WHY YOUR DEFINITION OF SIN MAY DECIDE IF YOU RECEIVE WAGES OR THE GIFT OF GOD- Rom.6:23

As we have seen in chapters 1,2,and 3 idolatry began to show itself among the people before the flood. We also saw in ch.2 that the Jews who made an idol of the law were hypocritical when they judged other idolaters. And in ch.3 we saw that doers of the law are those who love as God does. Those who trust in Jesus as He trusted in the Father.And in ch 4 we learned that righteousness is by faith without works. And to be saved our faith must be as Abraham's was in that he was called righteous by faith while being yet uncircumcised. A righteousness without works.

Then in a prelude to ch 5, a chapter that we will look at today, I showed that Paul taught that sin was in the world before there was law. And also that sin was not imputed until the law came through Moses. Proving for us that death could not be a penalty for sin. But, instead was part of God's plan to bring men to seek for Him. A seeking that Jesus would show was to bring men into relationship with God by being born of God that is eternal life.

We also found that there was no law, and therefore no imputation of sin, before the law was given through Moses.

Because if there was law before Moses that Adam violated in the garden, as those who believe the doctrine of original sin and sin nature teach, then Adam must have sinned before he ate the fruit. Because Paul says in Rom.5:13 that before the law sin was in the world. And in vs.12 that it was through Adam that sin came into the world.

Now as we continue reading in the first several vs of ch.5 Paul expounds further on the faith that saves by showing how God works in the believer by faith without works, through our life experiences when we trust Him, while we are going through them.

By the way, this is how God works out His plan in the earth that He made before the foundation of the world. By being intimately involved day to day with it's being brought to pass. So He is not like the god deists teach that is like a watch maker who winds up the watch and then sits back and lets it run out. He is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives because He is love.

Just as Paul says in Rom.8:28 that all things work together for the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes, so he says here giving some detail about how those "all things" working for our good are done saying, "Therefore" which is what he writes to explain what he has already written is there for, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom.5:1-5

So here Paul is making the case that tribulations, which are trials that all men go through, when correctly interpreted through the lens of our relationship with God, instead of making us angry and bitter as it works in those who do not know or trust in Jesus, work to bring us to the spirit of the law which is love.

A love that Paul says here is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that lives in us who have believed in Jesus.

A love that can not be had any other way. A love that uses our life experiences and tribulations to grow us into that mature believer that God wants all His children to become. As Heb.5:14 says, it is "by reason of use" that the believer grows to maturity.

Interestingly, Paul spends the rest of ch.5 explaining how God's love is shed abroad in the hearts of those who believe Him apart from works, by showing how the events in the garden brought us here. Saying in vs.11 and 12, "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Explaining our need for the atonement Paul then says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, because of which all have sinned".

This verse has been so misused by so many for so long that most believe that death reigns and all have sinned because this was a punishment for Adam's sin. Believing also that they inherited a sin nature from him.

But, what this verse really shows us is that as our mortality is lived out in us, a mortality that Paul says Adam was born with, we come to understand God's love in the atonement. Because it is the realization of our mortality that causes men to seek for it's solution. And in seeking it we can find immortality through the faith of Christ as Paul so plainly says in Gal.2:16. That is, when we trust in Jesus as He trusted the Father we are righteous or justified just as Jesus was.

And to make sure that we would know to not interpret death as a penalty or punishment for Adam's sin Paul expounds in vs.13 and 14 saying, "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin", Adam's sin, "is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses. Even over them that did not sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression."

Here Paul shows that the death that came to Adam came also to all men the same way. By all men not having access to the tree of life that was in the garden physical death "passed to all men".

Here Paul also shows that Adam's sin was not only NOT imputed to Adam himself. But, also that his sin was not imputed to anyone else that came after him. Which is to say that death was not a penalty for sin. Because Adam was not held accountable by God for this sin. This is what not imputed means.

This is a complete repudiation of the doctrine of original sin and sin nature that all churches falsely teach and believe. All churches teach this because churches are named after their mother the Roman Catholic Church whose entire religion is based on the original sin doctrine as it was taught by Augustine.

Paul makes the case that the death that came to Adam and the rest of mankind only served to reveal our mortality. A mortality that we see in 1Cor.15:45-48 was always the case with Adam since the day that God made him a living soul.

We also see in these vs that as a living soul Adam was not spiritual, but natural. Only flesh and blood. Not immortal, but mortal. As all men are still. And that only Jesus was made a living spirit. A spirit housed in the same kind of mortal body that all men have. And because Jesus was a living spirit, and not just a living soul as Adam was, this is why He was referred to in John3:16 as the only begotten Son of God.

That men who are made mortal might become immortal through faith in Jesus. By first trusting in Jesus to be born of the Spirit as Jesus taught in John3:1-8. So that when we receive an immortal body at the resurrection it will house that spirit that has been birthed only in those who have believed in Jesus for eternal life and immortality. Which is what Paul was teaching in Rom.5:12-ff.

