{"id":609,"date":"2012-07-03T19:32:52","date_gmt":"2012-07-03T13:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=609"},"modified":"2025-05-03T08:23:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T13:23:30","slug":"is-sin-less-than-sin-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=609","title":{"rendered":"Is Sin Less Than Sin? Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

To approach the issue<\/a> of whether such <\/em>\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1<\/a> as is not so much as named<\/a> among the Gentiles<\/em>1<\/sup><\/a> is of greater consequence than the \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c0\u03c4\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9<\/a> (a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac\u03c0\u03c4\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1<\/a>) addressed in Galatians 6:1 I want to consider Romans 7.\u00a0 But first I want to remind myself of that most forgotten part of the Gospel, the active ingredient<\/a>, if you will, of the Gospel as a remedy for sin (Romans 6:3-8 NET).<\/p>\n

Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? \u00a0Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.\u00a0 \u00a0For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection. \u00a0We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin (\u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03b1\u03c2<\/a>, a form of\u00a0\u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03b1<\/a>) <\/em>would no longer dominate (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03b3\u03b7\u03b8\u1fc7, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>) <\/em>us, so that we would no longer be enslaved (\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>) <\/em>to sin (\u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u1fb3).<\/em> \u00a0(For someone who has died has been freed [\u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03af\u03c9\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>] <\/em>from sin [\u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03b1\u03c2<\/a>, another form of \u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03b1].<\/em>)\u00a0 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bearing in mind then that this death is one of the gifts of righteousness contained in the Gospel, I want to turn to chapter 7 where Paul contrasted those who through faith in Jesus Christ have become united with him in the likeness of his death<\/em> to the person whose lord is the law (Romans 7:1 NET):<\/p>\n

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The word translated lord<\/em> above is \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9<\/a> (a form of \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>), to rule<\/em> in Greek.\u00a0 \u201cThe kings of the Gentiles lord (\u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03cd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd<\/a>, another form of \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9) it over them,\u201d Jesus told his disciples (Luke 22:25 NET).\u00a0 In his letter to the Romans Paul continued with the following metaphor (Romans 7:2-4 NET):<\/p>\n

For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.\u00a0 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress.\u00a0 But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.\u00a0 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>This can seem like a complex mixed metaphor, but I think it\u2019s actually simpler than it first appears.\u00a0 If I start again with verse 1: the law is lord over a person as long as he lives<\/em>.\u00a0 The Greek word translated person<\/em> is \u1f00\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5<\/a> (a form of \u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>), humankind<\/em>.\u00a0 The metaphor involves \u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2 as God created us, male and female, \u1f00\u03bd\u03ae\u03c1<\/a> and \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u1f74<\/a>.\u00a0 The meaning of the metaphor is that the husband (\u1f00\u03bd\u03ae\u03c1) represents the law and the wife (\u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u03ae) represents all\u00a0humanity (\u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2).\u00a0 In verse 2 then the married woman<\/em> (\u1f55\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2<\/a> \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u1f74) is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives<\/em> like the law is lord over a person<\/em> (\u1f00\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5, a form of \u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2) as long as he lives<\/em>.\u00a0 The word translated married (\u1f55\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) is a compound of two words: \u1f51\u03c0\u03cc<\/a> meaning under<\/em> and \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2<\/a> (a form of \u1f00\u03bd\u03ae\u03c1), man<\/em>, husband<\/em>.\u00a0 So I can see the metaphorical relationship between the wife under a man<\/em>, \u1f55\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u1f74,and the original state of all humankind (\u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2), under law (\u1f51\u03c0\u03cc \u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>).2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The sexual overtones are real here and shouldn\u2019t be ignored.\u00a0 For instance, the word translated joined<\/em> in Romans 7:3 is a euphemistic usage of \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03ad\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9<\/a> (a form of \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>): If she be taken <\/em>(made<\/em>, done<\/em>) by<\/em> another man while her husband is still alive\u2026\u00a0 The same One who inspired Paul to write this metaphor created the hormonal and neuronal responses that make me feel this husband-wife relationship.\u00a0 He made marriage to communicate something to me about my relationship to Him.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to miss this understanding just because it makes me feel a little gay.\u00a0 I want to know<\/em> Him, for this is eternal life<\/em>.3<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>The second part of verse 2 is where the metaphor seems to become confused: but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage <\/em>(literally:\u00a0\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2, the law of her man<\/em>).\u00a0 In verse 1 the law is lord over a person as long as he lives<\/em>, and in verse 4a it was the believer who died not the husband\/law.\u00a0 The solution I think is that in everyday life a woman who dies is obviously released from the law of the marriage <\/em>but she is not free<\/em> to be taken <\/em>(made<\/em>, done<\/em>) by<\/em> another.\u00a0 That only happens in everyday life if her husband dies.\u00a0 And to be made free<\/em> to be taken <\/em>(made<\/em>, done<\/em>) by<\/em> another was the point of the metaphor.<\/p>\n

