A Change in Allegiance
Romans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 34 viewsIn Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to God.
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TITLE: A Change in Allegiance
TEXT: Romans 6:15-23.
Last Week: Romans 6.1-14.
Last week, we began Romans 6 together where we saw a shift in the focus of Paul’s writing from the idea of Justification (Rom 3.21-5.21) to the impacts of this reality in the Christian life.
Paul argues that those who are in Christ have died to sin and no longer live in sin that grace may abound. This is known as Antinomianism: Living in sin and depending on grace.
We were baptized into Jesus’s death with Him, meaning we now identify with Christ and are united to Him. This is not speaking of water baptism which cannot save. We were buried and raised with Him as well to walk in newness of life (v.4)
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
As new creations in Christ, we have been set free from sin (v.7) and we now live to pursuit of holiness (v.8). In His humanity, Christ died once and died to sin. But now He lives! Jesus satisfied the penalty of sin and broke the power of sin.
For those in Christ, we too must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Sin has no reign over you and I!
In obedience, we present ourselves (body, mind, and heart) to God to be used as instruments of righteousness. A perfect lead into today’s text.
Introduction: When considering a change of allegiance or loyalty, what comes to mind??
Darth Vader and his final moment of redemption in saving his son.
Thief on the Cross
Jesus’ Crucifixion and the Thief on the Cross
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Today’s Main Idea: We are no longer slaves of sin but slaves of righteousness.
Not only have we died to sin in Christ, but we are alive to God and called to live a life worthy of the gospel as slaves of righteousness.
As slaves of God, our allegiance has changed. We have a new Master in Christ.
PRAYER
1. Beware your former master (v.15-16)
1. Beware your former master (v.15-16)
15 What then? Are we to 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?
Paul’s opening here in v.15 is connected to where we finished off last week. Paul had just told those in Rome that in Christ they are dead to sin and alive to God.
Romans 6:14 “14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
For those from Jewish background, the burden of the Law and the sin it revealed no longer reigns in their lives. Christ has fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5.17), and in God’s grace, He has brought about what the Law could never provide: SALVATION, FREEDOM, and LIFE.
And now Paul poses a question to his audience: Romans 6:15 “15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? ”
In other words: Does newfound freedom from the Law permit sinful living?
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
BY NO MEANS!
We see this strong response from Paul on multiple occasions through his letters, and it comes following somewhat of a rhetorical question. The answer here is an obvious no!
It is unthinkable to Paul that someone who has died to sin (Rom6.2), has been baptized into Christ’s death, (Rom6.3), has been raised to walk in newness of life with Him (Rom6.4-5) would still cling to their sin and appeal to God’s grace.
7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Freedom in Christ is no license to indulge oneself in the sinful desires of your heart. As a servant to the will of the Father, the incarnate Christ did not call His fellow Jews out from under the yoke of the Law to a life of sinful indulgence and dependance on grace.
In contrast: What did the Lord Jesus require?
Radical Obedience to His Word
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
(v.16)
We are called from lives of obedience to lives of obedience
“you are slaves”
Let us go ahead and deal with the obvious glaring red light in v.16….. Paul refers to all of those in Rome and ultimately to all of us as SLAVES. Whether it be slaves of sin or slaves of obedience, we are slaves of the one whom we obey (v.16).
What does Paul mean here? What is his purpose in using this language?
DOULOS (Greek) or EBED (Hebrew)
The Greek word used here is translated as slave, but it has a couple other translations into English across the scriptures based on the surrounding context.
SLAVE, BONDSERVANT, or SERVANT
When we as American Christians think of slavery, our minds naturally associate the term with the brutal and dehumanizing efforts particularly in 19th century America.
Our initial goal should not be to understand the use of this term in our context, but in the context of first century Rome. Before we get there, how is this term used by God across the scriptures?
Old Testament Use
The Hebrew equivalent term for SLAVE is used across the OT to describe many different situations.
It is commonly used to describe the relationship of a person who voluntarily entered into the service of another person or house due to poverty or debt.
It is also used to describe persons who entered this kind of service involuntarily due to birth, capture in battle, or judicial sentence.
Mosaic Law Use (Exodus 21)
Under the Mosaic Law, there were protections for the people of Israel for all who lived in this kind of service to another. It also included specific provisions for release from slavery.
New Testament Use
There is some disagreement on the best way to translate DOULOS from one text to the next, but the term is often in the NT described using the term BONDSERVANT.
Why is it best translated as SLAVE in Romans 6?
Romans 6:16 “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?”
