Author: iolaHC

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Because of Righteousness

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Romans 8:6-11 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. 

‘Carnally minded’ – to be “carnally minded” is the same as to “mind the things of the flesh,” and to be “spiritually minded” is to “mind the things of the Spirit” (8:5).

‘Carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be’ – minding the sins of the flesh is enmity with God (8:5). Such a mind will not obey the law of God, nor can it because it submits to sin. When it ceases to rebel then it ceases to sin. As long as it lives in rebellion it cannot please God (8:7-8).

‘But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you’ You Christians are not minding the things of the flesh, but of the Spirit, if the Spirit dwells in you. If you do not have the Spirit you do not belong to Christ. If Christ is in you (2Cor. 5:17-18), the body is dead to all sin, and the Spirit dominates your life as you live to all righteousness (8:10). If this is true, you can expect quickening for your mortal bodies by the Spirit that dwells in you (8:11).

‘Because of righteousness’ righteousness defined: Some argue that this righteousness is not personal holiness of obedience to the gospel, but mere legal righteousness – the righteousness of the law – and that it does not prove a man to be saved from sin, or born again. However, this is but human theory. If it was the righteousness of the law that is what must be fulfilled in those who are born again (8:1-4). Whatever the kind of righteousness it was something that: One could turn away from (Ezek. 3:20); if he did turn from it he committed iniquity or sin; he died if he left it and went into sin (Ezek. 3:20; 18:24-26; 33:13, 18); it would not be remembered if he did turn from it to commit sin (Ezek. 3:20); it gave him life as long as he kept it and did not turn from it to commit sin (Ezek. 3:21; 18:24); he had it until he did sin (Ezek. 3:21); it would not deliver him from death if he left it; but if he kept it he lived (Ezek. 33:12).

We have to conclude that if it had the power of life and death in it, depending on whether one kept it or not, then the kind of righteousness here is that which God demands in the New Testament of those who are born again (Matt. 6:33; Acts 10:35; Rom. 4:3-22; 6:13-20; 8:4; 1Peter 2:24). We have no authority to make this righteousness different from what God has always demanded, in both testaments. God requires us to fulfil the righteousness that the law demanded (8:4), so if a person was righteousness under the law for keeping it and one is righteous under grace for keeping it, then what is the difference? If all have been required to live by it, in either testament, then all must have it, or be lost (Ezek. 3:20; 18:24-26; 33:12-13; Jer. 22:3; 33:15; Hos. 10:12). To continue to live the righteous man must not return to sin or die in sin (Ezek. 3:20-21).

‘Quicken’ [Greek: zoopoieo] to make alive (1Cor. 15:22); give life (2Cor. 3:6; Gal. 3:21); and quicken (John 5:21; 6:63; Rom. 4:17; 8:11; 1Cor. 15:36, 45; 1Tim. 6:13; 1Pet. 3:18).

The Things of the Spirit

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Romans 8:4-5 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

‘Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ by the walk of Christ in real flesh and yet without sin, He condemned sin in all flesh and made a way whereby no flesh had to continue in sin (6:1-23; 8:1-13; 2Cor. 5:17-18; 10:4-6; Gal. 5:16-26).

‘Mind’ [Greek: phroneo] set affections on. Those who set their affections on the sins of the flesh of Galatians 5:19-21; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:5-10; Romans 1:29-32; Mark 7:19-21 will naturally fulfil them (Jas. 1:13-15). Those who set their affections on the things of the Spirit of Galatians 5:22-23; 1Corinthians 12:4-11; Colossians 3:12-14 will naturally fulfil them and such will not commit sin.

