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by Howard Watson
In chapters six and seven of Romans the factor
of sin is set forth in light of our justification through Christ.
In 6:1 Paul asks: "shall we continue ("epimenomen"
Gk. from"epimeno" present tense, subjective mood, active
voice, third person, plural: to stay, to remain, to reside in sin)
in sin. This is continuing to practice sin in our daily lives.
The Greek word used here for sin is ("hamartia"). Sin
is both an act and a state of being. It is a failure, resulting
from a condition of the heart. Ro. 7:14 reads: "I am carnal
("Sarkinos" Gk. the basic human nature of fallen mankind;
Paul uses this word for fleshly/lustfulness here), sold ("pepramenos"
Gk. perfect tense, meaning in a state/condition of being sold into/under
the control of sin) under sin, as a bondslave of sin.
It refuses to hear ("parakoae" Gk. meaning not willing
to hear, or to violate or to transgress) the known law of God. It
misses the mark, and oversteps ("paraptoma" Gk. a side-step/slip,
an offence and trespass). Jesus taught us to forgive our brothers
their trespasses: Mt. 18:35.
Paul answers his question with "By no means ("mae genoita"
meaning: not may it be)."
It is unthinkably out-of-mind; Christians should not continue to
practice sin but should deny/resist temptations to sin and seek
the strength to overcome any and all sin. We have been bought by
Christ Jesus' atoning blood/death for our sins; therefore, we are
no longer servants/bondslaves of sin, but have become the bondslaves
of Christ Jesus.
Now we belong to Jesus, to walk in the light of His grace and love.
When we walk with God, righteous godly living and faithfulness to
God's will is our blessed condition of heart and life. We gladly
resist Satan's deceptions and wiles in our spiritual wisdom, found
under the Holy Spirit's guidance.
But, sin deadlocks and hardens us to the blessed sweet presence
of fellowship with God in our hearts and lives. It, sin, only satisfies
the temporal lust of our fallen earthly nature. It is not of faith
and commitment to following God in Christ Jesus.
In Christ Jesus the humble is exalted, the lowly is lifted higher,
the poor is made rich, the lame is made able, the dead is made alive.
We know the wages/result ("opsonia" Gk. wages) of sin
is death, but God's gracious gift to us, who are in Christ Jesus,
is life, in living continuous fellowship with Him, Romans 6:23.
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