Romans 6, 365 DAYS OF LOVE #75: BIBLE STUDY P2

PASSAGE: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ, Slaves to Righteousness

MEMORY VERSE: "Then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you" Job 22:25

NOTES: (v.1-14)memory verse review! "WHAT SHALL WE SAY, THEN? SHALL WE GO ON SINNING SO THAT GRACE MAY INCREASE? BY NO MEANS! WE DIED TO SIN; HOW CAN WE LIVE IN IT ANY LONGER?"  (v1-2)
When we were baptized, we were baptized into his death so that we may "live a new life" through Jesus.
memory verse review 2: "DO NOT OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO SIN, AS INSTRUMENTS OF WICKEDNESS, BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD, AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE, AND OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO HIM AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" (v.13)
"Now if we died to Christ, we believe that we will also LIVE with him"; dead to sin, alive to God.
-(v.15-23) "YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE BECOME SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS"
"BUT NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE BECOME SLAVES TO GOD, THE BENEFIT YOU REAP LEADS TO HOLINESS, AND THE RESULT IS ETERNAL LIFE."
This chapter ties in really well with Chapter 5, which elaborated on the fact that we are saved by GRACE: "BUT WHERE SIN INCREASED,  GRACE INCREASED ALL THE MORE." However, that does not give us an excuse to continue sinning in the way of the world--by drawing a parallel between Christ's death on the cross and the death of our worldly lives, Paul emphasizes that we are to offer ourselves as "instruments of righteousness"--and become slaves to righteousness so that it results in eternal life by the grace of God.

Notes from the discussion:
-using the term "slaves" to righteousness: as slaves, we do not work for wages or pay, as employees or workers do, but rather act by the grace of God and the "control of righteousness." In addition, any blessings that we may receive as a result of our work is a GIFT (v.22), while the "wages" of sin is death.
-v.13: offering the parts of your body as "instruments of righteousness" should also apply the the physical body: ie, dressing modestly as sisters in Christ to serve brothers
-Being baptized means dying to sin and living in Christ

ACT OF LOVE: Today, we had a second Bible study (this time with Jackie here too), and had a great time of fellowship. I think we were all encouraged in our faiths through the conversations we've had, and by the time of on-the-phone prayer we had for each other.