This use here coneys absolute ownership by a master. Paul tells those hearing this in Rome and us today that we are either slaves to sin (our old master in Adam) or we are slaves to obedience in the commands of Christ (our new master in Christ).
Jesus speaks to the Jews
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
Paul’s Teaching to Titus
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
In Adam, sin has dominion over humanity. But in Christ, we are free to obey the commands of the One who has set us free.
Why the warning to ‘Beware’ this morning?
Remember, Paul is writing to the church! He is instructing them in practical Christian living here, specifically the Jews. The grace of God in Christ has brought you from death to life and out from under the burden of the Law, but this is not a free pass to sin!
Believer. your justification before God in Christ is secure…… But Satan and his fallen angels will work tirelessly to keep you from being effective in this life.
Sons of Disobedience
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Father of Lies
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The Adversary wants to keep you from being effective as salt and light in this world by convincing you that there are still bound to your former sin and some sins you will never see victory over. The more we are convinced that our past shame still remains, the more we are distracted from the mission and our confidence in Christ!
Romans 6:7 “7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.”
EXAMPLE: Rick Burgess and Victory of Sin
Began a discipling ministry that equips Christian men to lead in their home and in the church.
Conversation with a man at one of their gatherings regarding Rick’s health and progress in that area. “How did you get that under control?” is what he was asked.
Rick: When I finally called it sin (gluttony) and dealt with in biblically through repentance, I saw lasting victory over it.
THE LIE:
“There is some sin you are just never going to see victory over. You will deal with it for a lifetime, but thank God for his grace.”
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Is John saying that they will never sin again? No! His exhortation here is for those in Christ to guard themselves against the evil of this world by remaining in the truth!
We will never be sinless on this side of heaven, but in our sanctification (growth in spiritual maturity and discipline) sin no longer has dominion over us and we will certainly sin less.
In this warning from Paul, how to we guard ourselves against sin?
Paul offers specific instruction here in v.13 from last week and v.16.
Romans 6:13 “13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”
Romans 6:16 “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?”
This is a call to action! Let us not sit idly by and pretend like our sanctification (growth in spiritual maturity) will just happen to us!
A Living Sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Church family, beware! As follower of Christ, our salvation and eternity with Christ is secure, but our effectiveness as lights amidst darkness will be determined by how well we heed the commands of our Lord.
Are we still running back to the yoke and burden of our sin thinking that life was better then or that we cannot defeat its pull on us? Like in the Exodus, are we longing for our former enslavement to sin when eternal life and freedom have been granted to us now?
We have a new Master! His name is Jesus, the Christ. He has called us into new life with Him, and those who truly love him obey His commandments.
2. Bless God as obedient slaves of righteousness (v.17-19)
2. Bless God as obedient slaves of righteousness (v.17-19)
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
It has been settled! Sin no longer reigns in us and we are no longer under its powers. Our allegiance has changed from sin to obedience in Christ.
How has this happened?
“But thanks be to God…” (v.17)
Paul continues throughout this epistle to give honor and glory where it is due! To God be the glory great things He has done in bringing the Roman believers from death in sin to life in Christ.
It is God that justifies sinners in His grace (Rom 3.24)
It is God that put forward Christ as the perfect substitute sacrifice for sinners (Rom 3.25)
It is God who grants the righteousness of Christ to those of faith (Rom 4.5)
It is God who has brought about peace through Christ (Rom 5.1)
It is God who died for His people in a perfect display of love (Rom 5.6-8)
It is God who provided us a new representative in Christ, the better and last Adam (Rom 5.18-19)
God is worthy of continual praise for His great work in saving sinners!
“having become obedient from the heart” (v.17)
This is where the expectation of Christian living comes in.
Paul says that they were once slaves but are now obedient from the heart, meaning the position of their heart has changed.
Changed from what??
Before the Flood
Genesis 6:5–6 “5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.”
Jesus Speaks About Man’s Heart
Luke 6:45 “45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
From the position of our heart comes our thoughts, words, and actions. What we think, say, and do in all situations are a reflection of what we truly believe, and in our nature we are evil people.
How then could they become obedient?
God’s Promise of a New Heart and Spirit for HIs People
19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord God.”
The Lord has brought about such transformation! With a new heart, they have been regenerated by the Spirit and enabled to obey the commandments of the Lord.
And this was carried into the NT as well. In the new covenant, the Lord has established His church and united His people together in Christ.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
“obedient…to the standard of teaching to which you were commited”
New creations in Christ are called to obedience to the TRUTH!
This Greek term used here for STANDARD is actually a craftsman term used to describe the molding of molten metal.
