Yesterday, I mentioned that Paul brought himself into trouble by making a statement which seemed to encourage people to sin. He intended to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus over Adam, faith over the law and grace over sins. But his statement would risk being abused. This is the offending statement.
where sin increased, grace abounded all the more
οὗ δὲ ἐπλεόνασεν ἡ ἁμαρτία, ὑπερεπερίσσευσεν ἡ χάρις (Romans 5:20b).
Therefore, Paul took the initiative to ask the following rhetorical question.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1)
Shall we sin more so as to draw out more grace from God? How would you deal with it?
where sin increased, grace abounded all the more
οὗ δὲ ἐπλεόνασεν ἡ ἁμαρτία, ὑπερεπερίσσευσεν ἡ χάρις (Romans 5:20b).
Therefore, Paul took the initiative to ask the following rhetorical question.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1)
Shall we sin more so as to draw out more grace from God? How would you deal with it?
Paul introduces a new concept to handle it --- "We have died to sin ἀπεθάνομεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ. " (Romans 6:2)
The word "sin τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ" is a noun in dative form. Therefore, it is translated into "to sin". In the whole epistle to the Romans, Paul uses "died to" three times. Twice he uses it with "sin" (Romans 6:2, 10) and once with "the law" (Romans 7:4). What does it mean?
I suppose Paul meant to cut off all connections with sins (with the law). But why would Paul be interested in death and used this image, this expression? Earlier on, he had demonstrated the superiority of grace over sins, life over death. Why did he conjure up this death image in his reasoning?
I suppose this is a forceful refutation of the power of death. Christ has conquered death on the cosmological level. Paul has conquered death on his psychological level and makes use of death to turn the table around. Death is at his service!
Paul began an analogy between our conversion and the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
Baptism is a symbol pregnant with meanings. Submerging in water is given the meaning of death and burial of the old and sinful self; emerging from water resurrection of a new and clean self. Then Paul imperceptibly brought in another death symbol --- the crucifixion. Jesus died on the cross and came back to life. Putting our faith in Jesus, we crucify our old and sinful self to death. If God raised Jesus from death, our faith in Jesus would enable us to share the resurrection of Jesus.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6:5).
The word "sin τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ" is a noun in dative form. Therefore, it is translated into "to sin". In the whole epistle to the Romans, Paul uses "died to" three times. Twice he uses it with "sin" (Romans 6:2, 10) and once with "the law" (Romans 7:4). What does it mean?
I suppose Paul meant to cut off all connections with sins (with the law). But why would Paul be interested in death and used this image, this expression? Earlier on, he had demonstrated the superiority of grace over sins, life over death. Why did he conjure up this death image in his reasoning?
I suppose this is a forceful refutation of the power of death. Christ has conquered death on the cosmological level. Paul has conquered death on his psychological level and makes use of death to turn the table around. Death is at his service!
Paul began an analogy between our conversion and the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
Baptism is a symbol pregnant with meanings. Submerging in water is given the meaning of death and burial of the old and sinful self; emerging from water resurrection of a new and clean self. Then Paul imperceptibly brought in another death symbol --- the crucifixion. Jesus died on the cross and came back to life. Putting our faith in Jesus, we crucify our old and sinful self to death. If God raised Jesus from death, our faith in Jesus would enable us to share the resurrection of Jesus.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6:5).
Sin is highly addictive. Sin enslaves us. Therefore, in the beginning, death was the only antidote to combat sin. Adam must die in order to stop the spread of sins all over the world. This antidote is very negative. The ingenuity in Paul makes him see something positive in death.
For he who has died is freed from sin (Romans 6:7).
You may wonder what the use is. You are already dead. What is the use to be freed from sin? This freedom from sin is useful only if there is life after death. Unless you are able to come back to life after death, you will not be able to enjoy this freedom from sin. This is exactly what baptism brings us.
But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.
For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:8-11).
For he who has died is freed from sin (Romans 6:7).
You may wonder what the use is. You are already dead. What is the use to be freed from sin? This freedom from sin is useful only if there is life after death. Unless you are able to come back to life after death, you will not be able to enjoy this freedom from sin. This is exactly what baptism brings us.
But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.
For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:8-11).
Dear Lord, St. Paul has done a very wonderful exposition to exhort us to lead a new life in Christ, free from the law, free from sin and free from death. Help us follow his advice and obtain salvation. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment