Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of Romans

Chapter 6

Rom.6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?

Why did the apostle Paul speak like this? Two thousand's year later most of us focus are attention on the word sin to the exclusion of the whole issue of the time. Sin, the word that religion pounds on like a law book fearing people will uses grace as excuse for sinning, but missing the whole point of Paul's words here. How shocking this is not Paul's point here, do you know what was?

Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

It was Christian's going back to the law, which promoted sin in us, that is, pointed up our sins to convicted us of unrighteousness. How could brothers and sisters go back to the law that produced dead works? How could they remain in something that did not remove their sins? How could they go back to what Christ died to remove their judgment from? How could they go back to a shadow that condemned them into death?

Romans 5:20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;

Romans 6:14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.

Why would they remain in sin, that is, the conviction of the law, so that grace would abound? Please understand, the law was death because no one was righteous, it could not be meant by person born into sin. God sent a perfect sinless man, because none were found upon earth. Christ came from heaven, born as a man, but sinless to free us from death, shocking words to a Jew, why? Because they believe life is through the law, life was not through the law, death was proven by the law, but how?

Romans 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

Galatians 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

Galatians 2:18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.

Simply by the fact, not one person was righteous by the law, a person could be made righteous by blood of innocent victim, but not by the law, if Christian's remain in death which was the conviction of the law, than their only hope was grace, what grace? That God would forgive their ignorance and allow the blood of Christ so that grace may abound. Grace is not a nice word Christian's say, it is a legal action by God, to remove the curse of the law off of humans, by allowing his son righteous blood to redeem, purchase human from the death of the laws legal judgment of death for sin.

Galatians 2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."{Deuteronomy 27:26}

In Christ there is no sin for those made apart of him, the law is dead in Christ because Christ fulfilled the requirement of the law without sin. Please do not let anyone deceive you, Christian's have no other standing with God, without grace, that is, undeserved kindness, or unmerited kindness, in God's love, in sending us an undeserved gift of Christ to removed death freeing us from sin. Christ conquered death by completing the law, a law that would not be removed off of us without removing heaven and earth, such is the power of faith, and such is what happen to the Jewish religious system of things their heaven and earth was removed by faith in Christ.

Romans 7:6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

Romans 9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness.

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Matt.5:17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill. 5:18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter{literally, iota} or one tiny pen stroke{or, serif} shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

Rom.6:3 Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Paul's words here are not a concern for most Christian's today they have little or no meaning to them, but they are the life blood of true Christian's in their staying in the Christ. The death of Christ freed the flesh of Christ from the judgments of this world, which world, was the world of the Jewish system of things, and what was that world? It was a world of the law of Moses, a world of a priesthood, lawgivers, and judges of what? The flesh, the flesh of the Jewish faith under sin and death!

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:16 who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

Sadly, the Jewish faith judged Christ wrong, Christ had no sin, but the laws of Jews was unrighteously used to convict Jesus of sinning. Hence, this one mistake, perhaps, the greatest mistake a nation, or person could have made cost them everything! Their heavens, and earth where removed, that is, the law of God, the law of Moses, and their earth, the temple, and its worship in the Jewish society, which controlled everything they lived for was brought to destruction by the Roman government.

Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Luke.21:5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 21:6 "As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down."

This mistake they made is the same mistake made today by a field of weed Christian's. Which is building up what Christ tore down in fulfilling the heavens and earth of the Jewish system of things, do you know what that was? It was their flesh their judgment which should be dead in Christ! Yes, Christ death in his flesh, removed the judgment of the law of Moses, by his righteous life in not sinning in fulfilled, or completed the law of Moses. Now he lives in spirit, and truth, he is our Spirit and truth, he no longer in the flesh, we know him so no more, but what of our flesh?

