From One Master To The Master (Romans 6:15-23)

We Are All Slaves To Something!

Whether you want to admit it or not, there is something that drives your life. You are a slave to something whether you realize it or not. The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee states:

Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee Practical Sanctification

Every person who is living is a bond servant to someone or something.

It might be your job, it might be your family, it might be your phone, computer, television, hobbies, the Bible, God, the church (which is not always good by the way), friends, cars/trucks, politics, video games, (I could go on all day)!

If it is anything but God, you are a slave to Sin!

John 8:34 ESV

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

You get to choose which one will control you!

The choice that you need to make is the same choice that Joshua proclaims in Joshua 24:15

Joshua 24:15 ESV

15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

THE BIBLE IS CLEAR IN VERSE 16! YOU CAN’T SERVE BOTH SATAN/SIN AND JESUS/RIGHTEOUSNESS!

THE PUNISHMENT FOR BEING A SLAVE TO SIN IS DEATH!

THE REWARD FOR BEING A SLAVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ETERNAL LIFE!

Dr. John Phillips states in his commentary on Romans:

No person can expect victory who doesn’t really want victory. No person can expect victory who has a soft attitude toward sin. God expects sincerity as much today as He did when He said to rebellious Israel in Jeremiah 29:13 “13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

God is not going to bring us into the blessedness of this new liberty unless we really want it. The attitude that grace gives us license to sin, makes deliverance from ints power impossible. Go long as that attitude is indulged, sin will remain the master and we shall remain the slaves.

Too many people want to experience the power of God while still living in the presence of sin. You can’t have it both ways. Whoever/whatever is controlling you is your master today.

Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee Practical Sanctification

Now let me use a very homely illustration. There is a very swanky club across the street from the church I served in downtown Los Angeles. It is made up of rich men, and I’m told that it costs several thousand dollars to join this club. If you belong to it, you probably own a Cadillac and have a chauffeur. Well, one day as I looked out the window, I saw a group of chauffeurs standing around talking, and there were several Cadillacs parked there. It was after lunch. Finally, I saw a very distinguished-looking gentleman come out of the club; he made a motion and said something. I couldn’t hear what he said, but I saw one of the chauffeurs leave the group of about fifteen men. He went over, opened the door of the car, the distinguished-looking man got in, then he went around, got in the driver’s seat and drove off. Now, I came to a very profound conclusion: that chauffeur was the servant or the employee of the man who called him. I don’t think those other fourteen chauffeurs were employed by the man in the car because they didn’t obey him. Only the man who obeyed him was working for him. He obeyed him because that man was his master.

Whatever is controlling you is what you are a slave to. Sadly, if it is anything other than God/Jesus, it is SIN that is controlling you therefore Satan is your master and not the Holy Spirit of God!

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

When We Are Slaves To Righteousness, We Can Experience True Freedom in CHRIST! (17-18)

As we read in Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” , the punishment for sin is always death. Something has to die to overcome Sin. Thankfully, we don’t have to die physically in our sin and spend all of eternity in Hell! As we see in Verse 17, we can overcome sin and it’s power over us by surrendering our lives into a life of obedience to Christ.

When we die to our sinful nature, stop letting Sin (Satan as our master) control us and come under the Headship of Christ, we are under a new Master whose name is JESUS.

Don’t miss this…you are still a slave! You are still under the control of someone besides yourself. However, as a follower of Christ, you are a slave to God and His Righteousness. God always wants what’s best for you and for me. He will never lead you astray!!!!

Notice the praise that Paul offers here in Verse 17-18. He’s speaking here as he is throughout the letter to Roman followers of Christ. He even commends them and thanks God that their obedience changed because of the sound teaching they received and committed their lives too.

Change Your Way of Living (vs. 19)

When you were a slave to sin, you lived a life full of sin. You presented your life as a sinner, the world looked at you and knew that you were a sinner because of of your lawless acts.

You were self serving rather than God serving.

You were self gratifying rather that God glorifying.

you were selfishly living rather than selflessly living.

Paul here in verse 19 is referring us back to verse 13.

When your master goes from being Satan to being THE MASTER of all, your lives will looking differently. You’ll be living Christlike rather than world like.