Like a craftsman molding unformed, molten metal into a tool or weapon, we are molded by the teaching of truth! This idea is also present in Paul’s instruction to Timothy and Titus.
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
In Christ, we are slaves to righteousness (v.18) and called to uphold and guard the truth of the gospel. We have been set free from sin, and our new allegiance and service is to Christ who has provided a firm foundation of truth in the scriptures for His church.
APPLICATION: You are not your own
Do you take issue with thinking of yourself as a slave?
This is natural because we often reject authority over us thinking it is unneeded, unjust, or limiting us in some way.
The problem here is this idea was brought forth for the first time in the garden, where woman was deceived, man was disobedient, and mankind was disconnected from our Creator.
In Christ, you are not your own.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Your life in Christ is not yours to do with as you please. As a servant of the Most High God who loves us and has adopted us as sons and daughters into anis family, we are called to lives of faithful obedience.
(v.19)
Again here we are called to present ourselves no longer to impurity or lawlessness, but as slaves to righteousness.
As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to obey our Lord.
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
GOSPEL
Jesus has said repent and believe in the gospel
Unless we get this right, the rest of the text is meaningless to us.
3. Bear the fruit of holy living (v.20-23)
3. Bear the fruit of holy living (v.20-23)
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 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. 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. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul finishes v.19 by showing those in Rome the direction in which they are heading as slaves of righteousness - SANCTIFICATION
I think we often either overlook the significance of this process in the life of a believer. Yes, this is a process that spans from the point of justification to when we are called home in physical death or when Christ returns at His second advent.
SANCTIFICATION - the act of becoming more personally dedicated to God; especially by becoming more distinct, devoted, or morally pure.
The Greek term used for sanctification in v.19 and v.22 is used 10 times across the NT, six of which are translated as sanctification.
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 “30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
1 Thessalonians 4:3 “3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;”
Elsewhere, this Greek term is translated as holiness.
A Life Pleasing to God
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
By the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in us and through the Word of God, a follower of Christ is equipped daily to put sin to death and pursue holy living, a life worthy of the gospel which has saved our souls. This is the will of the Lord! Our growth in holiness, spiritual maturity, and obedience.
(v.20-21)
In the final verses of Romans 6, Paul contrasts the fruit of holy living with the fruit of sinful living. Paul calls the church in Rome to look back and consider what benefit their former lives actually brought them?
Illustration: Seth dancing in “The Orange Shorts”
Can you think back on a time that you made a decision or series of decisions that now bring you great embarrassment or shame when you think of it?
Cousins sleep over. Playing charades and dancing to Nsync.
The problem: this event was videoed
The decision: No shirt and neon orange shorts that extended to mid shin
GREAT embarrassment and shame.... what was I thinking?
No guidance from those around me!
Of course this is a silly example, but think back on your former sin. Do you find yourselves saying: What was I thinking???? This only brought pain, shame, conflict and/or destruction in my life.
Paul says in their sin, they were free in regard to righteousness. One could argue that apart from the “restrictions of Christianity” they can do whatever they please. They are free from the laws and rules that ultimately restrict them from fulfilling their desires. What would we say in response?
Yes of course! You are certainly free, but the misstep here is in a person believing that a person’s desires are inherently good! After telling them no one is good back in Romans 3, here Paul tells the Romans they were free from righteousness in their sin, but the fruit and end of those former things is only death.
In being slaves to sin, the world is yours! BUT… it will never satisfy.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Slavery to sin may seem like freedom in this life, but that person is ultimately blind to their own bondage! They seek to do what is good for themselves, but they do not see that their standard of goodness falls infinitely short of what God says is good.
What evidence do we see of spiritual growth in the life of a believer?
If you did not hear it last week, I pray you hear it this week: If you are in Christ, you have been set free from sin! Your allegiance has changed from sin and self to the Creator and Sustainer of all things! Paul calls us slaves of God.
And in this service there is great joy. Our sanctification by the Spirit and through the Word brings about such evidence as this:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives! If we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Gal 5.16), but instead we will see the fruit of the Lord’s work in our sanctification.
Our sanctification is the Lord’s will! The call here is to live in this freedom from sin we have been graciously given.
16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
SUMMARY:
As slaves to sin, the world and its pleasures are at your fingertips. However, the world and its pleasures will never satisfy and the fruit you reap will be death alone.
As slaves to God, our allegiance has changed from one that brings only death to the only One who brings eternal life. The cost of being a disciple of Christ is high, but the joy and fulfillment in loving obedience to our Savior will be unmatched by anything in this world, and the fruit of our devotion by the Spirit’s power will bring eternal life with God.