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

Matt. 5:17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill. 5:18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter{literally, iota} or one tiny pen stroke{or, serif} shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
5:19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Do we continue trying to prove our flesh righteous in the sight of men as all religion does? Do we justify ourselves in the sight of men, or are we dead in our flesh to the judgments of men in the flesh? Christ Jesus was dead in his flesh, to the world he lived in long before he was put to death in the flesh, by evil men. Christ was of no uses to the Jewish system of things this is why he was killed by them, he brought nothing to their way of life under the flesh and its rules to sustain life in the Jewish system of things. Christ seemingly took away from the Jewish system of things for those having power, and position by authority of teachings God's word the bible. All those fleshly minded teachers hated Christ, he took away their adulation from men, he made them look bad in the flesh, by his teachings of truth. Yes, Jesus was not their to build up their world, he was their to finish the work of God in their world in fulfilling the law!

John 17:16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

John 17:14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 15:18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Now the apostle Paul also hated by many, and partially those of the flesh promoting this world, but he tells us we must be dead in our flesh to this world, and/or speaking to those wanting to go back into the laws of the flesh of this world, for them to stop living in their flesh while professing the Christ as their head!

Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!

Romans 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you are dead in Christ, than you have been raised in Spirit and truth, not flesh and its lies, but raised without flesh, because if you die in Christ you have no flesh being judged by the flesh of this world, the two laws of do not mixes. Christ put that all away, you are not raised into a body upon earth that is sinful, but raised into a spirit body without sin, so why do you seek approval of your flesh, by laws for the flesh, when you should seek the things above, the law of love which justifies you by the blood of Christ?

Romans 6:13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be!

Romans 6:18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.

Romans 6:20 For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

Romans 6:22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.

This work not completed added to weekly if the Lord permits

continued:

***Rom.6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

Symbolism is one thing, truth is another, religion uses much symbolism, but many come to believe the symbolism is truth, and find the bible a fiction. The events the apostle Paul speak to hear are not symbolic, that is, doing some perfunctory fleshly action giving it greater meaning than being baptized into Christ.

Revelation 1:18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades{or, Hell}.

Christ first and for most, is living, he is glorified, and has been made incorruptible by God's YHWH own glory. He is the living Word of God, he has conquered death and Hades, and when a person is baptized into Christ they are indwelt with the spirit of Christ, because they have become an intimately part of Christ life.

The person new life becomes Christ life as one, they no longer have a separate will, from a separate mind, their flesh under sin is dead in Christ who is the Spirit temple of God. Nothing is a symbol, that is, an idol, what indwells in them is the living person of Christ as their King, whom glorifies his Father, not himself, and he speaks as the exact representation of God, to us, to restore us to the Father own mind!

John 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.

Matt. 6:1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 6:2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does, 6:4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 6:5 "When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6:6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

False religion is pictured as weeds, not wheat, false religion is an imitation of truth. Satan planted not wheat, but false religion, weeds, over sowing the field of God's planting. What makes a wheat, a wheat, and not a weed? Christ life indwelling us, not words from our bible, not reading the bible changes a person from flesh into a spirit person. It is being put to death in our flesh, that is, the mind of the flesh, and being given the mind of Christ. So just how are we given the mind of Christ? Is it from a word from our bibles, a symbol, an idol, or is it by the living Word of God indwelling us with his mind?

1Cor.1:29 that no flesh should boast before God. 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

2 Corinthians 3:3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 3:8 won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

The anointing from God, is not from below, it is not of man, or can it be symbolized in being baptized at some religious organization. Rather it is God's Holy Spirit coming upon a person, changing them, causing them to be born again, into a new person, a new birth, which is as real as their birth into this world under sin. This birth bring them into life, not their own life dead in Christ, but the life they were born into, which is, Christ life. From the life of Christ which is shared with each anointed child of God, come all truth, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is lacking, they have received salvation, they have received the light, they are being taught by the power of Holy Spirit, disciplined, and comforted by the same Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

However, when they make Christ as symbol by words of the fleshly mind, idolizing their own thinking as directing their lives false religion is born into weeds that deceived and kills the Christ in them! God will not share his glory in self-will, which creates false religion and death.

Philippians 2:16 holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn't run in vain nor labor in vain.

