Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Romans 6:18, ESV: "and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." What then? See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. What the Bible says about But sin separates us from God. I placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass (16) If we are slaves being obedient to God it leads to righteousness. Romans 6:18 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Romans 6:18, NIV: "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Though new covenant believers sin, Paul sees our era as characterized by God’s grace and empowering Spirit. It also means that we are able to put away the syndrome of sin and death, and embrace what is good and holy. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. According to this text, we are either slaves to our sin or slaves to righteousness. We do not follow Christ simply because of some chance impulse. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Not to overthrow it, but to work within it. Those are the only two options. This deep, heartfelt, and comprehending feeling arises in the minds of people who have had firsthand experience with the suffering that sin and death bring. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. By no means! Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. Few or none of us have known either the depths of actual, physical slavery to another individual or the heights of walking the halls of power. In this case, though, slavery was a part of the culture, and God nowhere instructs His people to overthrow it. If we broaden this to include the state, whether democratic or socialistic, then the state is the sovereign. Paul explores this truth in today’s passage, noting that those who are in Christ have Him as their master now, and their obedience to Him leads to righteousness and life. In other words, the forgiveness that we have, the… It tells us that we are slaves to the one we obey. 19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. If the faith is genuine, the fruit of that faith will be real righteousness.” Declarative righteousness—God’s pronouncement that the merit of Christ is imputed to our accounts—is what gives us peace with God. Do you not fear me? Posted On October 17, 2017. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. In the new covenant, the gospel converts the nations, and they serve the Lord (1:5; 2 Tim. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Slaves to Righteousness - What then? 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed ? Let us be clear—the Apostle is not saying that we earn our redemption. 1-11 of Romans 6, namely, that by … Continue reading "Commentary on Romans 6:12-23" If we have any sense at all—any discernment of what He has rescued us from and what He has given us the opportunity to possess—our sense of gratitude should explode in zeal and motivate us to loyalty because we owe Him so much! (22) Now that we are slaves to God we are free from sin and can have the benefits of holiness that lead to eternal life. Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?\" This whole sixth chapter deals with what happens when a believer sins. God through the apostle Paul, gives a commentary to this truth in our passage. May it never be! Before you were a Christian you were a slave, in bondage to sin. Slaves of Righteousness. Romans 6:18, KJV: "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." In this chapter we are dealing with a very practical problem, one that every Christian must wrestle with. After He redeemed us, God gave us great freedom of mind, action, and choice. John 15:13-15 presents us with an interesting and exciting expansion of our place within our relationship with Christ. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Even when you did not want to sin, you were unable to do otherwise (Rom. As in Romans 2, Paul is speaking about the sequence of salvation. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. The Bible does not say such a thing. Those things result i… And they were not, in most cases, just menial workers; slavery extended into the professions. In ancient Rome, the friends of the Caesar had greater access to him than his governmental counselors and military advisors. And yet the merciful justifier of every one that believeth in Jesus. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. Slaves of Righteousness Romans 6:19-23 If you have your Bibles, I’d invite you to turn with me to Romans, chapter 6. He protested racial legislation in South Africa and led civil disobedience campaigns in his native India in order to secure home rule. It is unreal to ask whether the process or the result is meant here: they have no meaning apart. Your gift enables our worldwide outreach. Today, very few people have ever been a slave like those whom Paul was addressing here. Romans 6:16 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Romans 6:16, NIV: "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" He was especially noted for his commitment to non-violent ways, his self-discipline and denial, as well as his championing of the underclass within the caste system. He has freed us from the fear of death, from enslavement to sin, and so on. Fix that problem! 16 have ye not known that to whom ye present yourselves servants for obedience, servants ye are to him to whom ye obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? ... Slaves of righteousness. 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? We do not like to think that believers do sin; but, unfortunately, we do. 15 What then? They know in their heart of hearts that they are guilty of rebellion against this wonderful Personality who created us, died for us, and continues to be our friend through thick and thin. We are justified on account of Christ’s righteousness and our eternal life is secure, but justification is not the whole of salvation. Here is our obligation set boldly and clearly before us: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give it you" (John 15:16). in all its fullness to as many people as possible. One-half of the people in the city were slaves! Every Christian, then, is a new man, no longer living the old life of sin and slavish obedience to human nature. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? 1:7). Our justification gives us the kingdom citizenship that cannot be lost, and as we live in Christ, the Lord begins to make us godly even now in preparation for the perfect godliness we will enjoy in the age to come. Adam Clarke Commentary. Slavery was an accepted practice in Roman culture. This feeling is derived from a clear understanding of what has been done and continues to be done in our behalf. Our sense of obligation is further built and strengthened by the knowledge that we have been specifically summoned and appointed to share in an intimate, loving, family relationship and friendship that He sustains through His office as High Priest. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 6:16-20 Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration. In many cases, our understanding and therefore our appreciation of this falls short of what it should be. The apostle Paul informs us in Romans 6:6 that, when we were submerged in the waters of baptism, "our old man was crucified with [Christ], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." 12-14) builds off what Paul has already written in vv. Look again at verse 16. Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? God wants everyone to be free. However, a friend of Christ is a confidant of the One in power, who shares the knowledge of His purpose with him. says the Lord; Do you not tremble before me? Rome's population (just the city of Rome) has been estimated at well over one million people during the time that this book was written. Nothing we can do, even with God’s help, is good enough to secure our place in the kingdom. Redemption, at first glance, elevates us from being a slave of unrighteousness and Satan to being a slave of righteousness and Jesus Christ. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? That he might be just - Showing his justice on his own Son. 20 When you were slaves … The Scriptures assigned for today are: Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 89: 1-18; Romans 6:12-23 and Matthew 10: 40-42. We need to understand that what Paul is writing - "servants obey in all things" - excludes breaking the commands of God. Slavery extended into every area of society. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. If Christians do not to allow sin be their master, then they are slaves to righteousness. God permitted slavery to exist, and through Paul, He told Christians to operate within it. Then the friend voluntarily adopts it as his own, perhaps for no other reason than the basis of their friendship. Actually, looking to our law-keeping as the basis for our righteousness before the Lord increases transgression and diverts us from the answer to sin God has provided, namely, His grace in Christ (Rom. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. (From Forerunner Commentary). Paul says later in the chapter that, "having been set free from sin, [we] became slaves of righteousness" (verse 18). The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. Two weeks ago I drew out of verses 11-13 a picture. In Jesus, we are no longer under the law, but that does not mean lawlessness. 6:14). But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. We are seen here as the servant of the one we obey; we are under its authority. This is where the idea of being a slave of righteousness enters the picture. Donate Now. Contrary to the Judaism of the Apostle’s day, God’s law—be it the Mosaic law or the law of God revealed in nature—does not solve the problem of sin. Richard T. Ritenbaugh He means obey all things pertaining to one's occupation. Slaves to Righteousness “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (v. 16). Romans 6:15-16 . We have been specifically appointed, ordained, placed in this unique relationship that we may produce the right things in life. Their job was to work on changing individuals, especially those within the church. In Charles Hodge’s classic commentary on the Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans, there is a gripping discussion on the implications of being united to Christ by faith. Desiring God. - Romans 6:16-19 Paul clearly teaches that we can obey God only if we are under grace. The First Commandment (1997). Romans 6:19: “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. No, they were not. Romans 7:25 – Because of Jesus my Lord, God delivered me, so I choose to have my mind focused on God’s Law. To not be under the law means we are not under the old covenant, an era of disobedience. John Calvin comments, “We are not freed from the bondage of the law that we may sin; for the law does not lose its dominion, until the grace of God restores us to him, in order to renew us in righteousness: and it is hence impossible that we should be subject to sin, when the grace of God reigns in us.”. The mission, passion and purpose of Ligonier Ministries is to proclaim the holiness of God Everybody who was anybody had slaves. Ring out the old, ring in the new, and the new man begins his walk toward perfection (Hebrews 6:1). But through His Spirit, the Lord will sanctify His people. They did not try to change society. 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? If we are self-serving and destructive, we will end up tearing each other apart, but if we serve one another in love, we will build the church. This means to take God's work in Christ to set men free from sin as a serious matter! But in broadening the scope, the chance that idolatry will enter the equation also increases. Were the apostles social crusaders? Of course, as Paul said here, this fulfills the intent of God's law: love, outgoing concern, the way of give. July 1, 2020 . We must be either sinners or saints; God's servants or the devil's slaves. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Romans 6:18. Ye were free from righteousness - These two servitudes are incompatible; if we cannot serve God and Mammon, surely we cannot serve Christ and Satan. History says they had access to him at all times, even into his bedchambers. It has been said that the theme o… John W. Ritenbaugh 17 and thanks to God, that ye were servants of the sin, and -- were obedient from … On the other hand if we are slaves to righteousness, and now are slaves to Christ, and dwell in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, the end is righteousness (v.16), and this means we are destined for life and heavenly glory. He has freed us from the curse of the law—the death penalty. If you are not a slave to Righteousness you are a slave to SIN! We will always strive to glorify Him. It’s not the subject of casual, carefree conversation. Though there were exceptions—believers such as Moses, Ruth, Samuel, Hannah, and others—the history of God’s people before Christ is defined mostly by law-breaking and faithlessness in Israel and in the nations to whom Israel was called to be a light. When God saved you, He freed you from sin, but you remained a slave. 7:15-24). by Mike Bennett. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. Few issues can make a person cringe as much as slavery. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. He severed our relationship from our former master (sin, Satan, the world), freed us, and then took us into slavery to Himself and to serving our brethren in righteousness. Jeremiah 5:21-31 A SLAVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS Hear this, O foolish and senseless people without understanding, who have eyes, but do not see, who have ears, but do not hear. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Romans 3:26 For a demonstration of his righteousness - Both of his justice and mercy. If man is the source of the morality we submit to, then man is our sovereign. First published in Tabletalk Magazine, an outreach of Ligonier. let it not be! In fact, to be under law is to be under the reign of sin (Rom. Sproul discusses the relationship between justification and sanctification: “We are not going to make it on the basis of our righteousness, but only on the basis of faith. What the Bible says about On the other hand, to present the members as slaves to righteousness has ἁγιασμόςin view, which is a higher thing. “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14; ESV). For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.” Before we consider Paul’s command, what does he mean when he says that he is “speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh”? I speak after the manner of men — descending, for illustration, to the level of common affairs. However, most of us work for a living, and the principle holds true for that area. A slave would never know such a relationship. Rather, he is ap… Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in … Romans 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. The Next 500 Years: 2017 National Conference, Show Me Your Glory: Understanding the Majestic Splendor of God, La Biblia de Estudio de La Reforma, Spanish Edition, Naming Ligonier the Beneficiary of a Bank or Investment Account, Gifts That Provide Income and Tax Benefits. Sanctification—being conformed in practice to the holiness of Jesus— always follows justification. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Certainly not! For those who are not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scriptures that are read before the Message. Slaves to Righteousness Posted on July 16, 2019 by Basic Gospel “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? In the context, he does not seem to be rebuking his readers. A slave is one who has absolutely no authority over him or herself. Indeed, v. 12 begins with the word “Therefore” because what follows in v. 12 (and in vv. “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (v. 16). Slaves to Righteousness Romans 6. Yet, here Christ elevates our calling to an almost unimaginable height—intimate friendship with Him and the Father. 7:7–12; 10:3–4). Choosing the New Man (Part Two). ἁγιασμὸςis sanctification, primarily as an act or process, eventually as a result. In those days, doctors were often slaves, as were schoolteachers. Particularly, he speaks of the obedience that flows out of this relationship. 6:16–19). As long as this sovereign agrees with God's standards, then idolatry is no problem. Paul has made it very clear especially from Romans, chapter 3 to 5, that our justification is by God’s grace. Paul clearly teaches that we can obey God only if we are under grace. The problem is stated by the apostle very plainly in the first verse of this chapter: \"What shall we say, then? Diving into this lesson at v. 12 of Romans 6 puts one midstream into a powerful current of Paul’s theological reflection. Romans 6:18, NASB: "and having been freed from sin, you … Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Redemption, at first glance, elevates us from being a slave of unrighteousness and Satan to being a slave of righteousness and Jesus Christ. This motivational factor is largely dependent upon feeling—but not the sickeningly sweet sentimentality of some of this world's Christianity. Then He says, once we are freed, we need to use this freedom to serve. I invite you now to turn to the book of Romans, where we are going to pick up in the middle of Chapter 6. Freedom from the law is liberty from sin’s dominion and the law’s condemnation (6:14). The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. It cannot be as a good mistaken man has endeavored to sing: - Slave of Righteousness, The Elements of Motivation (Part Four): Obligation. Practically speaking, this means freedom from slavery to the law (and therefore sin) is slavery to obedience and righteousness (Rom. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Once this has occurred, "just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (verse 4). It Takes a Church. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) “fought” for the freedom of enslaved and oppressed peoples for over thirty years and is rightly recognized as one of the world’s great leaders in this regard. The wages of sin is not physical death, because everyone will die, regardless of whether they are slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. At first, our obligation rests upon the fact of Jesus giving Himself as the price of our spiritual redemption from slavery and death. Law has no power to make us righteous. We have been specifically chosen, summoned by Him to be His friend! Romans 6:15-23 gets at this point as Paul uses the slave as an illustration of our standing with God. The Elements of Motivation (Part Four): Obligation. A slave never receives a reason for the work assigned him; he simply must do it because he has no other choice. Because the new man is a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17), he is to be renewed in mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:10) and conduct (Titus 3:5, 8; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:10, 12). Slaves of Sin or Slaves of Righteousness? Slave of Righteousness Charles Whitaker If we have any sense of gratitude for His work in intervening, leading, guiding, correcting, and perfecting our character so that we produce much fruit and love one another, our sense of obligation will be further stirred to ensure that we do not let Him down in any area of life. Slaves of Righteousness. In his commentary Romans, Dr. R.C. They know He greatly desires that friendship to continue for all eternity because He is changing us to be like Him and be one with Him. John 15:13-15 presents us with an interesting and exciting expansion of our place within our relationship with Christ. Nobody is saying that the Bible says slavery is good. For permissions, view our Copyright Policy. John W. 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