Many reasons are given in Romans that we should not continue living in sin: Death to sin nullifies it (6:2-3); resurrection from spiritual death (6:4-5); we walk in newness of life (6:4); death to sin and resurrection from sin means walking like Christ (6:5; 1Pet. 2:21-22; 1Jn. 2:6; 4:6, 17); the old man is crucified and dead (6:6; Eph. 4:22-24; 1Jn. 5:18); the body of sin is destroyed, that henceforth we should not sin (6:6); we are freed from sin (6:7, 18, 22); faith counts sin dead (6:8); sin has no dominion over us (6:9); sin not to reign in the body (6:12); the body must not yield to sin (6:13); married to Christ, not sin (7:4); we walk in the Spirit (8:1-4); we are made free from the law of sin (8:2); we are spiritually minded (8:6); Christ is in us, not sin (8:10); we are not debtors to sin (8:12); the Spirit mortifies sin in us (8:13); we have Spirit of freedom (8:15); intercession of Christ and the Holy Spirit keeps us (8:26-27, 34).

Condemned Sin in the Flesh

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Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh 

‘What the law could not do’ – There are many things that the Law of Moses COULD NOT DO: Justify one (Acts 13:38-39; Gal. 2:16); free one from sin and death (Rom. 8:2); free one from condemnation (Rom. 8:1-4); redeem (Rom. 3:24-31; Gal. 3:13-14); give inheritance (Rom. 4:13-14); bring righteousness (Rom. 8:4); impart the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2); perform miracles (Gal. 3:5); free one from the curse (Gal. 3:10-14); impart faith (Gal. 3:12); impart grace (Gal. 5:4); make one perfect (Heb. 7:19); control sin in man (Rom. 7:7-23; 8:2); keep man from sin (Rom. 7:7-23; 8:7); enable a man to obey (Heb. 7:18).

‘Weak’ [Greek: astheneo] weak or impotent. The law was powerless to control the flesh, for sin already had control of it before the law came (5:20; Gal. 3:19). Sin would not permit the flesh to obey the law (7:7-23).

‘God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh’ God had to undertake man’s deliverance from sin so that the flesh could be liberated to fulfil the righteousness that the law demanded (8:3-4).

‘Likeness of sinful flesh’ the reasons Christ had sinless flesh: Christ had no fall and was therefore sinless. Christ did not submit to satan and to his spirit and sinful nature (Eph. 2:2; John 8:44; 1Jn. 3:8). He came from the woman but was not of the seed of man (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:32-35; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; Php. 2:5-11; John 1:14; 1Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:9-18). Man is recognized as the head of the race in all Scripture (Gen. 2:20-22; 2Cor. 11:3; Rom. 5:12-21). The iniquity of man, not woman, was passed as a curse upon children (Ex. 20:5; Num. 14:18; Deut. 5:9; Jer. 31:29-30; Ezek. 18:2-4). Mary was merely the means of God in bringing His own Son into a human body. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by man who could not produce sinless offspring. God is holy and cannot produce sinful offspring. This is according to the law of reproduction in Genesis 1:22-28. Thus by means of a woman God could send Christ in the likeness of the flesh controlled by sin, and yet not of sinful flesh controlled by sin and satan (1Pet. 2:22)

No Condemnation

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Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 

‘Now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus’ this proves that the experience of Romans 7:7-24 was not Paul’s at the time of the writing of Romans, for several reasons: Paul had no condemnation (8:1); Paul was free from the law of sin (8:2); Paul was free from eternal death (8:2); Paul’s sin condemned in his flesh (8:3); Paul was fulfilled righteousness (8:4); Paul had life and peace (8:6); Paul was Spirit-filled (8:9-11); Paul’s body was dead to sin (8:10); Paul’s flesh was crucified (8:12-13); Paul was walking in the Spirit and not after the flesh (8:1-4; Gal. 5:16-26).