Ephesians 4:22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

*** Rom.6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

This is a powerful thought. Christ does not exist divided, either a person is a part of his body as a cherish member or they are not? If a Christian's thinks words or a group makes them part of Christ they would be wrong. Death in Christ kills sin, and its judgment which is God's legal action based upon the value of Christ life. Not that we are without sin in our flesh, but legally it is not accounted against us because of Christ death paid the price for our sins once for all times.

Hebrews 10:10 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.

Hence, if that is true, than we must also be raised with him, because Christ was raised, and if we are apart of him we are raised in spirit while in our sinful flesh is still upon earth. Here is the profound truth the apostle Paul speaks to, as to why Christ is our mediator, and how we can be new, having our old man not accounted against us, and how we can be taught the truth without the judgment of our fallen flesh lusting with its deceptive desires.
Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

Bondage of sin will not allow us the mind of Christ, so Christ freed us from sin by his own life, he was raised by his Father YHWH into a mighty spirit person where death of the flesh is no more, and has no power over him because Christ is not part of corruption, that is , the flesh that is dying from sins corruption. Christ is incorruptible life without flesh or sin. Our thus being apart of Christ life, we are new, new in spirit, new in truth of Holy Spirit, and elevated upon God's mountain with Christ.

2 Peter 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

As Christ himself when upon earth was connected to the Father by Holy Spirit while living in his flesh, so are we, we carry the pains of sin and its lust, but not accounted against us so we can have God's Spirit, which is found in the mind of Christ, the head of the body for God's children. Our struggle between the mind of the flesh not accounted against us (dead to God's judgment), although still active and alive at times perfects us into perfect faith, which when understood by Spirit means perfect trust, and/or perfect love, for without trust one cannot be perfect in love. Hence, our being seated with Christ, means we can have his elevated mind in heaven communing with Christ the bread of life, Christ mind and spirit has no yeast of sin giving us a taste of the glorious freedom of the son's of God to come. This is our hope, not based upon any human reasoning, but the perfect will of God, which proved to be Christ in his flesh upon earth, the pattern we follow in everything proving ourselves a faithful slave.

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you{TR reads "us" instead of "you"} an example, that you should follow his steps.

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;

1 John 4:8 He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.

***Rom.6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

How has a person been freed from sin if they die? Please give this thoughts some consideration because once understood the rest of the scriptures for Christian's are built upon this foundation stone. The sinful flesh is under judgment, what judgment? The judgment God convicted, and sentence Adam and Eve too in the Garden of Eden. Court was held, sentence was handed down both were put out of the Garden, and death came to the Spirit of God in them, no longer being able to associated with God's Spirit they died spiritually on that day, which started the physical bodies decline into death.

2Cor.5:5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit. 5:6 Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

1Cor.5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:5 are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

But did God judge their spirit, or did they pay the price for sinning in their flesh by death to their flesh? The wages sin pays is death to the flesh, we simply do not yet know how God will deal with the spirit of people in the final judgment?

Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

There is no longer a judgment of the flesh for those that died in their flesh, at death the flesh has paid the price for sinning, we will all die at some point because we are all sinners. There is a sin that cannot be forgiven which is beyond the flesh, sinning against God's Holy Spirit.

Matthew 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.

So the apostle Paul has been laying the foundation for what Christ has done for God's anointed. They are freed from judgment of sin in their flesh, but how and why? Let us remember the day of spiritual death came too Adam and Eve when they were unable to communion with the source of life, God, their Father, for Adam was a “son of God”. Christ being the last Adam, that is, replacing Adam as our father, Christ died in his flesh, although, not sinful flesh, but nonetheless, Christ now does not have flesh and blood, so when a person is adopted by God, they are made a part of Christ Jesus righteous life. They are dead because of Christ paying the price for their life, by his precious blood, killing their flesh, as Christ own flesh was impaled.

