March 6th, Friday: Romans 6 & 7

Rom 6

Being a Christian is a matter of life or death.

Persons who do not understand the grace of God argue, 'If God is so gracious, then we should sin more, so we'd receive more grace!'

Those who trust Christ are identified with His Spirit in His death, burial and resurrection, as pictured in baptism.

The old life is buried!

We can reckon it dead, and walk in newness of resurrection life.

Being a Christian is a matter of bondage or freedom.

Which would you prefer? Which is your master?

Jesus Christ or the old life?

Listen, you are not under the authority of Moses.

But that does not mean you have the freedom to break God's moral law.

Yield yourself to the Lord.

He is the most wonderful Master and the salary He pays last forever!

Being a Christian is a matter of rewards or wages.

We quote this verse as we witness to the lost and rightly so.

But Paul wrote it originally to believers.

Although God forgives the sins of His children, He may not stop the painful consequences of sin.

The pleasures of sin are never compensated for the wages of sin.

Sinning is not worth it.

Rom 7

Believers are not under the law.

But that does not give them license to become outlaws!

They have a new life and Master.

And they also have a new love – they are married to Christ!

If a marriage must be based on laws instead of love, it's going to make for an unhappy home.

If the law cannot change us or control us, what good is it?

It purposes to reveal sin, and it does it's job well.

Paul learned that the law even aroused evil desires in him.

If something as holy as God's law can arouse sinful desires, what wicked sinners we must be!

Law brings out the worse in us, but love brings out the best in us.

The Holy Spirit within us helps us do what God wants us to do, and to be what God wants us to be.

So keep your love relationship with the Lord alive and exciting.

And you'll have righteousness instead of wretchedness.

It's all about a yielded life!

We'll read about life.

You see, when God saved you, He gives you a new life, not a new law!

As you yield to that life, you obey His law.

So keep your minds centered on the things of the Lord.

And seek to please God in all things.

Let the Spirit live His life in you.