Freed from Sin, Slaves to Righteousness

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Romans 6:15-23

 

Romans 6:17-18

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

(ESV)

 

Slavery is an abhorrent practice that diminishes one’s value to a piece of property instead of a creation of God that God loves and sent His Son to die for (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16). The U.S. Declaration of Independence even cites the God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and not the relegation of some individuals to a piece of property based upon the color of their skin. The use of the term slave in Romans 6:15-23 is not presented in a derogatory manner but to illustrate the dramatic transformation in an individual’s life when they choose to renounce their life of sin and replace it with a life dedicated to Christ.

 

Romans 6:15-23 begins with a rhetorical question, asking if one should continue living a life of sin since they live under grace and not the law (Romans 6:15). Paul answers his question with an emphatic no, asking another question regarding whether his readers know that one presenting themselves as obedient slaves is obedient to the one they bond themselves to (Romans 6:15-16). To continue in sin after one has been set free from sin is to become slaves to sin after being set free from its bondage. Paul continues by giving thanks to God for the work of Christ on the cross providing freedom from the bondage of sin and instead, bonding one to righteousness (Romans 6:17-19).

 

One in bondage to sin has no regard for righteousness for they serve their master sin, which bears the fruit of death (Romans 6:20-21). However, those accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ are set free from sin (Romans 6:22) and are adopted into the family of God as children of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:16). The choice before each individual is whether to continue in their born heritage of sin or renouncement of the heritage of sin and bonding to righteousness and eternal life (Romans 6:23).

 

Paul is addressing believers in Rome where slavery was common. Paul uses the human term slavery to explain the process of salvation where one moves from slavery to sin and death to slavery to righteousness and eternal life (Romans 6:16). The choice Paul presents to his readers is whether they will choose the default position of slavery to sin (Romans 3:23) leading to death or the position of slavery to righteousness leading to eternal life. The best choice is obvious, but some still choose to remain in sin, choosing death over life.

 

Like the believers in Rome at the time of Paul’s writing, people today have a choice of continuing to live in sin leading to death or choosing to accept the free gift of salvation by grace, and eternal life (Romans 6:23). Living in sin is the default position (Romans 3:23) and why Jesus came to provide a pathway to salvation through the grace of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). I invite those reading this who have not chosen eternal life through Jesus Christ to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God Challenge and bless those reading this post and may God’s grace abound in your life.