Paul's Epistles Part 14 – Slaves to Righteousness

Paul's Epistles

Part 14 – Slaves to Righteousness

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. In Chapter 6 we have looked at Paul telling us to be Dead to Sin, and Alive in Christ.

Today we will take a look at being Slaves to Righteousness.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 6:15-23

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                   I.            SHALL WE SIN?

a.      Since we are no longer under The Law, but God's Grace?

                                                                         i.      If we think such a thing, then we completely misunderstand Grace

1.      Calvinism teaches - Once I am "saved", I can do anything and I am still going to heaven.

2.      That is NOT what scripture teaches. Nor does it make any sense.

                                                                      ii.      The Grace God gives us is the Liberty to live a Holy life.

1.      Adam had choice in the garden, the Israelites had a choice in the wilderness, the Jews had a choice in the time of Jesus, and we have a choice today.

2.      Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life..."

                                                                   iii.      Which we do through Christ.

b.     You will serve your master, whoever he is.

                                                                         i.      You are either a slave to Christ, or a slave to Sin

                                                                      ii.      That is what the word servant means

c.      How do you claim allegiance (Loyalty, commitment, faithfulness, duty) to God?

                                                                         i.      You used to be slaves to sin under the Covenant of Law

                                                                      ii.      However, in the Covenant of Grace through Jesus Christ, you COME (a process taking time) to OBEY (being obedient to all Jesus commands) FROM YOUR HEART (not outwardly obeying, but inwardly, even in private) the pattern of teaching (Christ's teaching), THAT has now claimed your allegiance.

               II.            I USE EXAMPLES FROM EVERYDAY LIFE

a.      Because of your human limitations

                                                                         i.      Speaking of sinful man because of the fall of Adam

                                                                      ii.      Sin, making the flesh weak

                                                                   iii.      The constant struggle between our sinful flesh and our spirit rages until we meet with the Lord

                                                                     iv.      Which is stronger? The sinful flesh or the Holy Spirit?

1.      Whichever you feed.

b.     You used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity & ever-increasing wickedness

                                                                         i.      Without Grace and Jesus Christ, the sins you are slave to will become worse and worse.

                                                                      ii.      Sin, like a festering infection, or cancer, only grows if untreated.

c.      NOW offer yourselves as slaves of Righteousness leading to holiness

            III.            THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHOICE

a.      Slaves to SIN were FREE from the control of Righteousness

                                                                         i.      Therefore, also, Slaves to Righteousness are FREE from the control of SIN

b.     What benefit did you reap from being a slave to sin?

                                                                         i.      Because you reap that from which you sow

1.      Job 4:8 "As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it."

2.      Proverbs 11:18 "A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward."

3.      Proverbs 22:8 "Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity..."

4.      Hosea 10:12 "Sow righteousness for yourselves; reap the fruit of unfailing love..."

5.      2 Corinthians 9:6 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

6.      Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

                                                                      ii.      What are you sowing?

c.      But now you are FREE from sin

                                                                         i.      Slaves to God and Righteousness

                                                                      ii.      Therefore you are going to reap eternal life

1.      eternal, everlasting, never-ending, timeless life with God

CONCLUSION

Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ.

Two Covenants with God, Law and Grace...Old and New Testaments.

The Law, which shows us our guilt by revealing our sin, to which, if we remain a slave to, the consequence is death.

However, if we are obedient to our new master, the Lord, we will reap everlasting life as opposed to eternal separation from God.

           

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