For years, I’ve been trying to convince people of
what Paul is saying in Romans 6.
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin (before),
yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Yes, after becoming BACs … they were set FREE from having to be slaves of sin!
Technically, after becoming BACs … they became slaves of righteousness!
But for these BACs … in practice, this certainly was NOT the case!
22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God.
Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. (NLT)
Yes, after becoming BACs … they were set FREE from having to be slaves of sin!
Technically, after becoming BACs … they became slaves of God, living holy lives!
And Paul is hinting of what they should be doing!
But for these BACs … in practice, this certainly was NOT the case!
The proof of their STILL being slaves of sin, of NOT being faithful BACs
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not!
6 we should no longer be slaves of sin.
11 reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,
but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
16 … you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
whether (slaves) of sin leading to death, or (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness?
19 so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The whole of Romans 6 is Paul’s plea for BACs to STOP being slaves of sin!
Being a slave of sin results in death … spiritual death, not physical death.
The last part of 6:23 applies to faithful BACs who have NOT …
left the faith, fallen from grace, rejected God’s free gift of grace!
Other warning verses about rejecting God’s grace
“God’s will is for you to be holy … live in holiness and honor …
God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. So, anyone who
refuses to live by these rules is rejecting God.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
“God has given us everything we need to live a godly life … work hard to prove
that you really are among those God has called and chosen … It would be better
if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then
reject the command they were given to live a holy life” (2 Peter 1:3, 1:10, 2:21)
“God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness …
work at living a holy life, for those who are NOT holy will NOT see the Lord …
Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking.” (Hebrews 12:10-25)