Romans 6:13

Romans 6:13 is a powerful call to action, urging believers to live out the spiritual reality of their union with Christ. Following Paul's profound theological argument about the believer's new identity in Christ, this verse moves from doctrine to practical application, emphasizing the crucial choice we face daily.

Context

This verse builds directly on the preceding themes in Romans chapter 6. Paul has just explained that believers have died to sin through identification with Christ's death and resurrection. Baptism, for Paul, symbolizes this spiritual reality of being buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life. Because sin no longer has dominion over those who are in Christ (as stated in Romans 6:12), believers are then commanded to make a conscious decision regarding how they use their bodies.

Key Themes

• A Call to Volition and Choice: The word "yield" (Greek: paristēmi) means to present, offer, or place at one's disposal. It implies a deliberate, conscious act of surrender and dedication. Believers are not passive recipients but active participants in their sanctification.
• The Battle for Our "Members": Paul uses "members" (Greek: melē) to refer to the various parts of the human body – hands, feet, eyes, tongue, mind – and by extension, all our faculties and capacities. These are to be used either for unrighteousness, serving sin's purposes, or for righteousness, serving God's purposes.
• Instruments of Righteousness: The term "instruments" (Greek: hopla) can also mean "weapons." This suggests that our body parts are not neutral tools but active agents in the ongoing spiritual battle. They can be employed as weapons for sin or as tools for God's righteous will.
• Alive from the Dead: This phrase reinforces the core message of Romans 6. Believers are spiritually regenerated, having experienced a death to their old life in sin and a resurrection to new life in Christ. This spiritual rebirth is the foundation for their ability to obey this command.

Linguistic Insights

The imperative "yield ye" underscores the active role of the believer. The contrast between "instruments of unrighteousness unto sin" and "instruments of righteousness unto God" highlights the two opposing masters one can serve. The term "unrighteousness" (adikia) refers to injustice or wrongdoing, while "righteousness" (dikaiosynē) denotes conformity to God's standard, a state of being right with God and living righteously.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers to examine how they are using their physical bodies and mental faculties. Every part of us, from our eyes to what we watch, our hands to what we do, our tongues to what we say, and our minds to what we think, can either serve sin or serve God. It's a call to intentional living:

• Conscious Dedication: Recognize that your body belongs to God, having been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). Therefore, intentionally present yourself to Him daily.
• Resisting Temptation: When faced with temptation, remember that you are not obligated to yield your members to sin. Instead, actively choose to use them for God's glory.
• Living Sacrifices: This concept connects powerfully to Paul's later exhortation in Romans 12:1 to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 6:13 provides the practical steps of how to do this with our individual "members."

Ultimately, Romans 6:13 is a foundational verse for understanding Christian sanctification, emphasizing that our freedom from sin's power is not a license for sin, but an empowerment for righteousness.