A Broke Evangelist

November 13, 2024

Romans 6:15-18

The Meaning of Death and Resurrection with Jesus

 “15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 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? 17 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.”

Today marked the beginning of a whole new chapter for me. I started a new medication to help bring down my blood sugar. Now, I won’t name names, but if you watch Fox News or any of those cable channels that folks like me enjoy, you’ve probably seen it—complete with a catchy jingle set to a ’70s tune, just to remind us of the good ol' days when health was easier!

So, like I do every morning, I got up around 5:00 a.m. and took my blood sugar. Following most of the instructions (key word: most), I prepped the injector pen, got everything lined up, and the injection went off without a hitch… until I realized I’d missed a small but important detail. Right after I pulled the needle out, I saw the part of the instructions that said to leave it in for six seconds. So, I popped it back in for the six-second countdown and hoped that I hadn’t messed it up too badly.

A bit later, I started feeling nauseous and generally just "blah," which I took as a sign that I probably did it right. Apparently, nausea is a known side effect, and loss of appetite is too—which is how people lose weight on this stuff. Not having an appetite was a strange but welcome change. I did manage to eat a little just to keep my stomach settled, but honestly, I probably could’ve skipped the whole day’s meals without missing a beat.

Curious about how it was working, I took my blood sugar multiple times throughout the day. It was up by 20 points six hours after the morning reading, and then, after a meal, it shot up another 130 points! I freaked out for a minute, but four hours later, it had dropped by 70 points again. So, we’ll see how it looks tomorrow morning—fingers crossed for some steady numbers! In the meantime, let’s check out Romans 6:15-18…

Romans 6:15 – What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

So, here’s a thought: Since we're under grace and not under the law, does that mean we can slip up and sin every now and then? Paul has made it pretty clear: a life transformed by grace doesn’t go hand in hand with a lifestyle of constant, habitual sin. But what about the occasional slip-up? Since we’re under grace and not the law, do we really need to worry about a little sin here and there?

Now, there is where my high school English teacher, Miss Seibert, would be so proud of the idiot that she tried to teach in sophomore English fifty years ago, and this is where the subject matter gets kind of goofy: The verb tense of the ancient Greek word for *sin* (specifically, the aorist active tense) is key here. It suggests a bit of dabbling in sin rather than the ongoing, habitual sin Paul describes in Romans 6:1. This shows that I’m doing a study here—mine—because I never heard of “aorist active tense!”

Whatever tense is used, it’s a good idea to just stop it altogether. But, I know that’s not always possible. Cigarettes were easy to quit, and every now and then I pass by a smoker and get reminded of what a good decision that was. But then I’ll see some hottie on television or in a movie and I’ll get reminded by my wife of what a good decision it is to avoid ogling what’s on the tube.

Romans 6:16 – 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?

When we choose to obey something, we’re actually giving it a kind of authority over us—we’re saying, “You’re in charge here.” So, whether it’s our appetite, our habits, or our desires, once we start following it, it can quickly become our master. Picture this: if I’m always giving in to my appetite, then my cravings run the show. Suddenly, I’m not deciding what’s best for me; my next snack is! Remember the fat brother who couldn’t leave his room? Same deal applies.

When I was a kid, I remember sitting in my living room getting ready to leave for school, when the local station morning show had a body builder being interviewed. I was amazed at the size of his muscles, while looking at my then spaghetti-size arms and zero muscle tone. I told my mom that I wanted to look like that guy, and she said something that I never forgot: “Men like him are slaves to their bodies. They have to keep exercising in order to look like that.” Exercise…ugh. I equated running with punishment and didn’t like it one bit. Plus, I wasn’t very good at athletics. I was always slower than a lot of kids.

Before I get totally off point here—Paul’s point here is that we’re all going to serve something in life. It’s unavoidable. But we do have a choice in what we serve. We can let sin and selfish desires call the shots, which ultimately leads to emptiness and regret, or we can choose to serve a higher purpose, living a life of obedience that brings us closer to righteousness and real fulfillment.

And here’s the rub (a little Shakespeare lingo): there’s no middle ground where we get to just do our own thing without serving anything at all. We might like to think we’re free spirits, totally in control, but the reality is that something will always influence our choices and guide our actions. It could be the pursuit of pleasure, the drive for success, or the desire to live rightly. The question is, will we serve something that leads to life and growth, or something that, in the end, leads to emptiness?

So, while the idea of being a “slave to something” might sound harsh, it’s actually a reminder that our choices matter. If we choose wisely and serve what’s good, we’re not actually losing freedom—we’re gaining a life that’s purposeful, fulfilling, and aligned with something bigger than ourselves.

Romans 6:17 – 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. 

