Who Is Free? (3)

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:17-18

Form Of Teaching – Want to be free?  Then become an obedient slave to the “form of teaching.”  That raises the obvious question, “What is this ‘form of teaching’ that Paul talks about?”  For the answer, we need to look at the Greek text.

The Greek words are tupon didaches.  The word tupon (form) literally describes a stamp or impression like forming a coin by stamping an image on it.  In other words, this word is about the duplication of something, the transfer of an authentic article to another material rendering the second material identical to the first.  Sha’ul recognizes that these Gentiles have embraced the pattern of Torah obedience.  They are conforming their lives to an external standard.

But someone may object, “How do we know that Paul is talking about Torah observance?  After all, he could mean simply that these people are conforming their lives to the new gospel of grace.”  Such an interpretation might be possible if it weren’t for Sha’ul’s own testimony and the connection to chapter 14, verse 18.  In 14:18, Sha’ul says that believers who serve Christ please God and are approved by men.  Why is this behavior approved by men?  Because it meets the external standard which is used to judge the genuineness of faith.  In other words, other followers of YHWH observe the behavior of these new converts.  They see changes.  They recognize the shift from lives of personal liberty to lives of domesticated submission.  And they see something else.  They see conformity to a pattern already acknowledged as God’s instruction.  The proof of the genuine stamp, the form of teaching, is seen in the resulting behavior.   They display God’s view on living.

This leaves us with a very important question.  If Paul expected Gentile converts to live in such a manner that followers of YHWH would recognize their behavior as conformity with God’s words, are we doing the same thing?  Are we living in such a manner that other followers of the one true God will recognize us as the genuine article?  What Paul certainly must have had in mind was the observation and subsequent judgment of the Jewish community.  So ask yourself, “If the Jewish community observed my life, would they recognize me as a follower of YHWH?”  Forget the theological proclamations.  Forget the Trinity, “Jesus” and the Church as the new Israel.  All those doctrinal issues are not at stake here.  The evidence is the behavior.  Would the Jewish community recognize you as “righteous”?  Could you sit at the table with them and make them feel comfortable?  Would they invite you to their weddings?  Or the feasts?

Sha’ul exhorts Gentile converts to demonstrate the genuineness of their faith by their actions.  What do you think he would say to us?

Topical Index:  free, form, teaching, Torah, approved, Romans 6:17