Romans
6:19-23 - Trinity VII - July 14, 2014
The Wages of Sin & the Free Gift of
God
Romans 6 is a wonderful
chapter of Scripture.
After having
established in the clearest words possible the doctrine of justification in the
preceding three chapters, St. Paul here in chapter 6, addresses the new life
that the Christian lives here on earth.
This is an important thing to do, and for two
main reasons.
First of all, because it
pleases God that we live holy lives to the praise and honor of His holy Name.
That’s what He called us to do.
He called us to live in righteousness, not to
die in soul-destroying sin.
We should
consider the new life of the Christian for a second reason too: because if we
are to stand on the doctrine that we are justified by grace alone through faith
apart from any works we do, we had better learn how to defend ourselves against
those who falsely accuse us of forbidding good works.
We don’t.
We uphold good works.
We teach
that they are necessary. But we put them in their proper place, as fruits that
necessarily flow from true faith.
