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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
February 19
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday's Pathway concluded with Paul stating "God forbid" that believers would assume that it was OK to occasionally commit sins because they were not under law, but under grace. In verse 16 he gives the reason for that response. Whoever you choose to yield to becomes your master. Earlier in chapter 6 he has shown that we are dead to sin and sin no longer has dominion over us, so sin is no longer our master. However, he now shows that if you yield to sin, you become a servant to sin, and thus are re-enthroning sin as your master. How foolish this is! Why would we want to voluntarily place sin back into a position of authority in our lives when God has removed it from that position? The old man was crucified, but by yielding to him he is, for all practical purposes, resurrected in our lives.
According to verse 16, we have a choice as to what we will serve. We can serve sin or obedience. In verse 17 he points out that in their past life before salvation these Romans were slaves to sin, but Paul rejoices that they had received Christ. It is interesting how he puts this:
"ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you".
There are several things that should be noticed here. First, the Romans heard doctrine. They were told the truth of what the Bible says about salvation. Always remember that it is the Scriptures that bring men to salvation. A testimony is a wonderful thing, but every person in every religion has some sort of "testimony" as to why he is a follower of that belief system. Cute stories can appeal to one's emotions, but they do not provide what is needed for salvation. It is the Word of God that makes the difference. Romans 10:17 says,
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God".
In I Thessalonians 2:13 Paul writes,
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
Second, the Romans obeyed the doctrine that they heard. The command to be obeyed is
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
So, it is not enough to hear the Word of God concerning salvation, but you must also obey what the Word says. Third, you must obey it "from the heart". You must truly believe in your heart. Salvation does not come about because someone quotes a prayer. People are capable of saying all sorts of things that they really don't mean or believe. I have often used the following illustration: if I were to say "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet" would I now be a Muslim? Of course not, because I don't believe that. Paul wrote in Romans 10:9,
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Salvation only comes when an individual believes what the Word of God says and obeys It by calling upon the name of the Lord.
According to verse 18, when a man gets saved he stops being a slave to sin and becomes a slave to righteousness. We will look further into that tomorrow. For today, the question is, are you saved? Have you believed and obeyed what the Bible says about salvation? If not, today is the day to choose to believe, and receive Christ.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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