Slaves To Something

October 28th, 2024
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Oct 27, 2024

Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 6:15-16 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

After teaching that God’s grace abounds where sin abounds (5:20), Paul surmised at the outset of chapter 6 that some might sin all the more based on God’s abundant grace. So he asked, “Are we to continue to sin that grace may increase?” (6:1). Now having made the claim that Christians are not under Law but under grace, Paul again surmises that some might falsely conclude that sinning freely is permitted now that Christians are under grace. Paul answered both questions with a resounding no, saying, “May it never be!” (vv. 2, 15). Grace does not free God’s people to act as they please, to act apart from any and all restrictions. What God’s grace does is free a believer from the bondage of sin and condemnation, freeing them to not sin and allowing them to live under the assurance of His justification—His declaration of their righteousness. So, through faith in Christ, one moves from being a slave of sin to a slave of Jesus Christ.

J. Fitzmyer says, “In the Mediterranean world of Paul’s day many persons sold themselves into slavery as a means of support, especially in urban centers. Such an institution would imply a change of ‘masters’ (kyrioi), and Christians, who through baptism become ‘slaves of Christ,’ have Him as their kyrios (cf. 1 Cor 6:11; John 8:34). Because baptized Christians may consider themselves free from sin, the danger of succumbing to its domination is all the greater. In obeying its enticements, they would thus enslave themselves to it as to a tyrannous master.”

So, since Christians are still prone to falling back under the tyranny of their old sin-masters, God gives guidelines for which to live under His grace. After all, new life in Christ is not some willy-nilly way of living; instead, it is a life lived to please God—a life of worship and gratitude. In a word, it concerns obedience. In reference to this, Paul separates those living as slaves of sin from those living as slaves of Christ, asking in v. 16, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves of obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

“Present yourselves” is “to make available or accessible; to provide or furnish.” The present tense is better translated, “When you go on presenting yourselves” (italics mine). So, one either goes on presenting himself to God as an obedient servant, or they go on presenting themselves as servants of sin. Either way, one is a slave! There is no scenario where a person can live without serving one or the other. J. Denny says, “There is no absolute independence for man; our nature requires us to serve some master.”

Therefore, coming to faith in Jesus Christ concerns an exchange of one master for another, exchanging sin for Christ. Who one serves, whether sin or Christ, is the evidence of who one loves. Service to both is impossible, for Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters” (Matt 6:24). All must “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Food for Thought

As Christians, we are free to not sin, no longer bound by Adam’s sin which kept us from pleasing and worshiping God. But although we are slaves to Christ, our old master still calls out to us, inviting us back under his domination. Sexually explicit pictures tempt us to look further into the smut, bigger and better things lead us to covet, and selfish, unfulfilled expectations cause us anger, anxiety, and depression. The battle rages daily, so fight for the freedom that is yours in Jesus Christ—the freedom He has granted us to not sin. In Christ, we can now reject sin.