Set Free from Sin to Become Slaves to Righteousness (Romans 6)

"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. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:17-18 (NIV)

Context

In Romans 6, Paul uses the concepts of “freedom” and “slavery” to illustrate a spiritual truth, believing they will make it easier for his readers to comprehend his meaning. He makes this point in Romans 6:19.

So, it will be important for us to understand what Paul means when he uses these terms and to lay aside any preconceived ideas we might bring to the text about them. Here, Paul does not portray “freedom” as good in an absolute sense. Nor does he portray “slavery” as absolutely bad. Paul understands these terms as relative. “Freedom” and “slavery” are good or bad depending on what a person is “free” from/for and a “slave” to.

The reason Paul thinks this way is that he views limitation as intrinsic to humanity, which he learned from the Scriptures (Genesis 3:19; Job 14:1-6; Psalm 144:3-4).Thus, to be human is to live in service to someone or something else (Joshua 24:15). As a result, we experience “slavery” to whomever (or whatever) we live for (2 Peter 2:19). The questions for every person to answer then become:

• What is the character of the person/thing I am serving as “Master”?
• To what end is my “Master” leading me?

Observation

In Romans 5:11-21, Paul explained how faith moves a person “in Adam" to identification with Christ. In Romans 6:1-14, he begins to express an implication of union with Christ — in Christ, we have died with him, were buried, and are raised to new life. This is portrayed in a believer’s baptism.

Notice how Paul speaks of a believer’s death to sin as already accomplished in Christ (Romans 6:2-8). However, after depicting this as a fact, he then commands readers to:

• “Count yourselves dead to sin.” (Romans 6:11)
• “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body.” (Romans 6:12)
• “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness.” (Romans 6:13)

Finally, Paul turns to slavery as an “example from everyday life” to illustrate the choice set before his readers (Romans 6:15-23).

• What does Paul identify as the “wage” for a person who chooses to live as a slave to sin?
• What is the “gift” for someone who lives as a slave to God and righteousness?

Interpretation

Using the diatribe rhetorical style (literary context discussed on Day 3 of this plan), Paul begins to address the concerns of some Jewish readers. They were worried: if righteousness wasn’t earned by works of the law, and if it couldn’t be “discredited” by a person’s sin—couldn’t Paul’s gospel be used as a license to sin? This is why Paul rhetorically asks: “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” (Romans 6:1).

Paul makes it very clear that this is not what he’s saying. Why does he believe that this response would be a wrong application of the gospel?

Consider the “context” section (above) for Paul’s use of slavery as an “everyday” or “human” example (Romans 6:19). Why does he think this illustration will make his point more understandable to readers?

Based on this passage, how do you think Paul defines human “freedom”? How does he define “slavery”?

Application

What do you think about Paul’s description of humans as “slaves”—ultimately to sin or to righteousness? How would other people within your cultural context react to this description?

Have you ever used the knowledge that God is gracious as permission to sin? Have you seen others do this? Where did this lead?

How would you would feel if someone you loved used your mercy as an excuse to wrong you?