the choice between life and death
To any who might suggest that the Gospel of Christ eliminates a need to pursue righteous living, Paul, in the sixth chapter of Romans, made a clear claim that Christians are not drawn into cheap grace but are free, instead, to live into the ways of the kingdom of God; those having been saved cannot live as they once did: “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:2b). In the next chapter, he continued this argument by expounding on the idea of being freed from the burden of the law to now be free to delight in the law—even while still existing within the midst of a battle between spirit and flesh. But, at this point, Paul emphasized to his audience, being primarily Jewish with pharisaic influences of shame for doctrinal disobedience, that the old is gone—the sinful man is dead and buried—and we are instead resurrected into a newness of abundant life with Christ. Through this description, Paul provided a fresh perspective on a topic well understood by the Jewish community: baptism. However, the baptism of the Spirit, being washed in the blood of the Lamb, is greater because, in addition to cleansing us (as originally understood through purification laws), it also now puts to death the old (see Matthew 3:11). Having encountered Christ, we are no longer the same!
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)
Therefore, having been made alive in Christ, having been set free, we are called to live into the righteousness that has been bestowed upon us through faith. To ensure thorough understanding, Paul turned the example from baptism to slavery; Paul outlined the ridiculous notion of a freed slave still living as a slave serving a former master. Attempting to utilize understandable language and allegories, Paul highlighted the foolish of remaining obedient and submissive to a defeated tyrant who no longer holds claim and power. Simply stated: being a freed slave, stop living as a slave.
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” (Romans 6:12)
“Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15)
Having provided the allegorical depictions of baptism and slavery, Paul then turned yet again to another example possibly invoking lessons learned from the book of Proverbs. This third allegory is found in an often quoted verse that is rarely offered within context. We read about justly earned wages when indirectly asked the question for whom we will choose to work. Speaking to established Christians already sufficiently Biblically literate, the question of to whom we will serve stands as both a pre and post salvation decision. The allegory of work suggests that we are now free to choose our employer (a decision previously unavailable to us). In Proverbs, the father offers his son two paths which are metaphorically described as women: Lady Wisdom and Madam Folly. Lady Wisdom works diligently to provide what is good and pleasing and her table is filled with an amazing feast; Madam Folly, alternately, allures and ensnares others into an easy life of presumed luxury. “But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead” (Proverbs 9:18). Paul warns the church in Rome that choosing to live in sin, to serve the passions and desires of the flesh will earn the wage of death; but, offered to us is the free gift of salvation in Christ. This grace, however, requires us to choose whom we will serve.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15)