Twenty-second in the Sermon Series. “Romans: Gospel Blueprint.”
Paul explained that all who have died with Christ will also live with him (6:8). His reason: Christ’s own resurrection was final, and death no longer has any claim on him (6:9). His death dealt with sin once for all; his life is now lived entirely to God (6:10). On that basis, Paul issues his first direct command in the chapter: count yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (6:11). This isn’t wishful thinking. It is reasoning from a settled fact to the way one must live. So the believer must not let sin reign in the mortal body (6:12); do not surrender your members over to sin as weapons of unrighteousness, but offer yourselves to God as those brought from death to life (6:13). And Paul grounds the whole appeal in a promise: sin will not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace (6:14). That last line: “not under law but under grace,” is exactly what triggers the next section. If grace, not law, is now in charge, doesn’t that leave the door open to sin freely? Paul’s answer is an emphatic no, and he explains why using the very metaphor of slavery he’s already introduced.
Not a Slave to Sin
Paul repeats a similar statement (Ro 6:1-2), but this time with the element of the law. Should believers sin because they are no longer under the law but under grace? The answer is the same: NO. Then he explains that sin is the master if you obey it, but it leads to death.
Romans 6:15-16, ESV: What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 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?
Paul writes to give them the right perspective of sin and slavery. That is, if one surrenders his body to sin, such a person is a slave to sin. But that leads to death. The author refers to the old life of sin because the new life is different.
Slave to Righteousness
Paul gives thanks to God for the transformation from being slaves to sin to slaves of righteousness. The apostle gave two opposite elements: sin and righteousness, but two supporting terms: slave and obedience. He exhorts them to present themselves slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.[1]
Romans 6:17-19: But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. 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.
Paul mentions the term: sanctification. It is one of the major doctrines of Christianity. In this context, it is about identifying as a slave to righteousness rather than to sin. The sanctified person rejects the dominion of sin, but submits himself to the sovereignty of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Wages vs Free
Paul explains that the fruit of sin is shame and the consequence is eternal death. Conversely, the fruit of being a slave of God is sanctification, and the reward is eternal life. Paul contrasts wages and free gift in describing death and eternal life in Christ.
Romans 6:20-23: For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If one thinks about it, wages describe something you deserve; they are a payment. Death is something earned by sin. [2] But a free gift is not about earning it, and that was how Paul described eternal life in Christ. How is it received? Genuine faith in Christ Jesus.
Application
1. Stop thinking of sin as an occasional stumble and start asking who you’re actually presenting yourself to. Determine that you are not a slave to sin. You do not have to obey its lusts.
2. Let us continuously present ourselves to the Lord Jesus as slaves of righteousness. We carefully watch our minds, emotions, and the members of our body for the Sovereign Lord of All.
3. Believe in the difference between sin and righteousness, as well as where they lead: death or eternal life. If we have sinned, let us not despair, for grace, the free gift of God, is greater than our sin.
[1] Colin G. Kruse, Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Eerdmans, 2012), 284. Kruse explains that Paul talks about sanctification as a process but also as a result in a “state of fitness for God’s presence.”
[2] Frank S. Thielman, Romans, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan Academic, 2018), 6:23. Thielman states that the free gift also refers to justification in 5:15-16.
SANCTIFIED by Ed Pilapil Jr Through faith in Christ, we’re unified That also means we’re justified Thus, there is hope for the guilty Those who confess admittedly Believer and Christ: unified With Him, we have been crucified In His death, we have been baptized Dead to sin, with Him, we have died We’re joined to Christ, yes, unified It also means we’re sanctified No neutral ground, the line is clear Do not be stubborn and not hear To those in Christ, those unified Let’s live the path that’s sanctified We are then slaves to righteousness By grace, we live in holiness
Study Guide
1. What are the similarities and differences of Ro 6:1-3 to Ro 6:15-16? Explain.
2. The word “sanctification” (or holiness) twice. Explain it within the immediate context. (Ro 6:19 & 22)
3. How will you live a sanctified life? Draw your answer from the passage (Ro 6:15-23).
