August 24, 2022

Romans 6:15-23 (HCSB)
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey —either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred to, 18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness. 21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification —and the end is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Garnett Cothern
Again, Paul asks, “should we sin because we are no longer under the law?” Again – a resounding “NO!” He then outlines life as a slave – either to sin or to righteousness. Having chosen Christ, we have now been entrusted with obedience to the teachings of Christ. We are “weak” and what “benefit” did we receive from sinfulness? Death. Now, however, we are set FREE. Praise God for the specifics of vs. 23 – “The wages of sin is death.” The gift of God is eternal life with Christ. We should all memorize that short verse. Share it with someone. Our short life given to Christ certainly has the extremely beneficial result of Heaven with Christ. Isn’t that what Christ offers each believer? Let’s continuously share the message of hope, trust, and grace with those around us – classmates, coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends. Pray for each other to be His witness daily in our talk and walk.

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