Rom 6:1 What then shall we say? Do we continue in sin so that grace may abound? What we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? No! Romans 6 goes on to explain that Rom 6:2 we ... have died to sin we ... are dead to sin Rom 6:6 our old man was jointly crucified our old man is crucified with him and that we have Rom 6:4 newness of life newness of life and are Rom 6:11 living to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. This new life is oriented to righteousness, not sin. Paul explains: Rom 6:18 But having been set free from sin, you have become servants of righteousness. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. It is a real change in our character God has brought about. As we learn to live more and more in the new life, sinful things become an abomination to us, things we wouldn't touch with a barge-pole, let alone things to be coveted. We also see how useless the things are that we used to do, and are ashamed of them. Paul asks Rom 6:21 So what fruit did you then have from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the result of those things is death. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is developed further in Romans 8. There, the Spirit is contrasted with the flesh and a carnal mind. Recapping on our other blessings, we are reminded that Rom 8:6 but the mindset of the spirit is on a par with life and peace. to be spiritually minded is life and The idea of “new life” agrees with John 3:3 the Lord says to Nicodemus,
Our adoption is into an family, in Eph 1:3 in the places in heavenly places are Eph 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name which is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: There is no mention of Abraham or anything typically Jewish, except for contrast. Presumably the heavenly realms here are far above even the authority, power and dominion of Jerusalem (earthly or heavenly) and titles associated with it (Zion, the Holy Mountain, etc.). It should not be surprising that the Ephesian adoption, which is addressed to Gentiles who were Eph 2:12 alienated from the citizenship of Israel aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, should be different to Israel's adoption. After Acts 28:28 we might expect something different: Acts 28:28 the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it. the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. What is surprising is where this blessing is based, and how high in the family we have been placed. 18. GRACIOUS GLORY (AV GLORY OF HIS GRACE) The adoption which we have just seen is Eph 1:5-6 according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his gracious glory, with which he showed us grace in the beloved, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. The Israelites were taught about glory and grace. God's glory in the Old Testament was a display of power, used to teach Israel God's righteous ways, but it was a fearful thing to them. After the Israelites had grumbled against the Lord about their food in the desert, Ex 16:10 they saw that the glory of the Lord had appeared in the cloud. behold, the of the LORD appeared in the cloud. When the assembly talked stoning Moses and Aaron because it thought it was better off in Egypt than in the desert, when
Deut 4:8 And what great nation is there that has statutes and righteous regulations according to all this law which I am placing before you today? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? But things have changed now:
Heb 10:10 And by this will we have been sanctified, we who are so through the of the body of Christ once and for all. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Isaiah 53 tells of the same events: Is 53:3-5 He was despised and repudiated by men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with affliction, While we were like a person hiding his face from him; He was despised, And we did not esteem him. Surely he has borne our ailments And taken the weight of our sorrows, But we considered him stricken, Struck by God and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The punishment for our was on him, And by his Our healing came. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Is 53:9 Because he did no violence, And was no deceit in his mouth. because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Is 53:12 he poured out his being to death, And he was counted with the transgressors, And he bore the sins of many, And he pleaded for the transgressors. he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. However, do not sit despondently contemplating His lot, for He has been raised up from the dead and is alive. This too was announced beforehand, both in type (the firstfruits at the Passover - Leviticus 23) and directly:
Is He will see the result of his inward toil; He will be satisfied. ... That is why I will apportion him among the great, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: ... Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, Ps That is why my heart is glad, And my mind rejoices; My flesh also dwells in security. For you will not leave my being in the grave, Nor will you your holy one to see decay. You have made the way of life known to me. There is an abundance of joys in your presence, And there are pleasant things in perpetuity at your right hand. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. The New Testament reminds us of the firstfruit: 1 Cor 15:20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. In view of the fact that the Lord is risen from the dead, it is appropriate to give the sequel to the quotation from Philippians above: Phil 2:9-11 which is why God has also greatly exalted him and has granted him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in the upper-heavens and on earth and underground, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. WHAT CAN WE SAY TO ALL THIS? To with: