chessman
Member
Then can you rephrase your question because it certainly seems like you were asking what "eternal life" is.
I'm a computer engineer and use logical equations often. Paul is very much presenting logical arguments throughout Romans and their conclusions. If I see an equation such as:
X = EL
I know what X is if I know what EL is. Or vesa-versa, I know what EL is if I know what X is. For they are equal by definition.
One might have a very easy way to determine X from another equation(s) or known values. And if so, you'd have EL by definition. And vesa-versa.
So which term are you questioning? Both are self explanatory to me.
He did, in a way. Eternal life is the outcome per Paul. Outcome of what?
Let's say we didn't know what X is. We just know EL=X. So if we know X, we have EL because Paul told us they are equal. We need to find X, somehow.
Why??? Because his other logical argument in these chapters is about death. Do I need to define "death" or can we simply agree that death is the outcome if someone does not have life? Death = no life
On Paul's view, death is also the outcome of sin (throughout chapters 1-5). He even tells us from where death originated. Namely, Adam's sin.
Romans 5:12-14 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
So, given death's problem for all men, what's the solution??? Much of chapter 6 deals with this. And we can discuss any of it. But he's wrapping up His conclusion in verses 22-23.
Romans 6:22 (NASB) But now having been freed from sin [FS] and enslaved to God [EG] , you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification , and the outcome, eternal life [EL].
In logical terms:
FS + EG = S = El
If you want to know Eternal Life, you need to know how to be freed from sin [FS] and ensalved to God [EG]. In otherwords, we need to know sanctification.
Luckily, Paul tells us what sanctification is too. And how we obtain it (sanctification).
Does he say FS + EG (sanctification) is a life spent trying our best to live sin free (and ultimately failing at it)? Umm, no. He describes FS + EG as coming from God (Christ in particular) twice:
Romans 6:17-18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
So that in his conclusion, he can indeed describe EL as a gift of God.Romans 6:23 (NASB) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yep! Good point.
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