April 28, 2002

THE BODY AND ITS MEMBERS

Romans 5:12-8:39

   In Romans 5:12 thru 8:39 the word "body" is used eight times, and these uses may be found in four pairs. #1. We have "the body of sin made inoperative" (6:6), and the corresponding statement "The body indeed is dead by the reason of sin," followed by "the Spirit is life by reason of righteousness" ( 8:10). A negative is followed by a positive!

   Then we have #2. "Let not sin reign in your mortal body (6:12), followed by "He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit which dwells in you" ( 8:11).

   #3. "Wherefore my brethren, ye also have been put to death to the law by the body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even Him Who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (v. 7:4), followed by "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die, but if ye through the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live" ( 8:13). Again, a negative is followed by a positive!

   Finally, #4. "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" (7:24) [what a negative!] followed by "We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, namely the redemption of our body" (8:23). The first item in each pair is negative whereas its corresponding verse in Romans 8 is truly positive and triumphant!

Our body parts, called members, are also mentioned in pairs. #1. Starting with the negative "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin; but yield yourselves to God, as those who are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God (6:13). #2. "For as ye have yielded your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now yield your members slaves to righteousness unto sanctification" (6:19). #3. "When we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit unto death" (7:5). Contrast this with our "fruit unto God" (7:4)!

Finally #4. "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members" (7:23). Let us present our bodies and every member a living sacrifice unto God as our reasonable service (12:1)!

Ivan L. Burgener