BIBLE STUDY – FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018.
THEME FOR THE YEAR: “UNLIMITED RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE” (Ephesians 2: 8 – 10).
TOPIC: “From Slaves of Sin to Sons of God”
TEXT: Romans 6: 15 – 21
AIMS:
- To show that sin enslaves people
- To show that righteousness makes people sons or children of God.
INTRODUCTION:
A slave is someone totally responsible to and dependent upon another person.
Slavery was prevalent and widely accepted in the ancient world. The economy of Egypt, Greece and Rome was based on slave labour. Slavery laws appear in Exodus 21: 1-11; Lev. 25: 39-53 and Deut. 15: 12-18.
Metaphorical uses of slavery appear in the O/T and N/T, but we shall look at three of it in the latter. A life of sin is spoken of as slavery to sin (Jn. 8: 34; Rom. 6: 6, 16-20; Heb. 2: 15). Legalism is a kind of slavery (Gal. 4: 24-25; 5: 1). Paradoxically, however, there is also a blessed slavery to righteousness (Rom. 6: 16-22).
Apostle Paul continued his discussions of sanctification by reminding his readers of their past slavery to sin and their new slavery to righteousness. He urged them to live in submission to their new master, Jesus Christ, and not to be entangled again with the sins that characterized their old life, sins which no longer have any claim over them (Rom. 6: 15-21). As those who had surrendered their lives to God, He expected them to begin to obey God through the knowledge of His Word, and not to yield to sinful desires. Sin, he said, could only lead to death (v. 19-21).
Questions for Discussion
- Why do we need to live in submission to our new master, Jesus Christ?
- Sin enslaves, clarify?
- With reference to Rom. 6: 17, what effect does the word of God have in the life of someone?
- “For the end of those things is death” (Rom/ 6: 21b).
Conclusion: Sin is cancerous and the end of it is eternal damnation, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, therefore, having been delivered from the bondage of sin, God gives us the grace to live in righteousness. We should submit ourselves totally to God, so that we can no longer yield to the sinful nature.
Talk Back
Memory Verse: Rom. 6: 18 “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.