So lets take a breath in our working through Romans. Sometimes as we study Romans, we can become overwhelmed sometimes by the theological ideas that are present. So when we think about it, we need to just remember that God’s grace is that immense. That there is nothing that can out run it. No sinful condition that can not be turned from and become righteous in His eyes. And when you chose Jesus, God doesn’t give you a new code of conduct, but He makes you a new person.
So as we move forward, we can then move forward as that new person. And you can be settled in that truth. And then when we move forward, our conduct is representative of that new life.
Paul reveals that truth that our lives are slaves to something. We always serve something. So then the question comes up, “Can’t we just sin because we are exempted from the law because we are now in grace?” But being in sin, OK with it, you give yourself to sin. It captures your heart. When you wake up in the morning, what do you find drives you?
You have been set free from sin, and you have become slaves to righteousness. You are free. It doesn’t mean you are free to do whatever. But you are now free to do what you ought to do. How are we taught to say NO to things? Mistakes, learning from someone wiser, our consciences, and letting God speaking to us (read .) So it is an important, practical question we need to ask ourselves. But being taught to say NO is important.
So where is your heart? If you don’t have the heart of your children, how can you teach them to grow and learn? If you have not given your heart to God, we won’t ever be in the place to learn and grow.
So now we look at the results of each type of decision. When we look back at those sinful decisions the question is, “Why did I do that to myself?” The wages of sin is death. Sin will kill us more an more. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is a gift, offered to each of us. Not a wage to be earned, but something unearned but given anyway.
Give your life to the Father, accept the gift of salvation through Jesus, let your heart be be captured, and then live your life in obedience of that captured heart.
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? 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, (ESV)
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. (ESV)
2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (ESV)
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. (ESV)