‘In Christ Jesus’ we find many blessings in Christ: Redemption (Rom. 3:24; 1Cor. 1:30); freedom from condemnation (Rom. 8:1); spirit of life (Rom. 8:2); love of God (Rom. 8:39; 1Tim. 1:14); truth (Rom. 9:1); unity (Rom. 12:15; Gal. 3:28); faith (Acts 24:24; 1Tim. 3:13); sanctification (1Cor. 1:2, 30); wisdom (1Cor. 1:30; 4:10); righteousness (1Cor. 1:30); begetting (1Cor. 4:15); hope (1Cor. 15:19); security in death (1Cor. 15:18); resurrection (1Cor. 15:1-58; 1Thess. 4:1-18); joy (1Cor. 15:31); establishment in God (2Cor. 1:21); triumph (2Cor. 2:14); the uncorrupted Word (2Cor. 2:17); the law abolished (2Cor. 3:6-15); being a new creation (2Cor. 5:17-18); simplicity (2Cor. 11:3); liberty (Gal. 2:4); all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3); power (Eph. 1:20); heavenly places (Eph. 2:6); nearness to God (Eph. 2:13); eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11); self-humbling (Php. 3:14); higher calling (Php. 3:14); perfection (Col. 1:28); eternal life (2Tim. 1:11); grace (2Tim. 2:1); salvation (2Tim. 2:10) and preservation (Jude 1:1).

‘Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death’ there are eight laws mentioned in Romans: the Law of Moses (2:12; 3:19; 7:12); the law of nature (2:14-15); the law of faith (3:27; 4:3-5, 11-24); the law of the mind (7:16, 21, 23); the law of sin (8:2, 23, 25); the law of righteousness (9:31); the law of God (7:22, 25); the law of the Spirit of life, that is, the Holy Spirit that works through the redemption of Christ to make free from, and to cancel the law of sin and death in all who are in Christ (8:2).

God through Jesus Christ

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Romans 7:21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

‘Law’ – this is the law of the mind, which consents to the law of God (7:16, 21, 23).

‘Law of God’ – this is the law of Moses of Romans 7:1-16. ‘Inward man’ refers to the spirit of man which knows (1Cor. 2:11; 2Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16) and which is immortal (1Pet. 3:4). It also takes in the soul, that is, the seat of the feelings, emotions, and desires, for Paul not only knew and willed to do the will of God, but he delighted in it (cp. Ps. 1:2).

‘Another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members’ the law of sin (7:23, 25; 8:2). That law is stronger than the law of the mind, for it captures man regardless of the protest of the law of the mind (7:23, 25). This victory is not occasional, but complete (7:24).

‘O wretched man that I am!’ this is not a picture of a redeemed soul, but of a captive of sin. Every statement in this chapter proves that this was Paul’s experience while bound by sin under the law and before he was freed from the law of sin and death, as in Romans 8:1-4. His testimony indicates deliverance was after the three days of blindness at Damascus (Acts 9:17-18). The experience must have been during these three days for he had lived in all good conscience before this (Acts 23:1; Gal. 1:13-14; Php. 3:6). In the new enlightened state of these three days, he saw that he had not really kept the law, saw that he was a helpless slave to sin and could not obey it as it should be kept. Hence, his conclusion of wretchedness.

‘The body of this death’ – there is an allusion here to the ancient custom of tyrants who bound a dead body to a living man, requiring him to carry it about until he died of contagion from the putrid mass.

‘I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord’ This is the answer to Romans 7:24. Jesus Christ is the only deliverer from sin (1:16; 10:9-10; Matt. 1:21; 1Jn. 1:9).

‘So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin’ – this is a misplaced conclusion which has caused many false doctrines to be taught. It should follow Romans 7:23 as the conclusion of the whole argument. It is not only the logical conclusion, but it starts out with the Greek: ara and oun, therefore. It means, “to conclude, the sum of what I have said,” etc. Many have used these words to prove Paul himself was not saved from sin. This would contradict all the arguments of Romans up to this point and what follows. He proves both before and after this that there is complete victory over the law of sin (1:16-18; 2:8-11; 3:5-8, 24-31; 4:1-24; 5:1-11; 6:1-23; 8:1-13).

No Good Thing

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Romans 7:15-20 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 

‘For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I’ After showing in Romans 7:7-14 that sin is more powerful than the law, Paul now shows that sin is more powerful than man who is a slave to sin (7:15-25). This verse is not to be used as an excuse to sin because we cannot help it! It states that when you are under sin, you will do things that you hate and will not be in control as long as you yield to a sinful nature. Christ has defeated sin and we have no excuse to stay in a sinful state. Not even the Old Testament saints yielded to sin after being freed from it as we can see in a summary of Hebrew 11.

