Who has free will?
(Romans 6; Galatians 3:26-27; 1 John 1:8-2:1) Blog Nov. 12-18, 2017
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Paul’s theme in Romans is the Gospel and how to be saved by it. After assuring all humanity that God will judge us according to his perfect Law he shows that none of us is righteous enough to be accepted by God. Then Paul shows how God has provided in the perfect life and atoning death of Jesus the kind of righteousness he requires. Those who accept this gracious gift will be accepted unto life eternal. Our acceptance of God’s gift is by means of faith alone without any obedience on our part, nor does any ritual need to precede being justified by God. In fact the gift of righteousness was made entirely apart from any transformation in us. Just as in Adam we were condemned to death so those in Christ by faith are counted righteous because of his representation.
Dead to sin (Romans 6:1-11; 5:20-21; Galatians 3:26-27; )
1. If sin brought grace is Paul suggesting that we should make sin our continuing lifestyle?
2. What does Paul mean by being baptized into Jesus?
3. When we become part of what Christ is, what two experiences of his become ours also?
4. For what did Christ die?
5. If we are partakers of Christ’s death what should be our attitude toward sin?
6. If we are partakers of Christ’s resurrection what should be our attitude toward obedience?
7. What is verse 11 telling us to do?
Alive from the dead (Romans 6:12-14; James 3:5)
8. Who alone has freedom of will to deny sin’s reign in the life?
9. What are our “members” spoken of in verse 13?
10. What are we to present to God before giving him our “members”?
11. According to verse 14 why does sin not have dominion over us?
12. What does “under the law” mean?
Free from sin (Romans 6:15-23; John 8:34; Gal. 5:19-21; John 1:8-2:1)
13. From the idea of kingly reign to what metaphor does Paul now turn?
14. In what sense is the Christian “free from sin”?
15. Giving heed to (believing in) what doctrine brings freedom from sin’s mastery?
16. According to verse 19 what will be the result of yielding our members to serve righteousness?
17. Is it possible for those who serve sin to participate in sanctification?
18. What shameful fruit did we produce when we were servants of sin?
19. Apart from “life” and “death” what other contrast is brought out in verse 23?ANSWERS: 1. No, not at all; 2. That we are immersed into Christ by being placed there by the Father when we believe – this is distinct from water baptism that places a person into Christ’s visible body, the church; 3. Death & resurrection; 4. For the sins of the world; 5. It should no longer be our ruler; 6. It should be our continual desire & action; 7. Just as God has counted or reckoned us to be righteous when in ourselves we are not, so we are to count or reckon ourselves dead to sin & alive unto God through Jesus our sinless Substitute; 8. The person who is born again in Christ for apart from him we can do nothing; 9. Eyes, tongue, hands, hormones, mind, etc.; 10. Ourselves; 11. Because we are not under the law but under grace (which inspires & empowers righteous living); 12. “Under the law” means to be under the obligation to perfectly fulfill it by one’s personal behavior as the way to be accepted by God – therefore as sinners we are under its condemnation, legally captives of Satan; 13. That of servant or slave; 14. He is free from its mastery but not free from its presence; 15. The doctrine of justification by faith alone; 16. Holiness or sanctification; 17. No, they are free from righteousness; 18. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, & revellings; 19. That of “wages” & “gift”.