Slaves to Righteousness

v.15 & Recap:

Many people misinterpreted the doctrine of grace that Paul spoke about. 

They viewed God’s grace as a license to sin, but Paul was quick to set the record straight. 

His answer was Certainly not! Grace does not mean that we can live however we want.

Believers are not free from the demands of living according to righteousness. 

It would be strange if those who are under grace would live in a manner which is inferior to the standard held by those who are under law. 

As a matter of fact, believers must face the fact that their salvation actually means a change of bondage. 

As they once served sin, they are now committed to lives of practical righteousness

v.16:

We are all slaves, the question is - who is your master?

One master (sin) brings death, the other master (Christ) brings righteousness.

Those are the only two masters, there are no other choices.

v.17:

Paul, in his response, thanks God that these people were sinners who obediently responded to the call of God.

Our servitude to Christ is a voluntary one.

His response in this verse makes it clear that this is a doctrine that they (the believers) were delivered into, and that the gospel is a “form” or pattern to be followed. 

“form of doctrine”

Other translations word this as “standard” or “pattern” of doctrine/ teaching.

In the Greek word in this case is a word for a mold, like a craftsman would use to cast molten metal.

This should help you understand that this mold is a standard of teaching, or a pattern of teaching/doctrine that is taught.

All of our teaching/doctrine should conform to the standard/pattern of the Bible.

Paul wrote to Timothy that our doctrine should have a standard or a pattern to follow.

2 Timothy 1:13

2 Timothy 1:13 NKJV

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s point is that God pours his new children into the mold of divine truth.

Romans 12:2 

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Titus 2:1

Titus 2:1 NKJV

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

New believers should have a desire to know and obey God’s Word.

1 Peter 2:2

1 Peter 2:2 NKJV

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

Grace is not a license to sin, but an obligation to live in a way that is pleasing to God.  Obedience is from the heart, for those who are under grace.

v.18:

The term that best describes the standard Christian instruction about lifestyle is "righteousness".

This is the answer to the question in v.15.

There is no middle ground to a believer's service to righteousness, no place where Christians are free to set their own standards and go their own way.

Scripture is clear that you cannot be double minded or try to straddle the fence.

(a man w/o faith, trying to receive the things of God)

James 1:6-8

James 1:6–8 NKJV

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Luke 6:43-44

Luke 6:43–44 NKJV

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

James 3:10

James 3:10 NKJV

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Luke 11:23

Luke 11:23 NKJV

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

While we were unsaved, we were slaves to sin. It was rigorous and relentless, and lead to death.

Sin dominated and controlled our lives, but since we are now free from that sin, we are slaves of righteousness. 

We never ceased being slaves, only the master has changed.

we are told that we are dead to sin, and alive to God. 

Galatians 2:19

Galatians 2:19 NKJV

For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.

If we are dead to sin, we cannot respond to it. It has no control over us.

As a slave to righteousness, you are free to live an obedient life  which is joyous, satisfying, and leads to life and peace.

vv.19-20:

The use of the master/slave analogy is necessary for us, in our limited human knowledge, to understand this divine truth which Paul is trying to convey. 

If God has given us life, we are obligated to live for Him. 

This would necessitate that we not intentionally sin. 

We should live for God, that we are obligated to the one who saved us. 

1 Peter 2:24

1 Peter 2:24 NKJV

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Simply put, we should no longer serve sin. We should serve the one who saved us, because we are new creations.

The readiness and zeal with which they once served sin had now become the basis for a challenge. 

Surely the new master, who brings joy and abundant life, is worthy of an even greater devotion.

v.21:

The pre-Christian state provides no benefit, only shame. It produces bad fruit.

Galatians 5:19-21

Galatians 5:19–21 NKJV

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

v.22:

A slave of God, will yield totally different fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

This leads to sanctification and eternal life.

v.23:

Sin brings death, and Christ brings life. The choice would seem pretty clear.

Christ died for those who are in sin, you simply have to accept.

Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

He is the only one who can deliver you from the slavery of sin.

Too often, we view our service as a matter of convenience. We only do what we want to do.

Scarcely do we consider our service in terms of slavery. 

In which case, it's not up to us to decide our service, it's up to our master.

The difference is, that we are not bound by chains and driven by whips.

In Christ, we are bound by grace, and driven by love.

Will you live for Him?