Romans Part 22
Obedience brings the freedom to remain pure and bears fruits that are positive with no shame attached. Disobedience leads to pain and death, whereas obedience leads to peace and life.
In Romans 6:18, Paul rejoices that although believers were once slaves of sin, they have now obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching delivered to them. Having been set free from sin, they have become slaves of righteousness. Far from suggesting that Christians may live however they please, Paul teaches that obedience is the proper response to God's grace.
This section also has meaningful connections to the Biblical festivals. At the first Passover, God's judgment passed over the homes of the Israelites because they obeyed His instruction to apply the blood of the lamb. They received grace they did not deserve. Immediately afterward came the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when God led Israel out of Egypt, the land where they had been slaves. Their entire way of life had to change as they left behind the culture of Egypt and learned to live as God's covenant people.
The same pattern applies to Christians today. Through baptism we share in Christ's death, which we commemorate at Passover. Then we commit ourselves to living as men and women who have been set free from slavery to sin. Just as Israel left Egypt behind, Christians leave behind their former sinful way of life and take on God's way of living.
Paul continues in verse 19 by urging believers to pursue righteousness with the same determination they once devoted to sin. Before conversion, people often invested enormous time, energy, and effort in sinful pursuits that ultimately produced only pain and emptiness. Now that same zeal should be directed toward obeying God and growing in holiness.
He reminds his readers that when they were slaves of sin, they imagined themselves to be free. A person enslaved to sexual immorality, for example, may believe he is free because he can pursue whatever desires he chooses. In reality, that path often leads to broken relationships, emotional devastation, disease, guilt, and countless other forms of suffering. God's law places boundaries on human sexuality, but those boundaries produce freedom. Obedience brings the freedom to remain pure, to devote one's life to serving God, or, within marriage, to enjoy the security and joy of a faithful, loving relationship free from the destruction caused by adultery in either action or thought.
Paul concludes the chapter with one of the best-known verses in Scripture:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
The imagery recalls Romans 4, where wages represent something earned. Death is the earned payment for sin. Eternal life, however, is not earned. It is God's gift through Jesus Christ. This verse also reminds us that human beings do not possess an inherently immortal soul. Eternal life is something God gives. It is His gift to those who belong to Christ, not something mankind already possesses by nature.
Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