This is why we see later in vs.19 of Rom.5 that "as by one man's disobedience many", not all, "were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many", not all, "be made righteous." To show us that it is a free will choice we make to believe or not believe the gospel when we hear it that determines whether we are sinners or righteous. That determines whether we are chosen or called. And that it is not by inheritance that this happens. And not by predestination. But, by our own free will choosing to receive God's love that was sent to save the whole of mankind.

Adding an explanation for the law being given to Israel in vs.20 and 21 saying, "Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

This is also what Paul was saying in Rom.6:23 about the wages of sin and the gift of eternal life. Under the law the wages of sin was death. But, by faith in Jesus the gift of God is eternal life.

Paul says here that for Israel "the law entered that the offense might abound". This is why Paul says where sin abounded much more does grace abound. Because where sin abounds by the power given to it by the law. Grace does much more abound through faith in Jesus when the Israelite is no longer under the law.

Grace which is by faith that did "much more abound" because of what Paul describes in Rom.8:3 as "the weakness of the flesh". Weakness because it's only function from the time God made Adam was to help men relate to the natural creation around them. But, could not help him in relating to God who is a Spirit and the natural world's Creator. Because since the the law could not give spiritual life because spiritual life is by faith and not by works. Then it also could not make men righteous because only the righteousness that is by faith can give life.

This is why Paul begins ch.6 stating the question these Jews were asking him saying, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" Answering this saying, "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"

This is also why in Rom.7 Paul begins by reminding them that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives. But, now having died with Christ and raised from the dead symbolized in baptism, he is now free to serve in newness of life. And not the oldness of the letter.

Paul helps them see his point when he says in Rom.6:14 that this is why "sin no longer has dominion over you. Because you are no longer under the law, but under grace." Because under grace we are righteous by faith without works. But, under the law is a righteousness that is by works that leads only to death.

Saying finally, "But now being made free from sin," (because now they are no longer under the law) "and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Here Paul shows that as long as the Jew is under the law the wages of sin is death. Because under the law there were penalties of death for it's violation. And that if they trusted in Jesus the gift they would receive from Him by grace through faith without works would be eternal life.

This vs.23 segues us into ch.7 and following because here Paul will show what happens to the Jew who tries to be joined with Jesus while still joined to the law for righteousness. And let me tell you, it aint pretty.

So as we have seen now reading through ch.5 and 6 of Romans, Paul's intent is that we see the contrast between a life lived by the keeping of the law for righteousness. And the life lived by faith without works for righteousness. 2 different kinds of righteousness where one leads to death and the other to eternal life.

At this point you might be asking why Paul felt so strongly about getting this information to them? Why was it such a big deal to Paul to make sure that Israel knew which kind of righteousness they needed for eternal life?

It was because he knew that there were Jews like he had been before he met Jesus that misunderstood the purpose of the law in the first place, which was why Isaiah said their righteousness' were as filthy rags, that have a problem with believing that they could be righteous apart from the keeping of the law.

This is shown to us in the debate he had with these Jews in Acts 15 as well. Where some believing Jews were still of the mind that all men needed to keep the commandments of Moses and circumcision. While Paul was convinced of the Spirit that gentiles needed to do no such thing.

And in Gal.2 where he explains why he "withstood Peter to his face" for trying to pull gentiles into this kind of legalistic thinking. Even though the Lord had shown him otherwise in a vision we read about in Acts10 that he was no longer to call unclean what God now makes clean.

So this is the main issue in all of Romans. And if you have found yourself in a similar belief because you have been taught a wrong purpose for the law and the atonement. Then you need to do as Paul instructed them to do here in Romans.

You need to be dead to the law by the body of Christ. So that you can be joined to Him by faith just as Paul says faithful Abraham shows us. Turning from your old way of thinking, the “old man” of vs.6 must die. To believe in Jesus for righteousness without works. And be saved.

This is why Paul said if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in your heart that He raised from the dead. You will be saved. This is why Jesus taught that by your words you will be justified. And by your words you will be condemned.

Because the words that come from your mouth emanate from your heart. And if you confess Jesus is Lord with your mouth-the tree, your heart, has produced good fruit. But, if not then your tree has produced bad fruit.

So let your tree be good and your fruit good. Trust in Jesus and confess Him as Lord. And believe that He has raised from the dead. And you will be saved. Do this and you will be a child of God and heir to His kingdom. Do this and you will be born again. Do this and you will have eternal life, and immortality in the resurrection. Do this... and I will see you there or in the air!

This message can also be heard at: https://rumble.com/v2nsv6w-why-your-definition-of-sin-may-decide-if-you-receive-wages-or-the-gift-of-g.html