The Greek word for “sin” is HAMARTIA, which is an archery term for when you miss the target. “Sin” (HAMARTIA) is used 16 times in Romans 6. Each time, the word is used to make a different point. Your assignment is to use Coffman Commentary and The Gospel Advocate Series Commentary on Romans to learn how the word “sin” is used in each verse. This will help you understand Romans 6. Email me at neurospiritual@gmail.com if you need help obtaining these books.

Romans 6

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live anylonger in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by theglory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Several verses in Romans 6 discuss emotional and spiritual addiction and devotion. These Scriptures imply that God designed the brain with these addictive qualities, and that God gives us the choice to serve Him or the things of the world (1 John 2:15,16).

Your assignment is to Define and Explain the different phrases in Romans 6 that refer to harmful addiction and good addiction:

Romans 6

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.7 For he who has died has been freed from sin 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6 Test and Answers

What is the overall theme of Romans 6: These Christians were in danger of relapsing back into their sin of choice addiction. Paul is reminding them of how sick they were, and how they overcame their sin addiction, and how they now needed to turn that same brain energy (dopamine) into becoming addicted to God. In Romans 6:2 what does the phrase “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it” mean: Died to sin is about true repentance. It is dying to the love and practice of sin. It is about overcoming your addiction to sin. We are always in danger of committing a sin, but we should no longer want/like/love it. List 2 Scriptures that use the word “members.” Then define theword “members” in each verse: 6:12 “Members” refers to the body parts controlled by the heart and mind.6:19 “Members” refers to how our mind decides to use our body parts (members) for good or bad. List 4 Scriptures that are similar to the phrase “died to sin.” Write the phrases and the verse: 6:6 “our old man was crucified”6:6 “no longer be slaves of sin”6:7 “he who has died has been freed”6:11 “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin” List 3 Scriptures that imply regeneration (transformation from spiritual death to spiritual life): write phrases and verses: 6:4 “walk in newness of life”6:11 “alive to God in Christ”6:13 “alive from the dead” List 4 Scriptures that imply negative heart/mind addiction. Write the verses and the phrases: 6:6 “slaves of sin”6:12 “do not let sin reign in your mortal body”6:13 “do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin”6:14 “sin shall not have dominion over you” List 4 Scriptures that imply positive heart/mind addiction (devotion). Write the verses and the phrases: 6:13 “but present yourselves to God”6:13 present “your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”6:18 “you became slaves of righteousness”6:19 “present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness”6:22 “Having become slaves of God” List 3 Scriptures that imply Transformation: 6:4 so we also should walk in newness of life.6:11 but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.6:13 but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Explain Romans 6:16 6:16 means that God designed our minds to be very efficient at what ever we choose. Our brains are very efficient at turning repeated behaviors and actions (evil or good) into instincts. Explain Romans 6:17 Paul is reminding them of when they “obeyed” the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (8:2) (the Gospel). Explain Romans 6:18 Paul is reminding them of when they made the transformation (regeneration) from spiritual death to spiritual life. Explain Romans 6:19 Paul is telling them to use the same energy (dopamine) they used to addict themselves to “uncleanness” and “lawlessness” to becoming addicted (devoted) to “righteousness” and “holiness” List the 2 Scriptures that mention “fruit.” Then define the “fruit” in each verse: 6:21 “fruit” or results that lead to “death” 6:22 “fruit” (results) that lead to “holiness” and to “life” Explain Romans 6:20 Paul is reminding them about how when they were out there in their sin of choice addiction they were “free in regard to” (not mindful of) “righteousness” Explain Romans 6:23 When we continue in our addiction to “sin” the “wages” we earn is “death” When we continue in our addiction (devotion) to “holiness” the “gift” we receive from God is “eternal life in Christ.