Romans 5:15-18 (WEL) Now then, should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you realize that to whom you present yourselves as servants for obedience, that you are his servants? You can obey either sin, which results in death, or obedience, which results in righteousness. 17 Thanks be to God that you were servants of sin but now you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was given to you. 18 Being freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
V15 Now then, should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not!
If God’s grace is more noticeable when more sin is forgiven, then shouldn’t we sin more, so God will receive glory?
An example of forgiving more sin is Paul himself who identified himself as a man who murdered, assaulted, and abused Christians (Acts 8:3 and Acts 26:10).
A greater number of sins forgiven is wonderful, but sin does not glorify God; repentance does glorify God (Acts 11:18 and Romans 15:9).
Sin is repulsive to God. It is disobedience, rebellion, and law breaking. Sin always defiles.
V16 Don’t you realize that to whom you present yourselves as servants for obedience, that you are his servants? You can obey either sin, which results in death, or obedience, which results in righteousness.
Servants present themselves to their master for assignments and duties to carry out. Sin is the master of every human when they are born. Sin is addictive and cannot be cured. Sin is a slave driver. All sin. The Greek word for present is (G3936) παριστάνω paristánō, which means to stand near something or someone. It is used in various senses as offer, present, be in one’s presence, yield, etc. Here it has the idea of offering ourselves to the master to do something.
Every time one sins, it is easier to do so a second, third, fourth time, etc. Each time it gets easier.
So, whom do we obey? Do Christians obey sin or righteousness, sinful pleasures or righteous pleasers according to God’s ways?
V17 Thanks be to God that you were servants of sin, but now you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was given to you.
The idea of justified is one’s case comes before the judge who decides it. Are you justified in committing sin? No, there is punishment (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23, and Galatians 3:11). Jesus is justified as sinless and holy (Romans 14), which was the condition that Jesus fulfilled. Thus, it was determined and decided upon that He is holy and without sin. Jesus is fully qualified to be Messiah, the Savior. After one believes in Jesus alone, one is justified (Luke 18:13-14 and Acts 13:39), which is a judicial declaration of not guilty. Jesus’s substitutionary death is reckoned, applied, and granted to those who believe in Jesus alone for salvation (John 3:15-18 and Galatians 3:24). We are transferred from the kingdom of darkness (satan’s kingdom) to the kingdom of light (God’s kingdom). See Colossians 1:13, Ephesians 2:1-3, and Acts 26:18.
A difference between the two kingdoms can be seen in these two passages (1 John 2:15-17 and Galatians 5:18-23).
The doctrine taught here is the body of teaching as taught by the Lord Jesus and His Apostles.
Justification was given, not earned or bought.
V18 Being freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
There is a redemption (bought out of the slave market of sin) to live in the presence of God.
We can, as Christ-followers, serve sin or righteousness.
God gives His assisting grace to all believers (1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 138:7, and Hebrews 2:18).
Constable:
“Paul did not say that every believer takes advantage of his or her freedom from sin’s tyranny-to become a slave of God (“slaves of righteousness”). He said the Roman Christians had done so, and in this he rejoiced. Dedication to God is voluntary, not automatic, for the Christian (cf. v. 13; 12:1). If a believer does not truly dedicate himself or herself to God, he or she will continue to practice sin to a greater extent than he will if he does present himself to God (v. 16).”
We learn:
- About slavery to sin.
- The importance of being slaves of righteousness.
- God is the deliverer.
Questions:
- Are we avoiding and resisting temptation?
- Are we trusting in God’s grace for deliverance?