Become a Slave to Righteousness: Romans 6:20-21
“I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” Romans 6:19-20
Paul now uses the common illustration of an indentured servant or slave to illustrate how people becomes slaves. A person wishing to learn a trade or pay off a debt could sell themself or work for a contacted period of time free of charge. The contract was so binding that the Master could sell the indentured servant to another to receive payment. This is a practice that dated back to Old Testament times. In practice these people voluntarily became slaves. Some made good choices and some tragic choices of who to be indentured too.
In the same way, Paul said that when a person presented the members of his or her body to impurity, they become slaves to sin. It has amazed me over the years how many people are in bondage to sins like anger, greed, drugs, gambling or sexual immorality. It only takes a few reckless sessions watching pornography for a person to become addicted. Paul concludes that sin is self enslavement just like the indentured servant who picked a horrible master.
Unfortunately, Christians are not exempt from servitude. I have worked with many over the years who are living defeated lives. They are in secret bondage to sin. So what can they do?
Paul shares several principles in Romans 5-8 that are really simple and practical. This one is as well. It simply says; instead of serving sin, start serving God. Instead of doing bad, do good. Instead of feeding your flesh on pornography, start feeding your soul and spirit on uplifting material. Download an audio Bible on your smart phone. Listen to Scripture. Discover audio books by John Maxwell and others. Turn your down time into a university for success. Better yet, build a library of good books and start reading.
Why? Because the opposite is also true. You can become a slave to righteousness. This can snowball into a sanctification process. It is amazing what can happen when you chose your entertainment carefully. You can become a slave to righteousness.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Globaln
