I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. Romans 6:19
The majority of people around the world consider themselves free. For the most part, in their own minds, they can make their own personal choices. Slavery is something that is looked upon as bad or evil and no one really wants to be a slave to anyone or anything else. Choosing to be a slave is not something most people would choose.
Paul tells the Romans that at one point they were slaves to sin and uncleanness. Being without the law would lead to more lawlessness. Now they are to become slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
Although most people feel that they are completely free, or at least free from being a slave, no one is totally, completely free. Every person starts out life as a slave to sin. Choosing to sin is automatic and one that, on their own, no one can overcome one hundred percent.
The world will purposefully walk in sinful ways. The focus is to please self and disregard what God has to say.
Believers are to be different. They are to die to themselves when they accept what Jesus has done for them on the cross.
The opposite of being a slave to sin is being a slave to righteousness–doing what is right and holy before God. It is not freedom to do what one wants and ignore what God wants. It is removing the bondage to sin and becoming bound to doing what is righteous and holy. Doing these things will not save one but will lead one to be who God has called that person to be.
Prior to your believing in Jesus, you were a slave to sin. You automatically sinned against God and could not change yourself no matter how much you tried. In Christ Jesus, you are a new creation. Allow yourself to become a slave to His righteousness and holiness. Out of your love for what Jesus did for you, be bound to be the holy one Jesus has paid the price for you to be. Be a slave to God’s righteous ways of living and live a full and abundant life that will continue throughout all eternity.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know that Jesus has set you free from being a slave to sin; be a slave to the righteousness of Christ; and that God will give you strength to be holy as He is holy.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