‘I allow not’ – I do not approve of my slavery to sin.

‘What I would, that do I not’ – what I wish to practice, I cannot, for I am an unwilling slave to sin.

‘If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good’ – If I am forced to do what I do not want to do, then it is not I, but sin that enslaves by its indwelling power (7:16-20).

‘Will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not’ – I have a will, but it is so overpowered by the lusts of sin that I am helpless. My passion is stronger than my reason. My will, reason, understanding, and my conscience are on God’s side and consent to His will and law, but my slavemaster will not consent for me to serve God or His law.

Sold under Sin

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Romans 7:9-14 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

‘Sin revived’ [Greek: revive = anazao] sin was made to live again. ‘I died’ where there is sin in one’s life, there is death (6:23; Jas. 1:15).

‘Commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death’ the commandment condemned and killed me.

‘For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me’ sin took advantage of my helpless state and used the law to deceive me and kill me.

‘Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good’ I do not blame the law, for it is just and good in its demands.

‘Was then that which is good made death unto me?’ The Jew would ask, “Do you mean to say that the law is holy, just, and good, and yet it is the cause of your death?” The answer is, “God forbid.” It was not the law that killed me, but sin that would not let me obey the law. This made sin appear what it really is: a deceiver, a deadly enemy, and a killer.

‘For we know that the law is spiritual’ the law is spiritual and demands what is holy. ‘Spiritual’ [Greek: pneumatikos] non-carnal; religious; or spiritual.

Twelve spiritual things are noted in the Word: Man who follows the things of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 2:15; 3:1; 14:37; Gal. 6:1; Hos. 9:7); gifts of the Spirit (1:11; 1Cor. 1:7; 12:1; 14:1, 12); things (15:27; 1Cor. 2:13; 9:11); body (resurrected, 1Co_15:44-46); blessings of the Spirit (Eph. 1:3); songs (religious, Eph. 5:19); wisdom and knowledge (Col. 1:9); house (spiritual people, 1Pet. 2:5); sacrifices (1Pet. 2:5); law, because it typified the spiritual thing of the New Testament (7:14); meat and drink, typifying Christ the Spiritual Rock of 1Corinthians 10:3-4; wickedness, because it is of evil spirit origin (Eph. 2:2; 6:12; John 8:44).

‘Carnal’ [Greek: sarkinos] fleshly; natural; human (7:14; 15:27; 1Cor. 3:1-4; 9:11; 2Cor. 10:4; Heb. 7:16). Here it means the full depravity of fallen man, sold as a slave and under the control of animal appetites and the forces of evil spirits.

In Newness of Spirit

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Romans 7:6-8 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shall not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 

‘But now we are delivered from the law’ – in Christ we are delivered from the law which condemned us for sins but made no provision for pardon and gave no power to obey it.

‘That being dead wherein we were held’ we were dead in sins while under the law and held helpless to free ourselves from its bondage and death.

‘Oldness of the letter’ – we see that the law merely typifies the gospel, and can only be fulfilled by the gospel. We serve God now, not in the old literal sense of forms and rituals, but in the true spiritual meaning.

 ‘What shall we say then? Is the law sin?’ The law itself is not sinful in demanding me to live right. The law only makes known what sin really is (3:20; 4:15; 7:7; 1Jn. 3:4).

‘Thou shall not covet’ quoted here and in Romans 13:9 from Exodus 20:17.

‘Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence’ Sin is here pictured as a self-acting spirit which at one time controlled Paul and worked in him all manner of concupiscence or sinful lusts. It used the coming of the commandment as an occasion to assert its control over his life not letting him obey the law. Sin was not active before the law came for it had no reason to assert its power until then. But as soon as the commandment came forbidding certain things, sin came to life and by its lusts made him break the law so that he would have to pay the death penalty (7:8-9). ‘Concupiscence’ [Greek epithumia] means any strong or vehement desire. It is used of good desires a few times, but mainly of evil and depraved lusts. It is translated “desire” (Luke 2:15; Php. 1:23; 1Thess. 2:17); “concupiscence” (7:8; Col. 3:5; 1Thess. 4:5); and “lust” 31 times (1:24; John 8:44; Eph. 2:3; etc.).

