Romans, Session 11: Romans 6.15-23

Getting started

In this verse Paul repeats what he wrote in v1. Why do you think he feels the need to repeat himself?
- Someone has said that you have to repeat a message at least 7 times before people get it. Have you experienced times when the Lord has had to repeatedly bring something to your attention before you got the point?
- We are to obey God because we live under grace, and not despite the fact of His grace. Why is this something that we need to be reminded of?

Paul asks a direct question here. How would you answer? Has the reality that everyone is a slave to something – to sin or to God – sunk in?
- ‘Sin’ is a generic term for anything other than God that people give themselves to as their highest good. Dig down into that: what specific things can people give themselves to that they become enslaved to?

Paul says that sin leads to death. How come / In what way?
- How does obedience lead to righteousness?

What ‘before and after’ contrast is Paul drawing?
- Paul begins this contrast with ‘thanks be to God’. Does the gospel warm your heart? Do you remind yourself of it and use it as the basis of thanksgiving to God? List some of the things God has done for you in Christ that could be the basis of such thanksgiving.
- What is Paul referring to when he talks of ‘the standard of teaching’? Break that phrase down and draw out its implications.
- We are exposed to various messages/teachings in the course of our lives that shape and form us – either as slaves to righteousness or to sin. The gospel has that effect, but so to do the messages of the world. How does the world preach at you?

How does lawlessness (choosing to live contrary to God’s law in one area) lead to more lawlessness in our lives?
- How does presenting yourself as a slave to righteousness lead to sanctification? How can our actions and habits shape our character for good?
- Can you give an example of where you have practically done this?

What do you think Paul means when he says that when we were slaves of sin we were free in regard to righteousness?
- What is the irony in this freedom from righteousness?

Why does it matter that we understand that we have already been set free from sin and become God’s slave?

What’s the difference between a wage and a gift?
- Why does this difference matter when it comes to life and death?

How would you summarise Paul’s message in this passage. What difference should it make in our lives?

What images does slavery conjure up for you?
In this passage Paul sets up a contrast: between being a slave to sin or a slave to God. We are one or the other and whichever one we are has profound implications for our lives.

Paul asks a direct question here. How would you answer? Has the reality that everyone is a slave to something – to sin or to God – sunk in?
- ‘Sin’ is a generic term for anything other than God that people give themselves to as their highest good. Dig down into that: what specific things can people give themselves to that they become enslaved to?
  The acceptance/opinion/approval of others; power and control; financial security; entertainment, success or comfort, etc. Whatever it is, it becomes the thing that guides their decisions in life or determines whether they are happy or not.

Paul says that sin leads to death. How come / In what way?
Sin brings physical death and eternal death – but it also brings death – brokenness of life – now. For example, if you’re a slave to the opinion of others, the death you will reap in this life could include fear, hurt, self-pity, moral inconsistency, inadequacy etc; if you’re a slave to power and control the death you’ll experience could include fear, envy, jealousy, broken relationships; if you’re a slave to financial security the death you could experience might include over-work, compromise at work to get promotion, a lack of generosity, fear, etc.
- How does obedience lead to righteousness?
  We’ll consider this more below

What ‘before and after’ contrast is Paul drawing?
Before our conversion we were slaves to sin, but we’ve been converted and the gospel has changed us. We’ve been set free from our old master – sin, and now we live for our new master – God and righteousness. And now we desire to obey Him – from the heart.
- What is Paul referring to when he talks of ‘the standard of teaching’? Break that phrase down and draw out its implications.
  Paul is referring to the gospel. It’s ‘the’ – there is only one true gospel. It’s the ‘standard’ – all other truth is judged by this truth. It has a specific content. It’s ‘teaching’ – it can be communicated, heard, received, learned, taken into the heart.

How does lawlessness (choosing to live contrary to God’s law in one area) lead to more lawlessness in our lives?
Knowingly refusing to listen and obey God in one area makes it easier to do so in another. Our conscience can become dulled. We find it easier to say ‘no’ to God, and so can find ourselves on a downward spiral.

What do you think Paul means when he says that when we were slaves of sin we were free in regard to righteousness?
God, and obedience to Him, and the righteousness that flows from that, were not our master. They had no hold or controlling influence in our lives. We were free – we felt no obligation to love God and obey Him.
- What is the irony in this freedom from righteousness?
  If you are free from righteousness it is only because you are a slave to sin. We’re all serving one master or another.

Why does it matter that we understand that we have already been set free from sin and become God’s slave?
This is not something we have to try and do, it is something God has done for us. Now, we need to live into our new and real identity. Sin’s power and domination over our lives has been broken – now we can choose to live as His obedient people.

What’s the difference between a wage and a gift?
- Why does this difference matter when it comes to life and death?
  We earn/deserve death; but life is His unmerited, unearned gift to us.