lives – Ministry of Grace Church

Romans 14:7 – Life Focus

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

Truth to Learn

Christians are not to live for themselves, but for God.

Behind the Words

“Lives” is translated from the verb dzaō, which always refers to “life.” It is used to express both physical life and spiritual life. In the ancient Greek Attic dialect (initially spoken primarily around Athens) this verb was only used in the present and perfect tenses. In all other tenses the verb bioō, meaning “to spend one’s existence.”

The word translated “dies” is from the Greek word apothnēskō, which is composed of apo, meaning “away from, in time or location” and thnēskō, meaning “to die, either physically of spiritually.” Thus, apothnēskō means “to die away” or “to die off.” It is used in a stronger sense than thnēskō, often implying separation; either separation of the soul from the body (physical death) or separation of the soul of man from God (spiritual death).

Meaning Explained

In order to understand the meaning of this verse we first have to ask ourselves, “Who does “us” refer to?” If “us” refers to everyone, then this verse could be taken to mean one thing, but if “us” refers to Christians, then it means something entirely different. So, let’s look at the context. Reading from the first verse of this chapter through verse 10, it is abundantly clear that Paul is talking to members of the church. Hence, the “us” is referring to those who have put their trust in the saving blood of Jesus Christ and have submitted to His Lordship over their lives. In other words, he is referring to Christians, whether previously Jews or Gentiles.

Now, what does he say about us Christians? He says that not one of us lives to himself. Some interpreters would have us believe that Paul is teaching that Christians are to live primarily to serve others, thus supporting a social gospel that emphasizes the need for us to take care of each other. This type of interpretation almost always accompanies a works-oriented Christianity. However, if we look at how the Apostle Paul finishes this thought (in the next verse), we see that the focus is not on serving others (though this is part of Paul’s teaching elsewhere), but on submitting ourselves to our Lord and Master. What Paul is specifically teaching in this verse is that no Christian is to live to gratify his own desires or appetites; instead, we should make it our goal to do the will of God, to subordinate our will to His.

Paul also says that none of us dies to himself. What he means is that even in dying we are committed to doing God’s will. We should do all we can to keep our body healthy since it is the temple of God, the Holy Spirit. You will remember that Paul told us that we are to offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), placing not only the use of our lives but also the manner and time of our death in the hands of the Almighty.

Application

Do you see your salvation as simply a free ticket into heaven? If so, you are missing one of the primary reasons for Christ’s death on the cross. It was not done simply as a type of Christmas present, but as a purchase transaction to obtain those who would lovingly serve the desires of the Owner. Think about that!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 6:10

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Truth to Learn

We have identified ourselves with Jesus Christ in His death to sin. We should also identify ourselves with Him in living for God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “once for all” is ephapax, which means “once and only once.” Though the translation above seems to indicate that Christ died once for everyone, it really says that He died once for all of time and eternity.

Meaning Explained

Paul makes a couple of key points in this verse that we all need to learn. The first is contained in the expression, “For the death that He died, He died to sin.” Paul is explaining the meaning and purpose for Christ’s death. The purpose of His death is that he died to sin. That is, he died paying the penalty for sin so that sin should no longer have dominion over any of us. His death paid for all our sins so, even though sin used to be our slave master, that bond has been destroyed and we are now free from the dominion of sin.

But his death means more than just that we are freed from sin. Paul says that He died once and only once. In other words, He will never have to die again because the sin penalty has been taken care of forever by His onetime death. Since the sin penalty has been taken care of once and for all, we will never have to die after we leave these mortal bodies. We will have to die physically (unless we are raptured) in order to shed these mortal bodies, but we will never have to die spiritually because our sins have been completely paid for.

Remember that death means separation, so we will never again be separated from God – for all eternity. This is not true for those who will be cast into the Lake of Fire. They will be eternally separated from God. That, in fact, is one of the worst torments that they will face in Hell, being eternally separated from God (eternally dead!).

The second half of this verse now tells us what’s on the other side of the coin. Since Jesus Christ will never die again, He lives with respect to God the Father who raised Him from the dead. That is, His life is a testimony to the power of God the Father. Likewise, we who have had our sin penalty paid once and for all (which, incidentally, becomes a problem for those who think they can lose their salvation since it was taken care of once for all time, not just until the next big sin). We now owe this eternal life that we possess to the one who paid our penalty for us.

Paul’s point is that when we were baptized we were identifying with Christ’s death, which He died to sin. And our baptism also identifies us with His life which we should now live to God.

We are indebted to Christ for paying our penalty and we are indebted to God the Father for graciously declaring us righteous. In gratitude and in debt we should now be living our life for God and not for ourselves.

Application

Now that you have identified yourself with Christ in dying to sin, are you being identified with Him in the way you live? Or, put another way, whom are you living your life for now? And, how thankful are you for the eternal life that you now possess?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: lives

Romans 14:7 – Life Focus

Romans 14:7 – Life Focus

Truth to Learn

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Romans 6:10 – Identity Crisis?