRIST JESUS ALONE COVERS THOSE SINS, THE BELIEVER IS SECURE IN HIS ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE IT IS A GIFT RECEIVED - FREE WITHOUT STRINGS ATTACHED

1) [Ro 5:20-21]:

C) ETERNAL LIFE IS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD - HENCE IT IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON WHAT THE BELIEVER DOES OR DOES NOT DO AT ANY TIME

Continue studying Romans chapter 6 with corroborating evidence from elsewhere in Scripture: