You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Romans 6:18
In our post-modern world today, truth is not absolute; there is no definitive right or wrong. Today’s society might view Paul’s position – either you are a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness – as narrow-minded. History is proof that societies that have no absolutes, using relativism as their guide, fall into decay, specifically moral decay, and become powerless. God’s grace gives us freedom and power to live a life free of sin and dependent on God’s truth. Grace is not freedom from obedience; it is freedom for obedience. Paul exhorts Christians to count themselves dead to sin but alive in Christ. (v.11)
He continues to address how we do that; it is accomplished by offering our bodies (Greek word indicating all the parts of the body to include body, mind, will, and emotions) to the Lord. In doing so, we become slaves to righteousness. As unbelievers, we were slaves to sin, but now, as believers, we are slaves to righteousness, offering ourselves to be servants of the Most High God. One of the names for God in the New Testament is “Adonai,” which means master. We are offering ourselves to Adonai as a bondservant, one who chooses to be under the Master’s authority even if he has already been set free. Experience is often the best teacher, and every time I give in to the temptations of the world, my sinful nature, or the enemy, I lose my peace, joy, and fruitfulness for the Lord.
Paul asks, “Why be enslaved by sin when you can have freedom by living righteously?” Anyone who has given in to sin knows the tyranny of being under the wrong master.
Heavenly Father,
I long to be free from the tyranny of sin. I offer myself to You, Adonai, my Master, choosing to be under Your authority. I pray that You will guide me and direct me in righteousness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