2 Corinthians 1:9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.

Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Romans 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

In other words, those in Christ have received the death and life of Christ Jesus, their flesh is not under judgment, it is dead, its paid the price for sin, and live by the Spirit of God. Being in Christ is not a word from the bible, an imaginary thought, but instead the foundation of Christ Jesus which the son's of God are build upon. They do not exist in their flesh before God, they exist in Spirit in Christ before God freed from sin declared righteous by the life of Christ Jesus indwelling them. Yes, they receive the righteousness of the body of Christ, the life of the body, and the death of the body, provided they stay in Christ. How do they stay in Christ?

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

Rom.8:11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Many Christ believe by works of law, that is, distrusting God, performing works out of fear to gain entry into Christ, but such is false religion, one does not know why God choose some, and not others to be son's of God? It does not depend upon the one running or wishing, it depends upon God. For the son's of God to stay in Christ they can only do so by faith, that is, trusting God, resting in Christ, and coming back to God in complete faith in Spirit and not their old flesh. No anointed Christian can walk by flesh, which is by site, and trust God's Spirit, or please God.

Rom.8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.
8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

The putting faith in God the Spirit person means death to our flesh on every level, in our will, in our ambitious of the flesh, in our thinking, for us to live in the Spirit through the mind of Christ. Fear is through the flesh, peace and rest comes through the Spirit, not fear of lost of salvation for lack of trust. Just as Israel had to believe manna was on the ground for their survival, and not by their good works, or will, nor by obeying perfectly the laws of God, but rather in faith trusting in God to provide despite their weakness of the filth of their flesh. So too does God's children trust in the bread of life, the real manna of God, Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 28:12 to whom he said, "This is the resting place. Give rest to weary;" and "This is the refreshing;" yet they would not hear.

Isaiah 30:15 For thus said the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, "You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence." You refused.

Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 4:10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

Romans 4:4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as debt.

Romans 4:6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,

We are dead in Christ, we live not by works of our flesh, but in faith when a person thinks that such faith is an easy walk in life, let them be reminded few find life, few conquer the world as Christ did by faith in his Father putting complete trust in his every word, being hated by all the wisdom of the world for being certainly narrow minded to their enlighten thinking.

1Cor.1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."{Isaiah 29:14}
1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
1:22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
1:23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
1:28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:

***Rom. 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 6:9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! 6:10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 6:12 Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 6:13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 6:14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

Let those reading the book of Romans remember context of the time and why it was written by the apostle Paul. The reason for the book of Roman's was to teach Christian''s the importance of not going back to the Law that they were under grace and not sin, but how could the law be sin when it was righteous and good? Here than is why the book of Roman's was written because that is precisely human thinking, which is?

Romans 2:20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.

Romans 2:23 You who glory in the law, through your disobedience of the law do you dishonor God?

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Human believe if something is good, and righteous, and we as human use it, it makes us good and righteous. The law certainly was good and righteous, it was perfect, written by God's finger, but human are not? The fatal mistake the Jews made, and many Christian's is in thinking they can remove sin by laws, hence Paul's argument in the book of Roman's.

Rom.7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."{Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21} 7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

Romans 7:12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.

Romans 7:21 I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.

Rom.7:13 Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful. 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.

Each human has sin, they have the thinking of sin, which is a filth of our flesh, they cannot put it away by using more righteous laws. Let no Christian's be fooled here, sin is atone for, not worked to get read of by application of more laws created for the wicked. Either human are good without sin, and the law declare them righteous, and/or they are sinner and the law condemns them as a sinner needing forgiveness, redemption, a purchase from their sin by blood, but not both at the same time!

Rom.7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thus, Christ died once for all times for our sins purchasing us, removing our sins under law, how? Simply put, he fulfilled the law, setting aside its judgment of our sins of our flesh, this is Paul's argument, nothing more. Each child of God was put to death in Christ and raised in Christ, Christ has no flesh or sin, Christian's in Christ are in the same spirit state as Christ in God's eyes, why than go back to an instrument that only did one thing condemn a person in their flesh? Why? Simply put, for self-righteousness, feeling good about a person worth that they can stand on their own merit before God, how? By works of law, by works under laws that condemn sin, gaining merit in their judgment of themselves on how they meet those laws as good or evil.

