Romans 6:15-23: A Change of Masters and Destinies at Our Justification

Who is your Master? 

Anticipated Question: If what you are saying is true, Paul, should we not choose to enjoy the pleasures of sin since we are not under law but under grace? Answer: Never, no way, God forbid even thinking like this. This would make the Christian life going in two opposite directions at the same time. We are now slaves of righteousness; thus, we cannot go back under the mastery of sin. The fruit of our sanctification and God’s work in us will assure that we will be utterly miserable if we try this schizophrenic lifestyle.

I. A proper understanding of grace does not lead to a life of sin or legalism vs. 15

II. All human beings have a master—all are slaves to someone or something vs.16

III. The Roman Christians formerly had sin as their master vs. 17-18

A. Whomever or whatever you yield to, that one is your master

B. You (pl) were slaves to sin in the past, but something changed that status

C. You (pl) obeyed and responded properly to the truth of the gospel

D. You (pl) are now saved from the control and love of sin and its everlasting punishment

E. You have changed masters; you are now slaves of Yeshu’a

IV. Just as you (pl) dedicated your body parts to sin, now you must dedicate them to Yeshu’a the Messiah vs. 19

A. It contradicts a believer’s position and new nature to go into slavery to sin

B. Every genuine believer is a slave of righteousness, so they are miserable when they give their body parts over to sinful practices

C. If one can give themselves over to a sinful lifestyle and be at peace and unafraid, they are not a genuine Christian no matter how many professions of faith they have made

V. The genuine believers’ past and present status vs. 20-22

A. Our past life as a pagan / unbeliever

1.    Continually slaves to sin

2.    Continually free from righteousness, thus, continually unrighteous

3.    Continually doing wrong and shameful things

4.    You are currently ashamed of your past and realize that path led to everlasting death, hell, and everlasting separation from God’s love and grace

B. Our current life as genuine believers

1.    We have been set free from slavery to sin

2.    We are no longer under the authority or condemnation and guilt of sin

3.    We were in the past enabled to be devoted to God and forever changed

4.    We have changed Master's and now are doing appropriate things that promote our sanctification (growth in holy living and Christlikeness) and everlasting life—all produced by grace

VI. A summary of the two ways to live vs. 23

A. The paycheck for a life lived under the authority of sin is spiritual, physical, and everlasting death and separation from God’s love, mercy, kindness, and grace

B. The paycheck for a life lived under the authority of Jesus the Messiah (second person of the Trinity, the God-Man) is everlasting, abundant, full, joyful life under God’s grace

VII. Every human being serves either King Sin or King Jesus vs. 15-23

A. Every person has a master vs. 15-16

B. The one we obey is our real master, not the one we say is our master vs. 16

C. Every genuine Christian was formerly a continual slave of sin vs. 17

D. Every genuine Christian surrendered to a new Master at conversion vs. 17

1.    We must obey to be saved

2.    We must obey a specific narrow teaching: the gospel

3.    We must obey from the inner person with full conviction; mere outward performance or a verbal profession is not enough

4.    We should be thankful to God for His enabling us to repent, believe, surrender, and obey by His sovereign power

E. Every genuine Christian has been set free from sin’s mastery vs. 18

F. Every genuine Christian has become a slave of the Messiah and of His righteousness vs. 18

G. Christians are to serve Jesus with the same dedication they formerly displayed in their service of sin vs. 19

H. Christians need to remember their past dedication to sin and their inability to live righteously before God intervened in their lives vs. 20-21

I. Christians need to value their present commitment to King Jesus and His kingdom of righteousness vs. 22

J. Christians need to understand that the fruit in their life reveals to others who their real master is and what is their real destiny vs. 20-23

1.     Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23)

2.    Fruit of good works (Col 1:10)

3.    Fruit of evangelism, others coming into the kingdom through our efforts (John 4:36; Rom 1:13; Col 1:6)

4.    Fruit = positive results, benefits (Rom 6:21)

5.    Sin’s slaves earn everlasting death but were promised a pleasurable life with no consequences. Jesus’ slaves are given true everlasting life