6:19
Paul says he is using an everyday example because of their human limitations. Sin has a blinding effect on us, and even when we come to know Christ we do not see all things clearly. Indeed, even after knowing Christ for many years we all still have blind spots. So Paul uses an illustration to hopefully open their eyes. Before they were saved they offered themselves to impurity and ever increasing wickedness. This is normal behaviour for many unbelievers, though not all. Now we must offer ourselves to righteousness, this will lead to holiness. We are to live lives that are pleasing to God. This does not earn salvation, rather it is part of salvation, it is part of the fruit of salvation.
6:20
“When you were slaves to sin”. There is no debate, no argument, before we knew Christ we were slaves to sin. At that time we were free from the control of righteousness. A slave can only serve one master, not two. Righteousness did not matter. Now we should remember the context in which Paul is using righteousness in Romans. It is not just a “good” life, it includes the righteousness that Christ was earned for us, that has been given to us as a free gift. So we have received the free gift and now we are under the control of righteousness.
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