“I do not propose, friends, to be browbeaten by an upstart of a preacher.  I tell you I have been a student of the Scriptures, and I have heard many learned ministers of the gospel preach, and I have never heard one of them state that they lived free from sin.  I try to do my best every day, but, I tell you, the devil is strong, and the flesh is weak, so I often fall into grievous sins and errors.  But I feel that I am a Christian, nevertheless.  I have been baptized, and know that I believe.”  And the old man sat down.

“Well, we have not discussed our chapter very much,” said Robert.  “Has any one any explanation to give?”

People glanced at Peter, but it was evident that he was about through for the evening.  Robert then rose, and said: 

“Friends, this sixth chapter of Romans is full of proof-texts favoring holiness of life.  Paul asks, ’Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?’ ‘God forbid,’ he answers.  And then Paul asks a most significant and conclusive question, ’How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?’ Mark the words, ‘dead to sin.’  What could Paul mean, except that we are to become dead to sin?

“Now, notice verse 6, please, ’Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.’  Crucifixion means death.  The ’old man,’ which means the old fleshly, sinful life, is to be killed, so that he may no longer dominate the life.  Praise God!”

When Robert said these last words all in the house looked at him.  They were not used to such expressions.  Robert was a little surprised himself, as that was the first time he had ever said them.  But his heart was full of heavenly joy.  He knew God saved him.

“Now, shall we notice verse 16 and down to the twentieth?  We necessarily must serve God or Satan; we yield our members, such as the tongue or the hands, to do evil, or to do good.  And to whom we yield these members, his servants we are.  This is fundamental.  A person who does right serves God; one who sins serves the devil.  Nothing can be plainer than this.  Suppose we read 1 John 3:8.  ’He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.’  This is plain teaching, yet it is entirely logical.  Jesus said that no man can serve two masters.  We cannot serve God and mammon at the same time.

“And, could anything be more emphatic than these words, ’For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness?’ And these, ’But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life’ (v. 22).”

Peter Newby was plainly growing restive under these words of Robert’s.  He rose and said: 

“I do not expect to sit here and be insulted by being called of the devil, and so forth.  There are many wise men who have expounded the Scriptures, and they laid no claim to being saved from sin.  There is a lot for this young man to learn yet.”