Bible Study Snacks, Romans 6:15-23

Hi, everyone!

Thank you for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. It's good to be here with you again. I hope your week has been going well. This time, we will be studying Chapter 6 verses 15-23. I know I always say this, but it is my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

Each week, before moving on with our study, we briefly review the scripture that was discussed during our last meeting together. I strongly feel that doing this helps prepare us for our current study. I hope you agree!

In review, we learned that...

In chapter five, Paul made the statement "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20). Being aware that some readers might misinterpret what he said, Paul quickly pointed out that grace is no excuse to sin since through grace they have died to sin (1-2).

To emphasize this, he reminded them of their baptism into Christ, in which they experienced a burial into the death of Christ and rose to walk in newness of life, having died to sin (3-7). Dead to sin, they were now free to live as instruments of righteousness for God (8-14).

This week...

We will learn that another reason not to continue in sin is explained in terms of servitude. We become slaves to that which we obey, either sin or God (15-16). But Paul is grateful that the Romans had begun to obey God and were free to become His servants (17-18). How important it is that they continue to do so is to be seen in the outcome of serving sin contrasted to serving God. Serving sin earns death, but in serving God one receives the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus (19-23)!

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 6:15-23. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Rewrite the question found in Romans 6:15 in your own words.
2. How does Paul answer that question in Romans 6:15?
3. What is the outcome when you offer yourself to someone to be his slave (Romans 6:16)?
4. Paul gives examples of two kinds of slaves. Please fill in their end result (Romans 6:16). If you give yourself to sin, then you will receive _________.
Give yourself to obedience, then you will receive ______.
5. Every Christian was first a slave of _____________ and then a slave of ___________________(Romans 6:17-18).
6. How did they escape the slavery of sin (Romans 6:17)?
7. Paul is using the analogy of slavery to illustrate this truth. Complete the sentence (Romans 6:19). If I wanted to be a slave of sin, I would______________.
8. How then can we become a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:19)? {Key: notice the ‘just as’}.
9. Before we were Christians, we were ______________ from the power of righteousness (Romans 6:20).
10. What good came from the time before we were Christians (Romans 6:21)?
11. What should our attitude be to those sins now (Romans 6:21)?
12. What good comes from being bound to serve God (Romans 6:22)?
13. What is the difference between ‘wages’ and ‘gift’?
14. By noticing the results of not being a Christian or being one, how important is it that one is actually a Christian (Romans 6:23)?
15. List at least two changes you desire to take place in your life because of these verses.

Lastly, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans 6:15-23. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri