Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord

Romans 6:9-11
Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When Yshua rose from the dead, He showed to all that He had conquered death. He did not sin, but had the sins placed upon Him, which led Him to the cross. He had lived His life to God. We too can follow Him in giving up our lives of sin and live according to God. To do this, we must be alive in Jesus, that is letting the Holy Spirit guide us.

Certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection

Romans 6:5
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

When we accept Yshua as our Lord and Saviour, we identify with His Crucifixion, and then we also identify with His Resurrection. We should be dead to our sins and become alive in Him. The Holy Spirit who comes to live in us, is part of this Resurrection life. This process is also well symbolized by the ritual of baptism.

After this Resurrection, we still have our own will. However we are to give ourselves in to the control of the Holy Spirit. Though we have been made alive with Christ, we are still living and trying to conform with His perfect image.

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death

1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.

God through Jesus forgives the sins of Man, we they would come and confess their sins. God also leads others to pray for those who seek forgiveness, the ministry of intercession. So to be useful to God, by being intercessors, we ourselves must first be right with God. We too must come and confess and receive His forgiveness. In addition, to know the mind of Christ when He forgive others, there is no doubt that we too, must walk right with Yshua, and be in constant communion with Him. Only then are we sensitive to the spiritual needs of others and fulfill our role as intercessors.

You are that one’s slaves whom you obey

Romans 6:16
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?


The word slaves and obey are not exactly liked in popular literature. In particular slaves have a negative association about human rights. However, Paul used the word slaves to refer as being totally surrendered to the one or the thing that we are obeying. We can be slaves to various earthly things, slave to ourselves or slaves to God, as indicated by our obedience to any of these.

Only one of the above options is beneficial to us, that is obeying God and being a slave to Him. In fact this is the most liberating of all, since only in obeying God, can the slavery to all other addictions be broken.

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death

Romans 6:4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The term "Born Again" has been used for much of the last few decades to denote those who are real Christians, mainly because they have made their own conscious decision. This is meant to be in contrast to a group of people who had Christian heritage, tradition and legacy but do not truly believe in the Lord Jesus.

This passage reminds us that "Born Again" is just one aspect of the relationship to be with Christ. It uses the image of baptism into death to make us conscious that we must spiritually die to our old selves. Only when our old person die, then we can be raised by the resurrection of Christ. Only then can we have a genuine walk with Christ.

The most practical example to dying to our old selves is to die to our old habits. That is to seek God and overcome the old habits. Hence those old habits are powerless against us since we are dead to it and being made alive in Christ.

Christ will be magnified in my body

 Philippians 1:19-20
 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

 Paul was talking about preaching the Gospel - not by a preacher only but by all of us, and by any motivation. We can do this by prayer and by the Holy Spirit. The preaching of Christ and the gospel is something that we should not be ashamed about. Instead we should deliberately set our will in doing this and to do it boldly, because the preaching of Christ is not something we would do by natural motivation. This glorifies God to others but it also is beneficial for our own growth as "Christ will be magnified in my body".

I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts

Revelation 21:1-8

This chapter is revealed after the Enemy has been defeated. Not only will there be a new earth, there will also be a new heaven. Note that God is even beyond heaven in that He can destroy and create is again. The new city of Jerusalem is revealed as the bride for God. And even with the new Jerusalem, we are reminded that God will live inside His people through the Holy Spirit. The promises of God that will be fulfilled in that time is that there will be no more tears, death, pain and crying.


Then Jesus spoke, introducing Himself as the Alpha and the Omega. Those who thirst will be given the water of life freely. This is in fact the Holy Spirit who will be given freely, only to those who ask from the right source - Y'shua Ha Masiach. We are also supposed to overcome before we can inherit the Kingdom. As a reminder those who live in ways which oppose to Jesus will be send to the lake of fire, in their second death.





Revelation 21
All Things Made New

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John,[a] saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,[b] “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

6 And He said to me, “It is done![c] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,[d] and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,[e] abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me[f] and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”[g] 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy[h] Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names[i] of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,[j] for the glory[k] of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved[l] shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.[m] 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.[n] 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes[o] an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Keep yourselves from idols

A few things that identifies those who belong to God are believing in Jesus, keeping His commandments, and able to overcome the worldly matters. Jesus is said to come by water and blood. The three that testifies are the Father, Word(Jesus) and the Holy Spirit in the heavenly realm. And in the earthly realm, the three that testifies are Spirit, water and the blood. The testimony itself is about Jesus Christ who gives life by salvation. The Holy Trinity testifies each other and if don't believe in one of them, then we don't believe at all.

The testimony of the Trinity God about Jesus gives us confidence of salvation. We are reminded to pray for each other, especially if we see a brother who is sinning. All sin are unrighteousness, although now they do not lead to death. It states boldly that whoever belongs to God does not sin - this is a statement to hold on to for believers. And finally a stark warning to keep away from idols.





1 John 5

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[a] faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Certainty of God’s Witness

6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth:[b] the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which[c] He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,[d] and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Knowing the True—Rejecting the False

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself,[e] and the wicked one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek

The role and purpose of the priesthood is explained. The priests are chosen among men to carry out the rituals of gifts and sacrifice and also to have compassion on others. But since the priests are mere men, they too have sins which they also have to atone for. Interesting that it says no man takes the honor of priesthood on himself.

The reason for explaining the priesthood is to introduce Messiah Y'shua as our ultimate perfect High Priest. The priesthood of Christ is far and above the Levitical priesthood. In fact the priesthood of Christ is compared to the mysterious priest-king Melchizedek who seemed to be a true worshipper of the Living God. This priesthood of Christ rather complex to explain and the author warns the readers not to be dull of hearing in order to understand. In fact the author criticises the readers who should know and understand better this priesthood of Messiah, but instead they were immature such that they need to be taught about the basics all over again.






Hebrews 5
Qualifications for High Priesthood

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

A Priest Forever

5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.”[a]
6 As He also says in another place:

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek”;[b]
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Spiritual Immaturity

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted

Speaking to Hebrew audience, this chapter starts from the common believe that God has used angels to send messages to men and that the messages were reliable. Then it reveals that the Lord Himself spoke about salvation and was confirmed by other witnesses of His Word and also the miraculous signs and Holy Spirit. So it must be fully certain that the promise of salvation is real.

A reference is made to Scriptures on man being made a little lower than angels but were crowned by God with honour and glory. Then it mentions that Jesus too was made a little lower than the angels, meaning that Jesus was made a man. This was done in order that He would suffer and die for everyone which was God's ultimate plan for salvation of humankind.

Going into more detail on the death that is required of Messiah, this enables God's children to take part of His flesh and blood. Death had to occur for Messiah, so that He could conquer it by being raised. This breaks the stronghold the Enemy had on man and free people from bondage. It is interesting that it stated the Messiah did not help the angels but helped the (spiritual and physical) children of Abraham. So the divine Lord is made a man, to serve as a merciful and faithful High Priest, to suffer and be tempted by the same evil, thus able to help His fellow man.




Hebrews 2
Do Not Neglect Salvation

2 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

The Son Made Lower than Angels

5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,[a]
And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”[b]
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Bringing Many Sons to Glory

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”[c]
13 And again:

“I will put My trust in Him.”[d]
And again:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”[e]
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed

Paul starts by declaring the proof of the Resurrection as it was witnessed by more than 500 people as well as the apostles and lastly, Paul himself. It seems that some believers are trying to teach that there is no resurrection. So Paul argues against this teaching that if there is no resurrection then Christ would not have risen and all their faith would be groundless.

When Christ rose from the dead, He showed that He had conquered death, hence He is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep". Then those who are in Christ will also come alive again. He will destroy all His enemies and everything will be under His rule again.

Paul addresses the question of what kind of body the resurrected person will have. It seems that the resurrected body is different, it is glorious, without weakness, without flaws, and essentially it is perfect. The first body we get is made of dust, scientifically, it is can be thought of as Carbon based. The resurrected body is spiritual. Jesus is the heavenly Man, with the heavenly body. Our resurrected body will be the spiritual heavenly body. It may be (just speculating) that the resurrected body has the same physical form but made of spiritual substance rather than natural substance.

Finally, the earthly bodily form cannot inherit the kingdom of God. When the Lord returns, those who have fallen asleep (died) will be given incorruptible bodies. Those who are alive at that time, will have their bodies transformed into spiritual bodies. Jesus had conquered death for all of us. Finally Paul urges believers to continue in the faith and in the good works because those will not be in vain.




1 Corinthians 15
The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Risen Christ, Our Hope

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”[a] But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Effects of Denying the Resurrection

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”[b]

33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

A Glorious Body

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh[c] of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”[d] The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord[e] from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear[f] the image of the heavenly Man.

Our Final Victory

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”[g]

55 “O Death, where is your sting?[h]
O Hades, where is your victory?”[i]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace

Paul quickly put out any thoughts about being able to sin more because of God's grace. He reminds us that we are baptised into Christ's death and raised with Christ to a new life. As we are crucified with Christ, our old bodies died and so die to sins and as Christ is resurrected, we too are alive in Christ. So we should not live in sin, as it has no control over us anymore because we are under grace, not law.

Paul shows that we are either slaves to sin or to righteousness. And because we believed and we were delivered, we are free from sin. Contrasting the former selves, when we were slaves to sin, we were free from righteousness, meaning we did not care whether our deeds were righteous or not. Those deeds result in shame and death. But when we became believers and slaves to righteousness, we are now free from sin. The resultant deeds would result in holiness and everlasting life.




Romans 6
Dead to Sin, Alive to God

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

Wisdom is shown to have prepared and proven herself. She invites people to embrace her instead of her opposite which is foolishness. Those who are wise accept correction. Those who are foolish will hate you for correcting them.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"

However, we know that wisdom and foolishness are not a person or entities. Furthermore the virtue of wisdom is related to how much we know and fear God. If follows that foolishness stems from the rejection of God. God fearing people would pursue wisdom and the true wisdom is walking in God's ways.

Foolishness is also personified as a woman for illustration. It is like the woman who is foolish herself and invites others to join in her foolishness. She promises immoral pleasure. As with the last chapter, we see that those who join the foolish woman also joins her many other victims of foolishness and they are destined for hell.



