Romans__6

Scripture - What stood out?Romans 6

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Observation - What does it say?In this chapter of Romans the apostle Paul tries to explain to the Roman church how grace and sin interact. That God’s grace is not a free pass to allow sin in your life. Understanding - What does it mean?It is amazing what a little bit of extra reading and research can do for my understanding of the bible. I have been reading about the apostle Paul and how he had to communicate and work differently when dealing with Greeks. Whereas hebrew culture was more defined by relational and image heavy communication, greek culture was defined by the abstract and more linear definitions of words. The apostle Paul sure had his work cut out for him having to deal with both hebrew and greek culture at the same time in a newly formed church no less! I wanted to quote this entire chapter because his arguments are so counter intuitive. The first several verses read: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? I love Paul’s approach. Stop sinning. Christians should not be knowingly and willfully sinning! We are supposed to have died to sin. Further in the chapter he writes: 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.  Don’t be involved in yucky activities. Seek righteousness.And here is the dagger: 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.  Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?Lord for my life application I am going to think about the various fruits of my life. I’d like for you Lord to highlight an area of my life where I may not have given over to you fully yet. Where I might be letting sin run free. Holy Spirit help me to identify whatever part of me that is enslaved to sin.  Help me to repent. Enslave me to righteousness.  And help to set me free. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.  -kenneth lee