Random Romans

(Romans 6:13) - “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness.”

Interpretation -The Greek word “paristemi” is translated “yield ye”, “yield”, “ye yield”, and “ye have yielded” in Romans 6. However, I find its translation, “present”, in Romans 12:1 most helpful in discerning the meaning of this passage. In Romans 12 one is instructed to “present your bodies a living sacrifice…unto God.” Thus I could read Romans 6:13, “Neither present your members as instruments [weapons] of unrighteousness unto sin: but present yourselves unto God...as instruments [weapons] of righteousness unto God.” When we present our members we are placing our members at one’s disposal wilfully. We are placing a weapon, ourselves, in the hands of God or Satan. There is no other option.

Application - yielding or presenting my members as instruments or weapons of unrighteousness is acting or speaking in unrighteous, sinful ways. I make myself an instrument or weapon of unrighteousness by wilfully disobeying the clear teachings of the Bible, thus living for society, self, and Satan. If I want to present myself as an instrument or weapon in the hands of God I must live for the Saviour. This means reading and meditating on the Word of God, an active prayer life, and participation in the House of God.

(Romans 10:13-17)  13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and howshall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hearwithout a preacher ?

15 And how shall they preach , except they be sent ? as it is written , Howbeautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring gladtidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith , Lord, who hathbelieved our report? {our report: Gr. the hearing of us?} {report: or, preaching?}

17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Interpretation – Salvation is open to all who call on the name of the Lord. Romans 10:8-10 gives further explanation as to what this call is to be, a call on God from a heart of faith in the risen Saviour.

Application – The application the Apostle Paul lays out in this passage is where my conviction comes in. The lost must cry out in faith to Jesus Christ if they are to be saved from their sins. In order to do this they must hear the Word of God preached. However, this cannot occur unless a God sent man preaches the Word of God. This truth is graciously illustrated for us in Acts 8: 26-40. God sent Phillip to the Ethiopian Eunuch to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Phillip opened up the Word of God and preached it to a willing listener who was gloriously saved by grace through faith. We must become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. 

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