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

1Cor. 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self.
4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

But Paul argues your not under works of law, but grace, why? Because a Christian's cannot earn grace, lets say that one more time, they cannot earn unmerited kindness, which is, undeserved kindness, it cannot be earned by human merit, that is, doing some good work according to laws for merit with God that no longer exist in Christ, what laws? The laws controlling what is wicked in each human, sins laws. They could not earn life under the old Law by works of law either, they must atone for their sins, putting faith in the blood, not themselves. Now the question is posed, but if we do not condemn the sins of the flesh, by righteous laws, won't that give us an excuse to just sin in our flesh, such human reasoning!

Galatians 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?

2 Corinthians 13:4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.

1 Peter 1:5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Is Christ weak for righteousness by faith? No! Christ is not weak, human in their sinful flesh are weak, but not Christ? Has not Christ become our righteousness, is that such a little thing? Is God our Father so uninvolved in his children spiritual lives that Christ righteousness working through them is less than the law righteous? Does being apart of the body of Christ mean so little that we would trade laws righteousness for the Christ righteousness? Here is where those not in Christ go wrong they assume Christ is inactive in members of his own body whom he loves and cherish. Can you imagine such a thing as this? That we as human will not let apart of our own body become infected with disease without using all that in the body and outside of the body to cure it. Are we saying those belonging to Christ whom are in Christ who is righteous, and has become our righteousness, is going to just let his member of his own body be cut off without a fight?

Hebrews 2:14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 7:16 who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

Hebrews 1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

1Cor.1:29 that no flesh should boast before God.
1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

Law cuts people off, it deals with it enemies one way, do it according to the law or be cut off. Apply the law evenly so one does not have no conscious over the matter, because the law is greater than the person or their life, right? Unfortunately, and unwittingly a yes to that question just condemned you into death! Now in that we are condemned into death by law what do you and I need? Undeserved kindness, because we are sinner that what the law proved, our mouths are shut we cannot justify ourselves as a sinner we stand condemned, by the law. Either God shows us undeserved kindness in giving us his Son life or we die in ours sins, because we can never work our way out of our sins without unmerited kindness from God. We must trust in faith, in the merit of Christ life to bring us to righteousness, sanctification, through the wisdom of God, we cannot get there by our will, we cannot put away the filth of our own flesh without the merit of Christ being given us freely by God's own love.

Romans 9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness.

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

1 John 3:5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

***Rom.6:15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! 6:16 Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?

Many of Christian has made the mistake of accepting Christ Jesus, as their righteousness, and than become obedient to the laws of a religion or the old law of Moses through that religion, thinking the rules are what makes them righteous. This line of reasoning is what the apostle Paul was addressing here, what seemed innocent, good and righteous made the body of Christ members servants of death and sin again.

Romans 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;
5:21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Jews most of them could not go beyond the righteousness of the law, which in and of itself gave them the death penalty, convicting them as sinner needing redemption for their sins by blood atonement. Once Christ fulfilled the law with his own righteous blood he became a Christian's righteousness and just as the Jews had been obedient to the laws righteousness, so now Christian's must be obedient to Christ his righteousness under the law of love.

Rom.10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 10:2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 10:3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

However, there was a greater problem, and what was that? The law was set aside by God for his son righteousness he put his stamp of approval upon Christ making him the only way to righteousness by his life through faith, no other law was authorized by God, he recognizes no other law under his Kingdom, but the new covenant, instituted by his son blood. Without blood of atonement, a person has gone back to sin and death, they have no means for salvation, they have return to no righteousness, but unrighteousness without God's acceptance of atonement. Christ blood does not atone for the sins under the law Christ blood atones for those in the new covenant not those staying under the old covenant. Sins under the old law were atone for yearly, sometime daily were the Christian's going to slaughter Christ daily for sin under the old covenant, no!