Dead to the Law

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Romans 7:1-5 Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 

‘Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?’ In Romans 6:1-23 the obligations of all people to live a holy life was set forth. In Romans 7:1-25 it shows that the Jew is freed from all obligation to law keeping and shows why the law is helpless to deliver any man from sin and hell.

‘Be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband’ death breaks all marriage bonds.

‘Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead’ Here it is stated that Jews are dead to the law because Christ has fulfilled its types and prophecies and abolished it, so they can be married to Him and produce fruit.

‘Body of Christ’ – the body of Christ in sacrifice, not the congregations (Eph. 1:23; Col. 1:18, 24).

‘That we should bring forth fruit unto God’ referring to the fruit of John 15:16.

‘For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death’ – when we were in the flesh and carnal program of the law (Heb. 9:10), the passions of sin worked in our members by the law and produced sins that the law had to condemn to death. This is explained fully in Romans 7:7-25.

‘In the flesh’ – meaning living in sin (8:8-9).

‘By the law’ the motions of sins acted contrary to the law and were made exceedingly sinful by the law and that condemned them (7:13). The law was the means of disclosing how sinful we were.

The Wages of Sin

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Romans 6:20-23 For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

‘For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness’ it is emphasized here the fact that a man cannot be a saint and a sinner; holy and sinful; and cannot serve God and satan, or be a servant of sin and righteousness at the same time (Matt. 6:24).

‘Fruit’ used here to refer to good and evil results (6:21-22; 7:4-5; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:9; Php. 1:11, 22; 4:17; Heb. 12:11).

‘Things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death’ – Sin has two main results: Present shame and emptiness (6:21); and future, eternal death and hell, the end of a life of sowing to the flesh (6:21-23; 8:13; Gal. 6:7-8; Rev. 20:6, 10-15).

‘Now being made free from sin’ – now, in the present life people are free from sin in Christ (2Cor. 5:17-18).

‘Become servants to God’ a change in masters means a change in service (Matt. 6:24).

‘You have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life’ – Righteousness has two main results: Present holiness of life (6:22); and future and eternal life, the end of a life of sowing to the Spirit (6:22-23; 8:13; Gal. 6:7-8).

‘Wages’ [Greek: opsonion] meaning recompense or wages. Divine justice is under obligation to give sinners their wages or be in debt to them forever (Luke 12:5; Rev. 20:11-15).

The present state of all men outside of Christ is that of being depraved, polluted and corrupt in all his nature. His understanding is darkened (Eph. 2:3; 4:18); his conscience defiled (Heb. 10:22); his will obstinate and rebellious (Rom. 8:7); his affections carnal and sensual (Eph. 2:1-3; Gal. 5:19-21; Mark 7:19-21; Rom. 1:18-32; 1Cor. 6:9-11); his thoughts evil continually (Gen. 6:5; 2Cor. 10:4-5); his heart full of abominations (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:19-21; Rom. 1:18-32); and his life and conduct devoted to living in divers lusts and pleasures of all kinds (1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18-32). He is a “servant of sin” (John 8:34); “unrighteous” (1Cor. 6:9-11; Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:1-3); “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1-9); “alienated from God” by wicked works (Col. 1:20-22); “separated” from God by his sins (Isa. 59:2); “without hope, and without God” in the world (Eph. 2:11-13;4:13-32; Rom. 3:9-25); blind to the truth (2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 4:18); lustful (Eph. 2:3); and doomed to eternal death and Hell (Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8; Jude 1:7; Isa. 66:22-24).

‘Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ’ eternal life is a free gift (5:15-18; Eph. 2:8-9; John 10:28). People merit hell, but not eternal life. Jesus Christ alone procured it and gives it freely to all who believe (John 3:16; 6:27; Rom. 3:24).