Proper 7: Epistle, Romans 6:12-23

Romans makes me nervous. Not the reading of it, per se. But commenting on it. Who am I after all? I don’t have a collar or a diploma with the ministerial degree from an LCMS seminary or university. I’m a theological “mutt” I guess you could say. But I believe I have the heart of a thoroughbred since my “conversion” to the Lutheran fold. If you don’t think that’s a change from the ranks of American Evangelicalism, then you don’t understand that camp, and you probably don’t understand Lutheranism either. The insights of a former outsider can be helpful but frightening. Onward.

Improve Mozart or Bach? Musical heresy, right? And it’s the same when we walk the path of the Apostle in this jewel of all epistles. And Romans 6? My personal favorite as well as the ground of living out justification by faith alone in the power of the Holy Spirit. Living out justification takes the Holy Spirit. Every minute and Paul points us in that direction in this passage. Let’s look specifically at verse 13: “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” Lord, let me honor you with my very average commentary. Amen!

The title of our meditation points to Law, does it not? Command. Divine expectation. Human impossibility outside of grace. How long has it been since you’ve heard the pointed whisper of the Holy Spirit in the very words of verse 13? Verse 13 is law, but tucked in is a glorious reminder. More on that in a minute. Law: “Do not present your members to sin.” Don’t do it. Why is it so easy to do just that? Ugh! Law: “Present yourselves to God.” Do it. Why is it so hard to do just that? Ugh! Because, in the words of dear old Dr. Mitchell at the seminary I DID attend, “We’ve all got good ‘forgetters.’” He was right. And what is it in verse 13 that we forget so easily? It’s one of those things that my pastor in Oregon saw in the Scripture that inspired him to title his book on the Law as “The Tender Commandments.” Just following the second of those charges by the Apostle in verse 13 is this amazing phrase, “as those who have been brought from death to life.” AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

It’s true. It’s real. It’s the guarantee of God’s Word that before his Word graced the waters of Holy Baptism that were applied to you (I was dunked), you were dead. Not sick. Not broken. Not a victim. DEAD. But after the Word of God came to you in that precious sacrament you had a new and indestructible resurrection life pulsing through you. You still do. I still do. It’s true. It’s real. It’s the guarantee of God’s Word. So you and I can … and must do the “don’ts and the do’s.” We can. You and I who have been brought from death to life. I don’t feel it every day. Perhaps you don’t either. Let’s do something about that. Right now. Together.

Lord, we may not feel what you have done for us or in us. But your Word says it’s true. Saturate our minds and hearts and yes, emotions with the blessed truth that we are ALIVE IN you and TO you for all that you have for us. And let our brothers and sisters in Christ, wherever they may be, have this truth dawn upon their souls, too. We ask this is in the matchless name of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!