Gal.4:6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba,{Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for "Father" or "Daddy" used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.} Father!" 4:7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
4:8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 4:10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 4:11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

Heb.6:4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
6:5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6:6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

Christ died once for all times regarding sin, but the concern the Jews used as an excuse for not having faith in Christ Jesus righteousness, which seemed weak to them was? “Grace is weak, it not enough, if people are freed from the law, and its righteousness having no law but the law of love they will just sin.”

Romans 14:4 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.

In other words, they would rather impute evil into others, by laws convicting all humans including themselves of evil, for the law was not for those made righteous in Christ, but the wicked. They thought this line of reasoning brought righteousness, but they were sorely mistaken; weak as Christ appeared to them for righteousness sake without the old law, they did not understand the power of Christ life working in his followers.

1Cor.1:22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
1:23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 1:28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:
1:29 that no flesh should boast before God. 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

They did not understand Christ was their righteousness, not themselves in meeting a law or a rule for convicting the flesh of sinful acts. They did not have faith in the resurrected life of Christ Jesus as the incorruptible seed planted by God's own love in the hearts of each of his children that was a force for good and righteousness in each child of God. For by law they would convict even the son of God of sin murdering him because they saw evil by the law in everyone, for the law was not for the righteous.
Many Christian's are proud they can by laws and rules point up sins in others, they think this is the power of being a Christian's, they would rather see evil so they can see good in themselves just as the Jews foolish made the same mistake in judging righteous blood with law for evil people.

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

Matthew 7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

Romans 7:21 I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

Romans 12:21 Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

***Rom.6:17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto you were delivered. 6:18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness. 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

We as Christian's reading Paul's words here must stay on point. Many have no idea the point Paul was making here? They pick up their bible read a verse or two to support there religious up bring deliberately blinding themselves to any other possible explanation of what the truth is, why Paul stated the above, let not do that?

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

The law was not made for a righteous person it was made for the unrighteous convicting them of their sins. Those in Christ are made righteous how? By the life of Christ indwelling them with Holy Spirit from God. Christ removes their judgment he washes them clean, and sanctifies them by his life that is freely given us by God's love.

1Cor.1:29 that no flesh should boast before God. 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

Christ is living a live powerful spirit being that indwells God's son's. The law did not indwell the nation of Israel. God made certain prophets eat his words so they became a part of them physically. Each Christian eats the bread of life, the manna, Christ Jesus giving them his life within them spiritually. They have a living law written into their hearts, it is the personality of God found in Christ Jesus who than becomes are wisdom.

2Cor.3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God;
3:5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 3:7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:
3:8 won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
3:9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

Now in this context we are not bondservants to sin, that is, the old laws judgment, we have been made bondservants of righteousness, not that we have made ourselves, bondservants to whom? Christ Jesus, our righteousness. The law was the physical nation of Israels righteousness, what they judged their own righteousness against, which proved they were not righteous at all, but the law was.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Romans 7:12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.

Christ is the new covenant our righteousness having the new law of love indwelling us. We cannot judge ourselves against a law that has no laws against it for punishing our sinful flesh. Why? Because God's love does not have flesh and blood, it is of the Spirit and that is why its call truth. The flesh in it sinful nature cannot be the truth, nor is its God's love.

Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}

This is Paul's point that is spot on truth, not religion promoting righteousness by laws of their group. Not a brother or sister condemning others with laws for sin, to make themselves appear more righteous or claiming it is Jesus Christ righteousness. Mankind does not make themselves a bondservant to righteousness, Christ Jesus is righteous and his life substituted for our makes us righteous, where our judgment of flesh is dead to God, and Christ lives in us as a the new covenant written upon hearts by Holy Spirit and expressed to others by Christ indwelling us for God's glory, not a man, not a religion, and certainly not to prove ourselves righteous or right before men of flesh.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let's also walk by the Spirit.

2 Timothy 2:11 This saying is faithful: "For if we died with him, we will also live with him.

1 John 4:9 By this God's love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.