 |  |
Rom. 6: and 7:
A1 | 6: 1. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
B1 | 6: 2. Let it not come to that.
C1 | 6: 2-14. Answer. Know ye not? Dead to sin (katargeo).
A2 | 6: 15. Shall we sin because under grace?
B2 | 6: 15. Let it not come to that.
C2 | 6: 16 7: 6. Answer. Know ye not? Dead to the law (katargeo).
A3 | 7: 7. Is the law sin?
B3 | 7: 7. Let it not come to that.
C3 | 7: 7-12. Answer. I had not known. I died (katergazomai).
A4 | 7: 13. Was that which is good made death unto me?
B4 | 7: 13. Let it not come to that.
C4 | 7: 13-25. Answer. We know. The body of this death (katergazomai).
It will be seen that in the four answers there are three repeated features: knowledge,
death, and work:--
Knowledge.
Death.
Work.
6: 3. "Are you ignorant?"
6: 2. "We died"
6: 6.
"May become inoperative"
(agnoeite).
(apethanomen).
(katargethe).
6: 16. "Do you not perceive?"
7: 4. "You died"
7: 2. "She is outside its operation"
(ouk oidate).
(ethanatothete).
(katergetai).
7: 1. "Are you ignorant?"
7: 9. "I died"
7: 8. "Works"
(agnoeite).
(apethanon).
(kateirgazato).
7: 7. "I had not known" (egnon).
7: 13, 24. "Death"
7: 13. "Working"
7: 7. "I had not perceived?"
(thanatos).
(katergazomene).
(edein).
7: 14. "We perceive" (oidamen).
The examples given in this list do not by any means exhaust the references; they are
only those that come nearest to the opening sentence of the clause. When each section is
considered separately every reference will be dealt with.
Some of the Lord's people tend to underestimate the value of knowledge, and
emphasize faith as though that were all-sufficient. We have already seen that faith
dominates the opening section of Romans, but we must equally bow to the fact that
knowledge takes an equal place in Rom. 6:-8: Faith is the first step, knowledge the
second; and while there are wonderful things that are received solely by faith, that must
not lead us to underrate the equally valuable things that come by knowledge. So Peter
says, "Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge" (II pet. 1: 5). And also: "Grow
in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (3: 18). Paul
follows the same sequence: "After I heard of your faith . . . . . I pray . . . . . may give unto
you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him . . . . . that ye may know"
(Eph. 1: 15-23). So, in replying to the suggestion of Rom. 6: 1, the apostle asks: "Are
you ignorant, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His
death?" Ignorance of that basic fact will rob the believer of the remotest chance of