Romans 6: Gifts of the Spirit in the Baptism

Gifts of the Spirit in the Baptism

Romans 6 – intro

Structure:

a. 6:1-2, Persistence of sin for a greater grace? No

  b. 6:3-7, being absolved from sin

    c. 6:8-13, parts of your bodies as weapons of righteousness

a’. 6:14-15, Should we sin because we are not under the Law? No

  b’. 6:16-18, being freed from sin, you are slaves of righteousness

    c’. 6:19-23, present them as slaves to righteousness

 

Last time we talked about the concept of SIN.

This chapter approaches sin from two angles:

1. Status of dead to sin, being baptized – gift of status   

2. Not giving our members (parts of the body) to sin – gift of obedience

First, baptism – connection with the death of Jesus.

Pauline logic is simple: if we are connected with Him in His death, we – as the children of God – will be connected with His resurrection. This promise takes care of the past (including the original sin impact) and carries us into the future, pointing to our resurrection in the world to come.

Second part is more related to “the present”. Verse 17 summarizes the point, and the Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration IV:17 uses it the following way:

The people of the New Testament are to be willing (Psalm 110:3) and sacrifice freely (Psalm 54:6), “not reluctant or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7). They are to “obedient from the heart” (Romans 6:17).