Romans 6:20-23 | Verse by Verse Bible Study

Romans 6:20-23

Father God, thank you so much for this time that we can spend reading and studying your holy word rightly divided. Thank you for teaching us Lord how that we should live unto God instead of just living for our flesh. Thank you that as believers we can read and study your word rightly divided and that it will work effectually in us. In Christ's name we pray, amen. 

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Again, before we were saved we were actually enslaved to the sin nature. All we could do was sin! We had no faith in God and the gospel, so even our "good works" were but filthy rags. Isa 64:6 says "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

We literally had no good fruit in our old life. The flesh never produces good fruit. Even as believers we need to keep this in mind. We are to live by faith, not walk after the flesh. Anything that we do from our flesh doesn't produce any good fruit and leads to loss of rewards in heaven. 

I know many believers who never read their Bibles and so are NOT operating based on faith (God's word working in the inner man) yet they will occasionally try to do "good works" like volunteering somewhere or giving money to a homeless person during the holidays, etc. Then, of course, they have to tell others about it (pride)! These works are coming from their flesh because they are not operating on any sound grace doctrine. They are just doing these "good works" to please their own flesh- bragging about it and getting puffed up in themselves. This is also how unbelievers are when they do such things, however believers should know that we are to live by faith. We are to get sound grace doctrine in our minds and hearts, then live it out.

Also, the things that unbelievers do are outright shameful. Whether its something like a sinful sexual act or thought, using foul language, entertaining themselves with inappropriate things, lying, stealing, killing, hateful thoughts towards others, rebellious towards parents or authority figures, abortion, drug use, alcoholism, fighting, debating, arguing, laziness etc or religious abominations like teaching a false gospel or false religion, practicing witchcraft or newage, idolatry, atheism and other such things. All of these things, and others, are downright shameful. Paul says that the end of these things is death. 

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Yes! As we read and study God's word rightly divided, believing it and obeying it, it produces the fruit of a holy life and will result in glorious rewards in heaven! Our holy living also helps to bring others to Christ and to God's word rightly divided. 

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This verse is often used to help unbelievers to recognize their sin nature so that they can hopefully then believe the gospel (Christ's death, burial and resurrection as atonement for our sins).

But it's also a helpful reminder for believers that us living after the flesh doesn't produce anything of eternal value. But living by grace through faith produces things of eternal value. We already understand that we are saved by grace through faith alone, and that we are eternally secure in Christ after we have simply believed the Gospel and we cannot loose our salvation. But it's important to also understand that as believers we are to live by grace through faith too so that we bring more glory to God. 

Homework: Read over Romans chapter 6 again for yourself. Consider looking online for other Midacts Rightly Divided Dispensational Grace teachers and preachers that you can watch regularly to study the Bible with, and/or look for a Midacts Rightly Divided Dispensational Grace church in your area to attend for in-person fellowship and Bible study. You can also find groups on Facebook or pages and YouTube channels to follow that teach rightly divided bible study on social media. 

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