1) After explaining that the Christian's old self dies and is thus freed from sin and capable of living a new life that is directed towards God, Paul further explains how this process works. In verses 8-10 Paul points out that since Christ resurrected, it is clear that death no longer has mastery over him. The death Christ died was onto sin, but after resurrection He lives a life onto God that has broken the bonds of sin and death. Similarly, we are told to count ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God via Christ (verse 11).
--Luther describes the process of living a holy life as a struggle between the Spirit and the flesh to kill of sins and sinful desires. What are some of the most difficult struggles that we deal with as individuals? As a church community?
2) In verses 12-14, Paul starts to give some practical and pastoral directions on how the Christian is supposed to live the holy life directed towards God that should be the normative experience of the Christian. We are told first not to let sin reign in our flesh, so that we will not obey its desires. Further, we are not tooffer the parts of our body to sin, but rather to offers ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. This is possible because we are under grace and not law, and thus sin is not our master.
--Wesley points out that sin is a tyrant, while God is our lawful King. He then says that because we are under grace, and not law (v. 14), we are enabled to have complete mastery over sin through the Gospel. Do you think that the Gospel enables us to have complete mastery over sin? What is Paul saying in this chapter?
3) Paul brings us back to the original issue in verse 15, asking again whether we should sin because we are under grace, and reiterates his answer, "by no means!" We are then given a metaphor of sorts that tries to explain why we are obliged not to sin. Paul says that when a person offers to serve another, that person is a slave to the person they have chosen to obey. We are either slaves to sin, which leads to death, or choose to be obedient to God, a course of life that leads to righteousness. Paul gives thanks to God that the Christians he is writing to obeyed the teaching he made. He then states that they have been freed from sin and are now slaves to righteousness (v. 18). Paul makes the point that his examples of slavery were made to make the concept understandable to his audience. Paul reitierates in verses 19-20 his his instruction to offer our bodies in slavery to righteousness, which will lead to living a holy life. He also states again that at one time, the believer is a slave to sin and unable to live a righteous life before God.
--Calvin makes the argument that no one can be a slave to righteousness until Christ has set him free from the tyranny of sin. This happens according to Calvin via regeneration, whereby God chooses to change the hearts of the elect. Calvin says our free will has nothing to do with the transactions, since the gift is from God and only available because of His kindness. Do you agree with Calvin's argument? Is Calvin correct in presupposing that any exercise of free will would negate the Gospel being a gift, and salvation being totally from God?
--Wesley says that the center of the Gospel is faith, whereby a person chooses to embrace the righteousness of God, which is given to all who believe (Rom 3:22). How is the view different from Calvin's? Which do you think is correct?
4) Paul asks a question in verse 21, whether any benefits are realized from living in sin. Paul rightly points out that since such thinngs lead to death, it is hard to say they are worthwhile. However, in our new lives where we are freed from sin and slaves to God, our benefit is eternal life. As Paul puts it very well in verse 23, "[T]he wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eteral life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
--Luther says that God's grace gives us true freedom from sin and the law. It is a freedom to do good with eagerness and live a good life. The freedom does not suspend the law, but allows us to fulfill its requirements: eagerness and love. How can we improve in desiring to eagerly live a loving life? Is this what the law seeks? Is this God's goal for our actions?
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