Proverbs 9
The Way of Wisdom

1 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;

2 She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.

3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,

4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

5 “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.

6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.

7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.

8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”

The Way of Folly
13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.

14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,

15 To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.[a]

From the Seductress who Flatters with her Words

Starting with a reminder of the importance of keeping God's command close to us, it emphasizes that we need God's word to stand against the seduction of immoral woman or any temptation in general. The use of the immoral woman as a warning, may not necessarily be an analogy because the sin of adultery is ever present in any age.

A vivid description was given of how the woman seduces the man. She creates the opportunity, prepares the place and uses cunning reasoning to lure the man in. The man who falls for this is described as an "ox goes to the slaughter" or a fool going into a trap like animals. An serious warning was given not to turn to her ways. Since she has claimed many strong men as victims, and that way leads to hell.


Proverbs 7

1 My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.

The Crafty Harlot
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the youths,
A young man devoid of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9 In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 She was loud and rebellious,
Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an impudent face she said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him,
And will come home on the appointed day.”
21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,[a]
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 Her house is the way to hell,[b]
Descending to the chambers of death.

For The Lips of an Immoral Woman Drip Honey

This proverb warns against falling to the seduction of an immoral woman. Although it seems desirable in the beginning, the consequences are grave. The wise thing would be to stay away as far as possible and not go anywhere near her door to begin with. It is better to prevent ourselves from sinning than to have regrets later.

Instead of looking outside and being in danger of sinning, the proverbs teaches to look inside and find satisfaction from the wife we have married since we were young. It warns that the eyes of the Lord is on the man. This kind of sin is foolishness and that can lead a man astray.



Proverbs 5
The Peril of Adultery

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
Lend your ear to my understanding,

2 That you may preserve discretion,
And your lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth is smoother than oil;

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death,
Her steps lay hold of hell.[a]

6 Lest you ponder her path of life—
Her ways are unstable;
You do not know them.

7 Therefore hear me now, my children,
And do not depart from the words of my mouth.

8 Remove your way far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house,

9 Lest you give your honor to others,
And your years to the cruel one;

10 Lest aliens be filled with your wealth,
And your labors go to the house of a foreigner;

11 And you mourn at last,
When your flesh and your body are consumed,

12 And say:
“How I have hated instruction,
And my heart despised correction!

13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!

14 I was on the verge of total ruin,
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
And running water from your own well.

16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad,
Streams of water in the streets?

17 Let them be only your own,
And not for strangers with you.

18 Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with the wife of your youth.

19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.

20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman,
And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He ponders all his paths.

22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin.

23 He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Job contemplates Life and Death

   In the passage below we see Job contemplates the fleeting span of human life. Interesting and poignant, some of his descriptions include man's life as " few days and full of trouble", "comes forth like a flower and withers away". Job also realised that God is the ultimate judge but on v4, since he has never heard of Jesus, and perhaps also did not get revelation from God, he concluded that no one can make an unclean thing to clean.
Job also may not have understood about life after death. He contrasted how a tree may die, but its remnant may produce offshoots, and yet when a man dies, that is the end. People today who have not known Christ may have a similar view, where they have not heard of the Good News of spending eternity with God when we submit to Jesus our Lord.

It is interesting to see Job's thoughts, how he struggles with his views of reality and also his relationship with God. But we should remember which are Job's views and that his views are not necessarily always correct as he does not have the full revelation of the Gospels.


Job 14


 ¹ “Man who is born of woman
      Is of few days and full of trouble.
 ² He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
      He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
 ³ And do You open Your eyes on such a one,
      And bring me^[a] to judgment with Yourself?
 ⁴ Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
      No one!
 ⁵ Since his days are determined,
      The number of his months is with You;
      You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
 ⁶ Look away from him that he may rest,
      Till like a hired man he finishes his day.
 ⁷ “For there is hope for a tree,
      If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
      And that its tender shoots will not cease.
 ⁸ Though its root may grow old in the earth,
      And its stump may die in the ground,
 ⁹ Yet at the scent of water it will bud
      And bring forth branches like a plant.
 ¹⁰ But man dies and is laid away;
      Indeed he breathes his last
      And where is he?
 ¹¹ As water disappears from the sea,
      And a river becomes parched and dries up,
 ¹² So man lies down and does not rise.
      Till the heavens are no more,
      They will not awake
      Nor be roused from their sleep.
 ¹³ “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
      That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
      That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
 ¹⁴ If a man dies, shall he live again?
      All the days of my hard service I will wait,
      Till my change comes.
 ¹⁵ You shall call, and I will answer You;
      You shall desire the work of Your hands.
 ¹⁶ For now You number my steps,
      But do not watch over my sin.
 ¹⁷ My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
      And You cover^[b] my iniquity.
 ¹⁸ “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,
      And as a rock is moved from its place;
 ¹⁹ As water wears away stones,
      And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
      So You destroy the hope of man.
 ²⁰ You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
      You change his countenance and send him away.
 ²¹ His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
      They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.
 ²² But his flesh will be in pain over it,
      And his soul will mourn over it.”