L. UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE

In the Navy, a sailor bragged about the immorality and wrong things he did while on his time away from the ship. He further said, “Look, I know what I am doing is wrong and I will go to hell for it.” He further continued, “What’s the big deal about hell? I will be there with all my other buddies, and we will have a great time.” Another fellow sailor asked, “Would you like to understand the extreme consequences of your actions and the sin that is in your heart?”  He answered, “I might be willing later…”

Romans 6:20-23

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. What does it mean to be a slave of sin?

2. What were you free from?

3. What did you discover was the benefit of the things you are now ashamed of?

4. What does death mean from the last phrase of verse 21?

5. What is the opposite of being slaves of sin?

6. What did you discover were the WAGES of sin? What are wages? What insight do you gain into sin and its consequences?

7. How would you describe God’s gift to you?

1. How do you get this gift?

2. What do you think when you hear God wants to give you a gift?

3. How can you receive that gift for you?

4. What does it mean, and how does it apply to you when it says, “in Christ Jesus our Lord?

5. When should you take steps to receive this gift?

6. What will happen to you when you do that?