Title: Reaching Holiness
Commentary on Romans 46
come to holiness
Romans 6:17-21
1. The delay when we were slaves to sin
Their bodies have been very adept to commit sin not so long ago. I am telling this truth to Christians who have never had any experience of doing righteousness and have a body that is not used to doing it. That is why Paul is saying that he will explain again through an easy-to-understand illustration as the example of a person commonly used in human society.
(1) It has been said that before, our members had yielded to iniquity and lawlessness, leading to lawlessness. When Paul continues to speak of your members in verse 19, he refers to the whole of one person, all of the flesh. It means not only a person's knowledge, talents, and character, but also all of his activities. In the past we have brought this member to iniquity and uncleanness. The reason why we use the expression “giving” is that our bodies were slaves to sin at that time, and we have been living our lives as slaves to sin.
(2) Paul says, “Now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to holiness.” The word now refers to our status as servants of righteousness who have returned from their former state to a new state. Its position is clearly different from before, and it is an expression that tells us about our new position now that we have changed from the former life of a slave to sin to a life of righteousness.
Before we believed in Christ, we were slaves to sin. However, after we believed in Christ, our status became slaves of righteousness. The word now is a word spoken to Christians after becoming servants of righteousness. Now we are told to present your members as slaves to righteousness. But what is the difference between our members, who were offered as slaves to sin, and your members, who are now called as slaves to righteousness?
It does not mean that the members we now give to righteousness are not the members we used to be slaves to sin, but a different member. Our members are the same members that have not changed in any way, whether before we were slaves to sin or now as slaves to righteousness. The only thing that has changed is that the subject of who it is given to has changed. We misunderstand that believing in Jesus means that all of us must be radically renewed.
Believing in Jesus does not mean that a fundamental change in personality must follow. Each individual's individuality is a beautiful thing if used well. It is not meant to imply a fundamental change in our personality. It does not mean that a person with an impatient personality has to slow down because they believe in Jesus, or that a hot-blooded person believes in Jesus and is not fundamentally changed. Even among the disciples of Jesus, they were saved, received the Holy Spirit, received the office of great apostles, and were chosen to be missionaries to preach the gospel to the whole world, but Paul followed Paul, Peter, Peter, and John, John. had the
So what's different? What you give has changed. What was previously offered to sin is now to be offered to righteousness. So it means that everything we have (members) should be offered to God in good nature. Our grammar should be used as a means of understanding and interpreting the Word of God. Our wisdom should be used in the fear of God and the knowledge of God. It should be used generously for the church for our diligent work of God. The talent of our speech should be used as a means of spreading the gospel. This is when all of our personalities are completely transformed into weapons of righteousness. The members that I have are no longer offered to lawlessness as slaves to sin, but to God as slaves to righteousness.
2. It is commanded to be a servant to the righteous.
Giving is a command. The Christian life of holiness is to be offered to God according to God's command.
(1) You can't give anything if you think it will be given automatically. We should not think that our members are automatically offered up as servants of righteousness without effort just because we believe in Jesus and receive grace. There can be no such thing. No matter how much grace we receive and how much we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we do not become ourselves in offering our members as slaves to righteousness. It is not possible for Christians to lead a righteous life or to bear the fruits of righteousness without effort or effort.
Conclusion: The Christian life that bears the fruit of righteousness is not an experience gained through faith. It is our responsibility to fulfill in our lives. We are not able to live worthy of life as servants of righteousness because our bodies are still weak, but since our status is slaves to righteousness, we must strive to practice righteousness. You have to be zealous. They must be obedient and offered like servants.