IN an earlier paper we sought to emphasize four words in this verse and indicated that we might revert to them before bringing our study to a conclusion. The words are
“YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD!”
and as we read them once more they cannot but arrest our attention.
Whether we consider them in relation to that which has gone before or that which follows after in the Epistle we must be greatly impressed by their significance. Romans 12:11I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1) might be said to be twin-sister to this verse, for there, after the complete unfolding of the precious teaching addressed to this Assembly, we have the appealing word. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” As this however is outside the scope of that which has come before us we shall confine ourselves to our text, taking it as the center of the whole. Before turning our attention to it, shall we rapidly go over the ground that we have already covered?
We have seen that in chapter one we have a summary of the Gospel: — its source, its subject, and its supremacy. In the latter part of that chapter and down to the close of chapter three we have noted the sort of material upon which the gospel works and the mighty transformation that it effects. We have also made the astonishing discovery that the just God has found a righteous means by which He can justify ungodly sinners. Chapter four has shown us that we are justified by faith, whilst chapter five sets forth the marvelous blessing that follows, commencing with peace with God in verse one, and mounting up to the great height of joy in God in verse eleven.
From this point down to the close of chapter eight we surveyed, a wide range. Deliverance front the headship of Adam, the mastery of sin, the dominion of the law, from verse twelve of chapter five to the close of chapter seven, and reaching the Deliverer at the beginning of chapter eight. Then we were introduced to the new Power, a divine Person, the Holy Spirit of God, who gives us to know not only that from which we have been delivered, but that for which this deliverance has been effected. We have got sonship, we are children of God, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus. We were in the purpose, plan and mind of God, aye! and in His heart, in the fast ages of eternity, that in the coming ages we should be conformed to the image of His Son. From the lowest point of degradation in chapter one to this pinnacle in chapter eight there is a distance that could only be covered by divine love as manifested in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then our hearts rejoiced to know that from that love no power could ever separate us. We again contemplate all this with utter amazement, and we can only relieve our overflowing hearts in worship to Him who is the Spring and Source of it all,
“Worship honor, praise and glory,
Would we render unto Thee;
Height unsearched and depths unfathomed,
In Thy wondrous love we see.”
In the light of all this we proceed now to inquire the significance of the words in chapter six. In the first place we wish to look at the setting of our text. We have already remarked that in this chapter we are viewed as having died with Christ (verse 8), and that our baptism is the witness to that fact. Now the words for us are: —
“WALK”— “RECKON”― “YIELD.”
Obviously we do not, we could not, “walk” and “yield” in the energy of that which is dead and buried, but as we “reckon” ourselves to be “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord,” we are called in the power of a new life, (“Newness of life.” verse 4), to “walk” and to “yield” We call special attention to this because we feel there is such danger on the part of some, as the result of a misconception of this important truth, to, miss the mark and to reap a harvest of disappointment and sorrow.
To speak of seeking power over sin, surrendering all that we have, etc., may sound very attractive but we fear it frequently leads to spiritual disaster. A dead man cannot have any power over sin nor can sin have any power over a dead man, hence the scriptural exhortation is— “RECKON ye yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin.” Similarly a dead man has nothing to surrender, but as those, who have died with Christ, who have been “buried with Him by baptism into death,” and who are left here that we should “WALK in Newness of life,” we now “YIELD” ourselves “unto God.” Our bodies are not changed, they will be later, (See Phil. 3:20, 2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)), but in those bodies in which we once disgraced ourselves and dishonored God, it is ours to live now as “being made free from sin, and become servants to God, having our fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life” (verse 22).
Let us urge it once more, these Christians in Rome were intreated: — “YIELD yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead.” This admits of no smug complacency on the one hand nor grievous disappointment on the other. This will be the practical outcome and the only possible result of a right apprehension of the truth.
Now let us see the importance of this, to exaggerate it would be impossible. We yield ourselves unto God, every member of our body is at His disposal. Think of it! We are here in this world “as those that are alive from the dead,” (verse 13), “Alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (verse 11) that “we should WALK in newness of life” (verse 4). This does not mean that we will move about in some peculiar fashion, imagine that a halo surrounds our heads, talk in unnatural tones or anything of that sort. We will discharge our duty, whether in kitchen, drawing-room, school or college, office or workshop in a proper way, and we will do these things as those who are “alive unto God,” no matter how humble or exalted our position, how menial or how distinguished our work, how obscure or how prominent our service we will have only one thing before us and that to please God.
Our study of these chapters will have been in vain if it does not produce this result. A knowledge of the precious doctrine of Holy Scripture is indispensable for every true believer, but flowing from that there must be the “Manner of life,” (2 Tim. 3:1010But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10)), and our apprehension of doctrine is no greater than that which is expressed in our walk and ways. We trust we have derived profit from the divine presentation of the truth as we have perused this sacred portion. Now there comes the call: —
“YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD.”
What a difference it would make if this were the case with every true believer in the world today. What a difference it might make, dear fellow Christian, if in our home, our business, the local circle where we enjoy fellowship and carry on our activities in His service, this were true of us.
Shall we once more read and ponder over Romans 1-8, turn back to chapter six, verse thirteen, drop on our knees, ask God by His Holy Spirit to burn these four words into our souls, then go forth “as those that are alive from the dead,” to “walk in newness of life,” and as alive unto Him, until that day when this privilege and honor will, in the same way, be no longer ours but when we shall be “conformed to the image of His Son.”
W. BRAMWELL DICK.