“Freed to be a Slave” Romans 6:15-23

 

“Freed to be a Slave”
by Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 6:15-23

 

We might be led to believe that a correct understanding of the doctrine of justification by faith would cause people to have no moral restraints. The same concern was in the minds of those believers that were receiving the letter to the Roman churches. If the gift of eternal life cancels the penalty of sin in our lives, than why do we need to “do good”? Maybe this gift does remove all responsibility from us in regard to righteous living… or does it? Let’s look at the text for a continued look at these questions and concerns.

I.                   Another question about law and grace    Romans 6:15

a.       As this paragraph opens, we are directed to a question that is very similar to the one that started chapter 6. In verse 1, the question was, “Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” And in verse 15, the question is, “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?”

b.      The question before us in verse 15 comes right on the heels of verse 14 and its declaration of freedom because of the believer’s position by grace.

c.       Look to the answer to the question. It is exactly the same answer that we had in for the question of verse 1. MAY IT NEVER BE! By no means! Away with the notion! Perish the thought! In other words, NO! NO! NO!

d.      This grace is not license to do as we want to; it’s an avenue to do what God wants us to do.

 

II.                An illustration of this truth    Romans 6:16-19

a.       Again, verse 16 closely reflects the wording of verse 3. “Do you not know…” is the back-up question to the ones posed in verses 1 and 15.

b.      Verse 16 does not offer a route of “not presenting” yourself as a slave to someone. One might wonder why? The reason why there is no option other than presenting yourself to someone as a slave is because there is no option. So there are really only 2 options:

                                                              i.      Present yourself as a slave to sin, resulting in death.

                                                            ii.      Present yourself as a slave of obedience (God), resulting in righteousness.

1.      The contrast between sin and obedience suggests that sin is by nature disobedience to God.

c.       But verse 17-18 tells the story for the one who has presented himself for obedience to God. This person was a slave of sin, unable to escape its penalty and its power. But once that person is saved, justified by faith in Christ, that person willingly (not under force) choses obedience from the heart to the teaching of Christ. This is sanctification… more and more of the life of the believer is being given over willingly to the lordship of Christ. And this will continue through the entirety of the believer’s life here on Earth. He or she is now freed, not from the possibility, but from the power of sin in their life. They can now follow Christ, changing masters from “master sin” to “master Jesus”.

d.      Verse 19 begins by sharing the “baggage” that comes with this illustration. Paul understands that a discussion about freedom through slavery is difficult for the hearers to understand. But he must use an illustration like this because of their tendencies to sin and to misunderstanding. He continues by saying that a pattern is set as we serve one master or the other. Serving the master of sin causes a trajectory of continued sin. Likewise, following a trajectory of righteousness will lead to more obedience going forward.

e.       Some questions to consider:

                                                              i.      What master do you serve and why?

                                                            ii.      What things are you “on a trajectory” towards?

 

III.             The result of this truth    Romans 6:20-23

a.       Verse 20 reminds us of the positional change that has occurred for the one that is now saved. Before we were saved, when we were slaves of sin, we did enjoy an illusion of freedom. We were free from the constraints of righteousness! We didn’t have that burden on us. We were “free” to pursue our own ways, never understanding that we were in the ultimate of bondages.

b.      Verse 21 tells us the result of that “freedom”. There was and is no benefit to that lifestyle…except death! They yield or the fruit of this lifestyle are shame and death.

c.       Verse 22 tells us that in the new life, the life given over to serving Master Jesus, there is a genuine and a wonderful benefit. As we enslave ourselves to God the benefit is sanctification and its outcome, eternal life!

d.      Verse 23 is the 2^nd verse of the “Roman’s Road” Gospel presentation. It shares with us the contrast in lifestyle and benefit in a very clear and easy to understand way. It says that the wage (payment) for sin is death (separation both physically and spiritually from God). But in contrast to that lifestyle is the 2^nd of the options: the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Quite a difference in “benefit packages”, huh?

 

IV.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       The fact that we are under grace instead of law is not a license to live without restraints and morals.

b.      As we present our life to one of two masters, there is a real and predictable trajectory established.

c.       The “benefit package” for the believer far exceeds the temporary “benefit” of sin.