Romans 6:15-17 - You are slaves of the one whom you obey

6:15

The chapter started with the question: are we to sin so that grace may abound, now Paul deals with the question shall we sin because we are under grace not law? Once again the answer is an emphatic no! The previous question demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of the gospel, this question demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the nature and effects of sin. Note that Paul’s response here is not to give a list of do’s and don’ts, but rather to improve our understanding. It is an example of Rom 12:2 where we are urged to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. We need our thinking to be transformed.

6:16

For if we sin we presenting ourselves as slaves to sin. We might think that in sinning we are exercising our freedom, that is the way of the world. We hear this particularly in reference to sexual sin. But the truth is that far from becoming free, we become slaves. So if we offer ourselves to sin we become slaves of sin, and this leads to death. Instead we should offer ourselves as slaves to God, to obedience to God, and this leads to righteousness.

6:17

“But thanks be to God”. This is the glory of the gospel, the prize of the gospel, we have been set free from our slavery to sin. If you want to continue sinning then the gospel is not for you! Once we were slaves to sin, slaves to the sorts of things outlined in the early chapters of Romans. But now we are obedient to the standard of teaching to which we have been committed. There are many so-called Christians who seem to think we can choose what righteousness is. They are deluded. “To which you were committed”. This was not a choice, it is not an option, it is part and parcel of believing the gospel.