The Upside Down Way of God (Part 3)

Slavery Is Freedom
Romans 6:15-23

The Issue: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (v. 15; see v. 14). If God loves us whether we sin or not, then why not continue to sin just as much as we please? Freedom does not mean the absence of rules.

The Clarification: “I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves” (v. 19a). Paul admits that slavery is an imperfect illustration of the Christian life, but he uses it because it helps us understand a basic principle: God is our master to whom we owe total commitment.

The Challenge: Let God—not sin—rule your life. “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness” (v. 19b).

The Big Idea: Since everyone is a slave—either to sin or to God—it’s best to choose the slavery that gives the best results.

I. THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM

A. Misconception #1: Many people think that serving oneself is freedom.

B. The truth is that “freedom” from God is slavery to the power of sin.

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (v. 16).

C. Misconception #2: Many people think that serving God is a loss of freedom.

D. The truth is that “slavery” to God is freedom from the power of sin.

“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (vv. 17-18).

II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR FREEDOM

A. Slavery to sin leads to shame.

“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?” (vv. 20-21a).

B. Slavery to sin leads to eternal death.

“Those things result in death” (v. 21b). “For the wages of sin is death” (v. 23a).

C. Slavery to God leads to holiness.

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness” (v. 22a).

D. Slavery to God leads to eternal life.

“And the result is eternal life” (v. 22b). “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v. 23b).