EXTRACT

In taking up man as fallen, God first takes account of the things characterising him that are undeniable and public—his sins, and then, after Romans 5, certain things that affect him externally, especially death, and sin as dominating the world. Then He shows how sin is replaced by righteousness and death by eternal life. So all that which relates to man, viewed externally, is disposed of in the first six chapters—the whole question of what has taken place on earth is answered. In verse 18 of chapter 6 we read, “Having got your freedom from sin, ye have become bondmen to righteousness”. Then in verse 23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the act of favour of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. One’s external position is thus adjusted in the latter part of chapter 6. In the place of sin there is righteousness, and instead of death being upon one’s spirit, there is eternal life. Whereas, in this chapter and the following one we have that dealt with which is within the believer, and that is a more difficult problem to solve—it is more complex.

J. Taylor (Vol. 77 (Readings on Romans), p.66)

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