Tony Merida in Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Romans states: “Living our our new identity involves daily sacrifice—a daily offering of ourselves to God in righteousness. Paul tells believers of their past, in which they used to living passionately for sin, but says, ‘so now’ you must live passionately for God as ‘slaves to righteousness.’ this is a call to act. it is a call against passivity. Sanctification involves action. This offering our parts involves a holy sacrifice. Holy living involves offering yourself to God as an act of worship.

…sanctification involves saying no to sin and saying yes to God.”

The Benefit Of Following THE MASTER! (20-23)

When we are living under the control of sin, we may think that we have the perfect life. However, the way of sin always leads to heartache and eternal death. Look what Paul states in Romans 6:21

Romans 6:21 (ESV)

21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Living as a slave to sin has no eternal benefits for you at all. There is no real fruit in your life. Living a life of sin leads to a life of shame. However, you don’t have to live that way. You have a Savior who loves you so much that He gave His life so you don’t have to live a life of shame. You don’t have to live a life without hope. You don’t have to live a life without promise. You can follow a Master who prepares a place for you in Heaven and that you can be with Him for all of eternity. Never die, Never get sick, Never hurt, Never say goodbye to loved ones. A place full of beauty.....The greatest thing about Heaven is being in the eternal presence of God!

Romans (2) Slaves to Righteousness (6:15–23)

When sin was our master, we were free from the control of righteousness (v. 20). And what benefit did we reap from that lifestyle (v. 21)? (We are now ashamed of how we lived.) We received no benefit at all, unless of course we consider the negative reward of death!57 But now we are set free from sin’s bondage (v. 22). We have become slaves of God. And is there benefit in this? Most certainly! The reward for serving God is growth in holiness and, in the end, eternal life.59 In fact, apart from holiness there is no eternal life. The author to Hebrews counseled a holy life because “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). Slavery to sin results in death. Slavery to righteousness leads to eternal fellowship with God. Or, in the words of Jesus, the broad road (the path of sin) leads to destruction, but the narrow road (the way of righteousness) leads to life (Matt 7:13–14).

As The New American Commentary pointed out, the benefit for changing masters is great.

Look at Romans 6:22

Romans 6:22 ESV

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Slaves of God...

Fruit that leads to Sanctification

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Sanctification

SANCTIFICATION Process of being made holy resulting in a changed lifestyle for the believer

Fruit that leads to Eternal Life!

Conclusion:

Eternal Life Is A FREE GIFT!!!!

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Back on Easter Sunday, we talked about the free gift of Grace that God offers each and every person. Why is it offered to each and every person? Because as we have seen in Romans 3:10 “10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;” and in Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” We all need to be saved because by nature we are all slaves to sin!

Today, you can make that choice to stop being a slave to sin and starting being a slave to God and His righteousness.

Admit You Are A Sinner

Believe that Jesus is God’s Son. He lived 33 sinless years, died on an old rugged Cross, was placed in a borrowed tomb, and walked out of that tomb 3 days later.

You need to believe that you need Jesus to forgive you of your sins and know that Jesus paid the price for your sins when He died on that old rugged cross. Your debt has been paid, you only have to accept that free Gift of eternal life.

Confess your sins to Him! This is the process of repenting. You have to turn away from your sins and turn to Christ. This is what happens when we turn from being a slave to sin and become a slave to righteousness.

This morning, will you accept God’s free Gift of eternal life which is available to you this morning. All you have to do is say, Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I need you to forgive me of my sins. I know that you died for my sins, and this morning, I no longer want to be a slave to sin but rather a slave to Jesus and His righteousness. Please save me from my sins and become the Lord of my life.

This morning if you prayed that prayer, when we have the time of response, this is the time to show God that you meant the prayer. Come join me at the front and tell me that you prayed that prayer today.

Maybe some of you are here this morning and you know that God wants you to become part of the church family here at Union. I would love to help you get on the path to become part of our family. Just come down and tell me that you want to become a part of our family. We will get you on that path.

Finally, as I was reading a message by Dr. Adrian Rogers this week, I noticed an important part of his invitation. He talked about how some folks make a decision in their hearts and that “it might impress it upon your memory and psyche and honor God if you just come and kneel here at the front.” He further alluded to the fact that when we gather at the altar we are memorialize our decision and response. There might be some here who have never been to the altar or maybe it’s been along time. Maybe today you need to just come tell the Lord that you want Him to be the Master of your life and that you’re just thankful for Him saving you. It might be that you need to talk to Him and repent for not letting Him be that Master. Whatever it might be, join Him at His Altar this morning.

How Will You Respond This Morning?