I am a Slave

Intro: How do you know if someone is on your side?

Their actions

Need: Paul here has anticipated a misconception that people can have about the Christian life. Here he comes to correct the wrong half-hazard mentality that supposed Christians have toward sin.

Sermon Idea: Everyone is a slave. Either we are enslaved to sin, or we are set free as slaves to God.

Transition: Paul demonstrates this by answering the question he imagines the people who are abusing grace are thinking, and then goes on to reveal the two possible masters and the results of following them.

Rom. 6:15-23

V.15: Paul’s Rhetorical Question:

Paul begins with rhetorical question, just like at the beginning of the chapter.

The last question dealt with us not sinning so more grace can be given, this one deals with the idea of not caring about sin because we are saved by grace.

While it is true the punishment and power of sin no longer holds believers, salvation is more than just being free from the guilt of sin.

The beginning of chapter 6 talks about us being made new in Christ, no longer bound to follow sin.

Transition: Within our passage Paul is going to reveal of our changing teams and following our new master.

V. 16-18: Slaves to sin or Obedient Slaves to Righteousness

In this section Paul is hammering home what should be an obvious reality.

Your actions and commitments show who it is that you serve.

Either we are slaves to sin or we are slaves to obedience/ righteousness.

Things to notice:

Everyone is born a slave to sin.

Paul states that if we are not slaves to sin, we are slaves to obedience and righteousness.

This is to communicate that those who have been set free by Christ will be obedient.

It is not communicating an expectation of perfection, instead it is that people who belong to Jesus will obey which will show up in righteous living.

Paul thanks God for the people’s change, because it was God who redeemed man from serving his old master.

Transition: So, making it clear the new relationship we have to sin, Paul then turns to an encouragement.

V. 19: Pursuit of Righteousness leads to Sanctification

Paul encourages us to pursue righteousness with the same commitment that we once pursued our sin.

Notice the way he describes sin. Sin has a deceptive snowball effect. Even when believers begin to flirt with sin it can have compounding effects. This is why Paul calls us to be vigilant.

The result of this pursuit is our sanctification.

Transition: To solidify his point, Paul will use two images to help show the end result of following the two masters.

V. 20-23: The Fruit our Master’s Provide

The fruit of the old life was shame and death

Obedience to God results in true freedom and joy, our sanctification, and it is all through the free gift of God which comes through Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever considered yourself to be a slave to sin? Why is Paul’s example of slavery to God helpful, and why might some people have trouble with it?

How do you think true freedom is found in following Jesus?