Since those who believe in Jesus Christ have become united with him in the likeness of his death<\/em> and in the likeness of his resurrection<\/em>4<\/sup><\/a> they can both die to the law through the body of Christ<\/em> and are made free<\/em> to be taken <\/em>(made<\/em>, done<\/em>) by<\/em> another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God<\/em>.5<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 They are no longer under law<\/em>, \u1f51\u03c0\u03cc \u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2, but under Christ<\/em>, \u1f51\u03c0\u03cc \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>The ladies have the advantage when it comes to understanding what it means to be \u1f51\u03c0\u03cc<\/a> \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2<\/a> without feeling gay.\u00a0 But I\u2014who have known the joy and wonder of a wife who even briefly was willingly, happily, contentedly, eagerly and excitedly \u1f55\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>\u2014have the advantage of understanding how discouraging and distressing it must be to the Lord Jesus when I come to Him with rules and regulations rather than willingly, happily, contentedly, eagerly and excitedly.\u00a0 As I began to grasp the meaning of the metaphor in Romans 7 all my searching the Scripture for rules to obey seemed like a young wife, eager to start her family, studying a sex manual.\u00a0 Her husband calls out amorously.\u00a0 \u201cNot now,\u201d she says, \u201cI have to figure out how to bear fruit!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>As I began to add Paul\u2019s understanding in Galatians to this metaphor in Romans 7 I began to see any turning back to the law on my part, any attempt to justify myself by law, or make myself righteous by my efforts to keep laws, like this: \u00a0A young wife is eager to start her family.\u00a0 Her husband calls out amorously, but all he hears is the slamming of the door behind her as she hurries off to hook-up with her ex.\u00a0 Paul called it fallen away from grace <\/em>(Galatians 5:4 NET Table<\/a>).<\/p>\n

You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ<\/a>; you have fallen away from grace!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>Here I find the meaning of adultery, even of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1, why it is unlawful, why we were made to experience it the way we do.\u00a0 I can grasp now why it would be as distasteful to God for me to simply walk away from the law\u2014apart from the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ shared as my own\u2014as it would be for a wife to simply walk away from her husband to be taken <\/em>(made<\/em>, done<\/em>) by<\/em> another.\u00a0 And it was in the face of this super<\/em> \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1, if you will, against the Lord Jesus Himself that Paul wrote: if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness<\/a><\/em>.6<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 In my mind that trumps such <\/em>\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 as is not so much as named<\/a> among the Gentiles<\/em>7<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0and makes Paul\u2019s earlier response to one man\u2019s sin seem disproportionate by comparison.<\/p>\n

\n
Peter and Cornelius<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The Jerusalem Council<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 27<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 31<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The Life<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 41<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Antichrist, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Antichrist, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The Righteousness of God<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 9<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 52<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 12<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited – Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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1<\/sup><\/a> 1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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2<\/sup><\/a> Romans 6:14 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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3<\/sup><\/a> John 17:3 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4<\/sup><\/a> Romans 6:5 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6<\/sup><\/a> Galatians 6:1 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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7<\/sup><\/a> 1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To approach the issue of whether such \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 as is not so much as named among the Gentiles1 is of greater consequence than the \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c0\u03c4\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9 (a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac\u03c0\u03c4\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1) addressed in Galatians 6:1 I want to consider Romans 7.\u00a0 But … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,6],"tags":[172,535,536,532,530,534,531,533],"class_list":["post-609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-less-than-sin","category-section-two","tag-1-corinthians-51","tag-galatians-54","tag-galatians-61","tag-luke-2225","tag-romans-63-8","tag-romans-65","tag-romans-71","tag-romans-72-4"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=609"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26637,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609\/revisions\/26637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}