Romans 6 What Are You Using Your Freedom For?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 6

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

The Romans presented a really bad argument that because God's grace increases when we sin, we should sin all the more. But Paul argues that as we have been baptized in Christ, we are not only forgiven, but also baptized into his death. What does that mean? 

But Paul’s point is clear: something dramatic and life changing happened in the life of the believer. You can’t die and rise again without it changing your life. The believer has a real (although spiritual) death and resurrection with Jesus Christ. - Guzik

The bottom line is that Jesus death and resurrection gave us victory over sin. It no longer has power over us and it cannot rule us. So therefore why would be want to go back to sin, since we have died to it. It's as if we have been set free from slavery only to go back and willfully put back on the chains.

The lifestyle of sin brings death, but we have been raised to new life in Christ. Just as Christ has been raised from the dead, we too are not only raised to newness of in this world, but also eternal life when we die. So Paul tells them not to offer any part of their bodies to sin, but to offer them to God as instruments of righteousness. 

Paul talks about the battle between the "old self" and the "new self". The old self was born in sin and had no power to overcome sin. The new self is renewed in the image of its Creator, and has the Holy Spirit to give it the power to live in that newness of life. Yet, as born again believers, we still struggle and battle against our old, sinful nature. 

If the old man is dead, why do I feel a pull to sin inside? It comes from the flesh, which is distinct from the old man. It’s hard to precisely describe the flesh; some have called it “the screen on which the inner man is displayed.” Our inner being has desires and impulses and passions; these are played out in our mind, in our will, and in our emotions. The flesh is what acts out the inner man. - Guzik

Slaves to Righteousness

Bob Dylan sang the song, "You gotta serve someone!" We are hard wired to give ourselves to someone or something. When we are freed from our old nature, we are free to serve God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind.

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

The key thing here is that we have come to "obey from our heart". We don't obey slavishly, or to gain God's approval, but because we have God's approval. In Paul's day slavery was a big part of the culture, so these analogies would have hit home. As the analogy goes, it would be like someone who had given all their rights to become an indentured servant had been set free and given their life back. But then sold themselves willingly back into slavery. 

"The Apostle Paul apologized for using slavery as an illustration, because it was so degrading and pervasive, and especially because many of his Roman readers were slaves. Yet he knew this was an accurate and meaningful illustration." - Guzik

Finally Paul gives us a very important scripture, 

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When Paul says, "We have become slaves to God", one might question the use of this analogy. The word for "slave" is also translated "servant". But the Greek word is "doulos", which is the word for "bondservant".  Someone who has given up all of his rights. When we become a "bondservant of Christ", we are submitting to Him as our master. 

As the bible says, "You cannot have two masters. Either you will grow to hate the one and love the other, or visa versa." Though we had no choice but to serve our sinful nature, we now have the choice to give ourselves willingly to God. 

Let's say someone is a foodaholic. If they eat compulsively, they are in the power of their addiction. Yet, if they realize they have a new power to choose, which comes from God, they can either return to compulsive eating, or serve their new master eating healthily. They will still struggle with the desire to eat in an unhealthy way, yet they still have to choice to be free from their addiction and live in freedom. 

Are you using the freedom you have been given in Christ to serve your old master or your new master? Is sin still your master, or has God's grace given you new life? 

Remember: "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus!"