Slaves to Righteousness

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 which 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

Share This

Related Blogs & Devotionals

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.