A Broke Evangelist

November 14, 2024

Romans 6:19-23

Keeping from Slavery

 “19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 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. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Today was one of those slow, draggy days for me. As I mentioned yesterday, I just started a couple of new medications, and my body is taking its sweet time adjusting. Plus, I spent the last two mornings surrounded by people sneezing and coughing—one day for lab work, the other for a doctor’s appointment—so who knows, I might’ve picked up a little something extra. Either way, feeling this crummy isn’t exactly a party.

Naturally, I shared all of this with my wife when she got home from work. She reassured me that it’s just part of the adjustment phase, nothing permanent. She reminded me of the positive results I can expect and encouraged me to think of this as a smart alternative to a more drastic plan, like gastric bypass or some extreme diet.

So, we’ll see how things go tomorrow after a good night’s sleep and a positive mindset.

Of course, I’m well aware of how it feels to ask someone how they’re doing, only to get a rundown of every health issue under the sun. Makes me want to start plotting my exit! So, I’ll wrap up my “misery saga” and instead dive into Romans 6:19-23…

Romans 6:19 – I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

The Apostle Paul was careful in choosing his words when he used slavery as an illustration in his letters. Slavery was a brutal and deeply entrenched institution in Roman society, and many of his readers were either slaves themselves or had witnessed its harsh realities firsthand. So, Paul didn’t bring up this image lightly. In fact, he apologized for the comparison, knowing that it might strike a painful chord with his audience. But he also understood that, for all its ugliness, the concept of slavery could communicate something profound about the human condition.

In his teachings, Paul wanted his readers to grasp the depth of the spiritual transformation they were undergoing. He compared their old lives of sin to slavery, where they were trapped, bound, and unable to break free on their own. Just as a slave has little control over their destiny, he explained that people, too, are held captive by sin, repeating destructive patterns that lead to separation from God. Paul then contrasted this with the idea of being “slaves to righteousness”—that is, committing to a life led by God. In this new “servitude,” one finds freedom, peace, and purpose.

By using this difficult analogy, Paul wanted his readers to see both the severity of sin’s grip and the power of God’s grace. He pointed out that while slavery to sin leads to death, choosing to live in the service of righteousness opens the way to eternal life. It was a powerful, if uncomfortable, image, intended to show that the life Jesus offers isn’t about being bound in chains but about breaking free into a purposeful, grace-filled life.

Paul also taps into a basic truth about human nature: we tend to keep moving in the direction we’re already headed. Lawlessness begets more lawlessness, while righteousness sets us on the path toward holiness—which, in turn, builds even more righteousness. It’s like a snowball effect with our habits; once we’re pointed one way, we tend to keep rolling that way. His point is simple but powerful: the choices we make and the habits we build are like a compass setting, gradually leading us closer to one destination or the other. Whether we’re choosing a path of integrity or heading down a more reckless road, each step fuels the next. So, if we keep choosing righteousness, we’ll find ourselves drawn closer to holiness, creating a positive cycle that makes each good choice a bit easier than the last.

A great example would be an orchard of trees, with each tree planted at different times over twenty years. In order to uproot the oldest tree that has been sitting there for twenty years, it would take more time than one that was planted in the previous one. Our habits and actions are similar: it takes a long time to uproot long-held behaviors—whether they are good or bad.

Romans 6:20 – When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 

Paul has a bit of dry humor here: When he said we were slaves to sin, we were certainly free...free from righteousness, that is. That’s some freedom, right? Sure, we had the liberty to do whatever felt good, regardless of the consequences. But it was a hollow kind of freedom, one that kept us stuck in a cycle we couldn’t break on our own. Paul’s point is almost ironic—what we thought was “freedom” was really just a life without the benefits of righteousness. We were “free” in the sense that we weren’t bound to goodness or held to any higher standard. But in reality, we were missing out on the true freedom found in living a life led by God.

Romans 6:21 – What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!

To walk in victory over sin, we’ve got to get our heads straight about its consequences. When Paul says, "The end of those things is death," he’s not exaggerating—it’s a pretty grim outcome. Sin might seem tempting in the moment, but in the end, it leads to destruction. On the flip side, righteousness? That’s where the real prize is—everlasting life.

Of course, when we’re in the thick of temptation, these truths can feel a little distant, almost unreal. That’s when we need to lean on God’s Word. In those moments, faith kicks in and reminds us of the bitter fruit that sin bears, especially when our feelings might try to make it look sweet. Sin promises fun but delivers pain, while righteousness promises life that lasts. It’s all about keeping our eyes on the bigger picture, even when the immediate temptation tries to distract us.

Romans 6:22 - 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. 

Now that we’re free from the grip of sin and have chosen to serve God, the rewards go far beyond anything we could imagine. Instead of being stuck in harmful patterns, we’re now moving toward a life filled with purpose and growth. Each step we take with God leads us closer to holiness, shaping us into better versions of ourselves and bringing us greater peace and joy along the way.

And here’s the best part: this journey of becoming more like God doesn’t just end in self-improvement or a few good habits. The final result, Paul tells us, is eternal life—an unending, fulfilling relationship with God that starts now and continues forever.

In a way, Paul is reminding us that while sin promised freedom but delivered emptiness, serving God offers a life that keeps growing richer and more meaningful, with a payoff that’s infinitely greater than anything we might lose. The trade? No contest—freedom in Christ leads to a full life now and forever!

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

This verse always takes me back to my early days as a new believer. It was actually one of the first verses I memorized during my evangelical training, right at the beginning of my journey. And it’s pretty clear-cut: *When you work for sin, your paycheck is death.* Not exactly the kind of wages anyone wants!

But here’s the great part: when we serve God, it’s not about earning wages. We’re not on a salary or commission plan with Him. Instead, He freely gives us the best benefits package we could ever imagine. Eternal life, peace, joy—no strings attached, no fine print. So, while sin pays out in misery and death, God offers the gift of true life, entirely on the house.

Summary of Romans 6

After going over Romans 6, I’ve learned that through Christ, believers have been set free from the power of sin and no longer need to live under its control. Paul compares our former lives as "slaves to sin," which led to spiritual death, with our new life as "slaves to righteousness," which leads to holiness and eternal life. Baptism symbolizes this transformation, showing that we die to our old selves and rise to new life in Christ. Paul emphasizes the contrast between the "wages" of sin—death—and the free gift of God—eternal life in Christ Jesus. In light of this, we are called to live out our new identity, choosing to live in righteousness, and allowing God’s grace to empower us to resist sin and pursue holiness daily.

After learning about justification in Romans 5, and sanctification in Romans 6, the subject of glorification in Romans 8 is next!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 14, 2024

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