Romans 6:15-19
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that, if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that you who were slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted 18 and that you, having been set free from sin, have become enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of your limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, leading to even more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.
One of things that can make the Bible a challenge to read at times is the different context and cultures that it was written. In our current age, we don’t experience slavery in a daily way that Paul would have as he was writing these letters. The life of a slave was very real and present around him. In this passage, Paul acknowledges that he is using slavery language because the human experience is the closest thing he can think of to compare to our relationship to sin and righteousness. Sometimes this language feels difficult to navigate. To be a slave, is to be owned and directed by someone other than yourself.
Paul uses this language to write about how much of our human experience is being a slave to sin before Jesus. We were owned by sin and sin ordered our life. We couldn’t escape and sin directed all that we did. However, through the resurrection, we are no longer a slave to sin because God forgives and redeems us. Paul tells us that we are now slaves to righteousness and doing good. Rather than be beholden to making choices that are selfish, we are responsible to live into the choices of love that God calls us. As we daily enjoy freedom, none of us want the life of being a slave. However, to be a slave to goodness and mercy is a different master. For we are commanded to live a life of forgiveness, kindness, love and grace.
Prayer
Great God of wonder and might, please help us to feel your presence daily. As we navigate this world, help us remember that we are called to servants of your word in action and deed. Help us to carry out your gospel in all that we do. Amen.