OUR FATHER WHOSE GIFT IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD

In the book of Romans chapter 6 verses 15 - 23, the Apostle Paul, having previously discussed the fact that a believer in faith is not under the law but under grace,  rhetorically asks if a believer was now free to sin because they were not under the law but under grace. 

Paul emphatically refutes that notion by explaining that we will become the slaves of whomever we present ourselves to obey. If we chose to obey the coersion of sin, we become a slave of sin and conversely, if we are obedient to the mandates of righteousness, we become slaves of righteousness.

When we were slaves to sin, our God who loved us was able to place a command in our hearts that we were able to obey and that obedience to the doctrine of salvation set us free from the dominion of sin and we, having obeyed the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans chapter 1 verse 16), took the first step in a life of obedience.

To continue in the life that is set free from sin and death, we must continually present ourselves to righteousness that leads us to holiness.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen

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