The Law and Sin [How does the law stimulate sin? Paul shows how entry into life under the law coincides with the dawn of conscience and the first awareness of inward sin. The obligation to keep the law first involved the obligation to know and obey the Ten Commandments. The commandment which caused Paul the worst problem was the tenth: “You shall not covet.” This deals with an inner attitude rather than an overt action or deed. It is a prohibition, and prohibitions are known

Dying to the Law 4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ [you are free as a widow is free], so that you may belong to another [that is Christ], to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. [With the death of Jesus, who perfectly kept the law, the law is fulfilled by one man for the many. Therefore, we can die to the law. We bear fruit for God, not by keeping the law, but by abiding in Christ. He i

Released from the Law [Paul will be using a marriage analogy] [For Paul, to be under grace is to live according to the Spirit and to live under the law is to live according to the flesh. However, there is no fault to find in the law because it is God’s law. It forbids sin. It prescribes righteousness. It is a revelation of the very character of God himself. The problem is not the law but the human material on which the law operates. Following the law leads humans to regard re

What is The Moral Law? In Protestant theology, the moral law is understood as a reflection of God's character, eternally binding on all people, and revealed through Scripture, particularly the Ten Commandments. It's seen as distinct from ceremonial and judicial laws of the Old Testament, which are viewed as fulfilled or superseded by Christ's sacrifice. While Protestants generally affirm the moral law as foundational, they differ on its application and interpretation, with so

The Wages of Sin 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [Sin was your master, not righteousness.] 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [Sin always brings destructive results!] 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. [Those who have been

Slaves to Righteousness [the slave-market analogy] 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! [The antinomian argument of verse 1 is repeated. To treat grace as an excuse for sinning is a sign that one is not under grace.] 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But t

Sin, Law, Grace 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions [such that we satisfy its desires]. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. [You have a choice in the matter.] 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. [The law d

Crucifixion and Resurrection 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [Now that we are united to Christ in faith, we participate in his death and die to our old life, and we receive a new life, which is nothing less than participating in Christ’s resurrection life.] 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him [this is a past event as we are reckoned as having been crucified with Jesus w

Dead to Sin, Alive to God 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [Those who sin so that grace can abound are referred to as “antinomians.” The word comes from the Greek “anti” (against) and “nomos” (law), and refers to the doctrine that it is not necessary for Christians to preach and/or obey the moral law of the Old Testament. These are people who believe that as Christians they are freed from the moral law by virtue of grace. One such exa

The Cosmic Christ Grace and Peace in Christ 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [When one man fails in the accomplishment of God’s purposes—as all sinful people do—God raises up another to take his place: Joshua replaced Moses, David replaced Saul, Elisha replaced Elijah, Mathias replaced Judas. But who could replace Adam? Only the one who could undo the effects of Adam’s fall