Chapter 6
1 So then, are we to say, "Let's keep on sinning, so that there can be more grace"?
2 Heaven forbid! How can we, who have died to sin, still live in it?
3 Don't you know that those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Yeshua have been immersed into his death?
4 Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life.
As Paul was just telling us that grace is multiplied when sin increases, it is no wonder that we now find him telling us that if we should not keep walking in sin, in order that we may gain more grace. He goes on giving his idea of baptism and what it means. Don't go thinking I saying that Paul doesn't understand the true meaning, and symbolize of it. It is clear that he is may be a bit radical than most, yet what he tells us is about as plain as it gets.
There are 2 ways I know of that the last 2 verses posted above are seen. The first, see it not so much as physical baptism, rather looks to the spiritual aspect. They teach that when a person comes to know the truth, and turns their life over, repenting of their sin, a Spiritual change over takes them. Some have even said they felt something move inside them. This teaching tells us that what is felt on a physical level is the circumcision of the Heart.
On the other hand, there is the teaching that Paul is speaking only of the physical act of immersion. If one was to look into just this one teaching, you would find so many sub teachings, that you could fill a library. Yet they all seem to come down to this one thing. the going under, is use joining Yeshua in the Grave. As we rise from the water, it is us, joining in His resurrection.
Before anyone tells me I am wrong, keep in mind, my thoughts on this are posted. Though my own thoughts, are much different than what you see.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
6 We know that our old self was put to death on the execution-stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.
7 For someone who has died has been cleared from sin.
8 Now since we died with the Messiah, we trust that we will also live with him.
9 We know that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, never to die again; death has no authority over him.
As we all know the penalty for sin is death. Paul is once more equating baptism with the death and resurrection. If one doesn't wish to look at Paul, and how he may have seen his words. ( as it seems one must qualify ever word on here this is not to say this is how it is, only that as stated PAUL MAY HAVE) Knowing that Paul was a well educated man, versed in the traditions of his people. ( I am already starting to dislike this need to per-qualify every word) It may, repeat, IT MAY be that Paul may have used the idea seen in the death bed confession found in the Siddur. As it does use the following words, "May my death be an atonement for all the sins, iniquities, and transgression of which I have been guilty against you."
Paul uses the idea of the death of our old self a lot. So it would be wise to ope our minds to all takes on that concept.
10 For his death was a unique event that need not be repeated; but his life, he keeps on living for God.
11 In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua.
In what ways would we think that Yeshua's death was unique? This was once asked in my classroom. The debate was stopped once it became clear they were looking for physical answers to a spiritual question. Yeshua's death is the only death ever, where the sin's of the world were placed on a man had no sin of His own. Also in death, Yeshua had work to do, did he not take the keys from Satan? His death open the door for our sins to be washed away. No longer to covered year after year. Yet his death alone didn't bring freedom from the sinful nature of mans heart. That as Paul points out came from His resurrection.
12 Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires;
13 and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness. On the contrary, offer yourselves to God as people alive from the dead, and your various parts to God as instruments for righteousness.
14 For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace.
It may we be, (please note what I said IT MAY WELL BE) that Paul is not speaking of the removal of the Law, as it was given, rather as was shown in Rom. 3:20 it was Rabbinic law that was removed, to make room for the spirit of the Law. (If you see this as hard to understand please go back and read post #206. Or hay Just ask. ) As I hope you all know, I do not wish to make Rabbinic Teachings sound all bad. Just like the teachings that come from many other places, there is good and bad in them all. YES that does include my own. No one is ever right 100% of the time. Yet it is the the idea of salvation by works, that at one point seemed to come out of Rabbinic Law, that Paul may be speaking of.
15 Therefore, what conclusion should we reach? "Let's go on sinning, because we're not under legalism but under grace"? Heaven forbid!
16 Don't you know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, then, of the one whom you are obeying, you are slaves - whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to being made righteous?
17 By God's grace, you, who were once slaves to sin, obeyed from your heart the pattern of teaching to which you were exposed;
18 and after you had been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
This will be worded as clearly as I can make it, (NOTE I am not saying that following the Law will save you, nor that trying to follow the letter of the law can be of any help at all)
In 16 we find that Paul speaks to be obedient. One teaching of this is that if we obey the flesh and flow after sin, then we are lost. In that teaching is also found that once we turn our backs on sin, and give our lives over to HaShem, though the blood of Yeshua, their is no wish to follow sin. A teaching I am sure we can sink our teeth into. However, that same teaching stops right there. The concept of now showing obedience to HaShem, is lost.
This the other teaching on this. Though it follows the first, so no need to repeat that part. It goes on to tell us that Paul makes clear the need to now follow obedience that leads to righteousness. Just as Paul said in verse 16. They go on to say that this doesn't remove the Law from out hearts, rather through the Holy Spirit, we are lead to follow the spirit of the true Torah.
19 (I am using popular language because your human nature is so weak.) For just as you used to offer your various parts as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led to more lawlessness; so now offer your various parts as slaves to righteousness, which leads to being made holy, set apart for God.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in relationship to righteousness;
21 but what benefit did you derive from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end result of those things was death.
22 However, now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you do get the benefit - it consists in being made holy, set apart for God, and its end result is eternal life.
23 For what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from God, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
Paul in classic style with words, shows us that lawlessness sets us apart from HaShem. The more we follow a life of lawlessness, the more removed from HaShem we become. Yet when we turn our selves over to HaShem, and hold nothing back from Him, then and only then do we can we find true rest. This rest, however leads once more into obedience. Only now, that obedience leads not to death, rather to life.
Before you jump on the , you can work your way into heaven band wagon, Paul also makes it clear, that if you wish to work your into something, death is what you earn. As stated many times in my life, Salvation come by FAITH, and that faith must be followed by OBEDIENCE.
