Day 30: Romans 7:4-6

A life bearing fruit of God

In Romans 7:4-6, Paul explains to the saints in Rome about two types of fruit.  The first fruit is for death (Rom. 7:5), representing the fruit we bore while living as slaves to sin before believing in Jesus.  We lived producing fruit for death, walking in disobedience and lawlessness.  This life under the law is what Paul refers to as living "under the law" (6:15).  This life is living in the lusts of impurity (1:24), driven by shameful desires, not living in the proper and natural way but contrary to it (v. 26), doing things that are not fitting before God.

The second fruit is for God.  This fruit is holiness, and the end of holiness is eternal life (6:22).  If we truly believe in Jesus, we must strive to live a holy life.  Holiness is living a life set apart for God, and the ultimate result of holiness is eternal life.  We have been called to be saints, set apart for Jesus (1:6) and identified as those who are called to be saints (v. 7).  We are not of this world, but we belong to Jesus.  We have a clear sense of belonging, living a life separated from the world, and further, we seek to live in pursuit of the holiness of Jesus.