Many people have quoted this phrase in Romans 6:23 “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” and it does give us, those who have accepted Jesus Christ, a future hope. But there is also a “new way of life” in Romans 6:4 where we are in Romans 6:11 “alive to God in Jesus Christ”. We are now, in this life, free from sin and the habitual behaviors that destroy peoples lives because we in Romans 7:4 “were brought to death with respect to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
Peace With God Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Romans 5:1–11
The Gift, From Many Trespasses, Led to Justification
So Also We May Live a New Way of Life
Romans 6:1–14
The new birth, our forgiveness of sin and acceptance by God, comes to us as a free gift when we believe God and accept Jesus Christ as our savior. But we are still here on the earth. We are still living this natural life in this world where sin had held us bound. There is something more for us Christians and that is to live, as it says in Romans 6:11 “alive to God in Jesus Christ”. For the rest of our life on the earth, we are to present our “members to God as instruments of righteousness” as it says in Romans 6:13.
Accepting Christ causes a dramatic change in us, we are born again and given a new heart that is connected with the spirit of God. Then, through water baptism, we outwardly acknowledge the death of our old sin nature so we can live “a new way of life”. So, just as Jesus Christ died and was raised in
Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we may live a new way of life.
The Gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 6:15–23
People often say, “I couldn’t help myself” or “the devil made me do it” and before we believed God and accepted Jesus Christ, they were right, we were slaves to sin. But now, we are free to choose as it says in
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whomever you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whomever you obey, whether sin, leading to death, or obedience, leading to righteousness?
Even as Christians, we can become enslaved by sin if we “present yourself as slaves for obedience”. You can become enslaved by habitual sin and we would call it an addiction today. Addiction doesn’t begin as a habit, but with some things, even once allows it to have a strong hold on you and then as in
Romans 6:21 Therefore what sort of fruit did you have then, about which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
But what if, instead, you were to take the good seed of Gods word and sprout and grow to become a fruitful tree as in
Romans 6:22 But now, having been set free from sin and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit leading to sanctification, and its end is eternal life.
As it says in
Romans 6:23 For the compensation due sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Law is Master of a Person For as Long a Time as He Lives
Romans 7:1–6
Not everyone understands the law spoken of here. The Jews would understand the Law of Moses and the reference here to woman being bound and released from the law in
Romans 7:2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the husband.
But everyone would understand that there are civil laws that are enforced by governments and we are all subject to them. And, everyone would understand that there are natural laws and we are all subject to them as long as we live in this world.
Few people understand that in this world we are subject to the law of sin until we die. But here is the great message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even though we are still in this world, we can live for God in
Romans 7:4 So then, my brothers, you also were brought to death with respect to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
The Commandment is Holy and Righteous and Good
Romans 7:7–12
Study Verses
- Romans 6:1–14 So Also We May Live a New Way of Life
- Romans 6:15–23 The Gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord
- Romans 7:1–6 The Law is Master of a Person For as Long a Time as He Lives
Today’s Reading
- Romans 5:1-21
- Romans 6:1-23
- Romans 7:1-12