Questions for Sabbath, Sept. 30

Romans 6:15-23

1. Is 6:15 asking the same question as 6:1?

2. Verse 17:“slaves to sin” – did YOU used to be a slave to sin? When telling your conversion story, would you have described yourself that way?

3. Verse 18: “free from sin” Can you think of another Bible passage with similar language?

4. Verse 19 “offer … parts of your body” – what’s Paul talking about?

5. Verse 23, the “classic” verse of this passage. Re-write it in your own words.

Comments on lesson of Sept. 23

Last week's lesson was on Romans 6:1-14 and we spent some time on perfectionism (the belief that some group of Christians will achieve victory over sin before Jesus comes) vs. non-perfectionism (those that believe victory over sin will not happen before Jesus comes). The EGW quote referred to was: "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." - Christ's Object Lessons, p. 69.

I lean strongly toward the perfectionism camp, although I believe that those who achieve the victory won't even realize they're victors because Jesus is filling their thoughts and hearts. One of Satan's claims is that the law is unjust and cannot be obeyed (see Desire of Ages, p. 308).

Jesus proved Satan wrong by His perfect obedience and says "If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love." I don't see any asterisk there with a note: "by the way it's impossible for you to obey" nor do I see one by Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens" * with the exception of overcoming sin.

I am very far from that goal as you know very well if you know me, but I still believe the goal is possible. Really, the debate is unnecessary because a sincere Christian who believes perfection is not possible in this life is still surrending themselves to Jesus every day and growing closer to Him, just like the sincere Christian who believes in perfectionism.

The FOCUS must be on JESUS and not on self.