With homage to Miss Seibert, Paul uses the past tense here because we have been freed from slavery to sin. He explains that this freedom comes through faith, which he describes as obedience from the heart. The phrase “obeyed from the heart” is a great way to describe faith. It shows that real faith comes from the heart, not just the mind. It isn’t just a vague belief; it’s a deep trust in God’s Word, which he calls “the pattern of teaching.” The takeaway is clear: You put your faith in God and His Word, and now you’re set free. So live each day consistent with that freedom! Earlier in Romans 6, Paul points out that we can be legally free but still choose to live as if we’re prisoners. His advice for Christians is straightforward and encouraging: be who you truly are. The best part about it is that it leads to action—because if we genuinely believe something, we’ll naturally live in line with that belief.

And the phrase, “pattern of teaching” is also a great picture of how God works in our lives. The word “pattern” is also interpreted as “form,” which refers to a mold, like one a craftsman might use to shape molten metal into something new and purposeful. In order to make something strong yet beautiful, the craftsman first has to melt down the raw material, heating it until it’s flexible and ready to be molded. In the same way, God, as the master craftsman, melts us down through the work of the Holy Spirit and His Word. He softens our hearts, bringing us to a place where we’re open and ready for transformation. Then in that state of mushiness, He pours us into His mold of truth—what Paul calls “that pattern of teaching.” It’s a great way to describe the teachings and principles found in the Bible. God isn’t reshaping us haphazardly; He has a clear and perfect design in mind, and it’s all based on His Word. As we settle into this mold, our hearts and minds start to take on a new shape, one that reflects His character, wisdom, and love.

The best part: as we go through this process, we’re gradually transformed to look more like Him. God’s goal isn’t just to make us “good” by worldly standards; He’s shaping us to mirror His own image. It’s an ongoing process, and while it may feel uncomfortable at times—like being melted and re-formed—it’s all part of His careful craftsmanship. We’re being made into something strong, purposeful, and deeply beautiful, reflecting God’s nature more and more as we live out our faith. So, in every challenge, every lesson, and every step we take in faith, we’re being shaped by God’s hands. He’s committed to completing His work in us, shaping us with patience, intention, and love until we fully reflect His image.

Romans 6:18 - You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

So, what does it truly mean to be free from sin and become a "slave" to righteousness? Let’s break it down. First, think of sin as your old boss, the one who used to call the shots and demand your attention. Sin controlled your actions, decisions, and desires—essentially, you worked for it. But now that you're free from sin, it no longer has the authority to dictate your life. It's like finally quitting that toxic job where you were constantly overworked, undervalued, and frustrated. You're free to walk away and choose a new path.

Now, this is now where righteousness takes the lead. Instead of sin being your boss, righteousness becomes the one calling the shots. This means living in alignment with God's truth, justice, and goodness, with the goal of reflecting His character in your daily life. It’s like switching careers and now working for a much better company—one that values you, treats you well, and has a purpose that’s meaningful. Your new "boss," righteousness, wants the best for you and guides you toward living in a way that aligns with God's will.

This reminds me of a “horrible boss” I had years ago. The owner of the clinic I worked for was impossible to please, always making unrealistic demands. I worked from home transcribing physician notes, which ranged from short memos to lengthy, 20-page reports. One day, she called to tell me I was fired and wouldn’t get my last check unless I finished my remaining work—about 16-20 unpaid hours—and brought it in. My job was to transcribe and make sense of a doctor’s recordings, though his English was barely comprehensible. Usually, I’d spend hours editing his fragmented speech into readable notes. But for my “grand finale,” I typed it all verbatim, capturing every “uh,” “forget that,” and “type this instead” exactly as he said it. I submitted it, collected my (reduced) check, and said goodbye. I filed a claim with the labor board for my unpaid hours. The next day, the office called to ask if I had saved the files on the software disc (this was the early ’90s, when software discs were still a thing). I said no and mentioned I’d erased them from my hard drive. When they asked how they’d edit the reports, I told them they’d have to retype everything—I didn’t work there anymore. Walking away felt like pure freedom. I was worried about paying rent, but the weight lifted off my shoulders was worth it!

And I did get my back pay before too long as her boss was upset about how I was treated. Redemption…

And just like with any job change, it wouldn’t make sense to keep worrying about pleasing your old boss once you’ve moved on. The same goes for sin. When you accept that you’re free from it, it doesn’t make sense to keep letting it pull the strings of your life. Instead, focus on your new role and responsibilities in righteousness. It’s all about serving a new master who leads you to a better, more fulfilling life. You’ve been given a fresh start, and now it’s time to embrace the freedom that comes with choosing righteousness as your new path.

So, when you feel tempted to go back to those old ways, remember that you're no longer bound to that old boss. You’re working for a much greater purpose now, one that leads to life, peace, and joy. Serving righteousness isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s about living out the freedom you’ve been given and stepping into the full potential of who God created you to be.

But I have to admit, it’s been over thirty years, and I’m still tempted to stop by my old job and toss a stink bomb inside the car of my old boss!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 13, 2024

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