Romans 6:19-23 (WEL) I am describing this in human terms because of your physical weakness, for as you have presented all your body parts to be servants of moral corruption and iniquity upon iniquity, so now present all your body parts to be servants of righteousness for holiness. 20 When you were sin’s servants, you were free from righteousness. 21 What result did you have then with those things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.22 Now being freed from sin and becoming servants to God, you have your fruit resulting in sanctification, and its conclusion is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
V19 I am describing this in human terms because of your physical weakness, for as you have presented all your body parts to be servants of moral corruption and iniquity upon iniquity, so now present all your body parts to be servants of righteousness for holiness.
Using illustrations and comparisons is a principle. If it helps people understand something, then let us use illustrations, simplified language, etc., to help them understand.
The Greek word for presented carries the idea of an offering; thus, we offer (give in) to our sinful desires. We are to offer our bodies with their desires, etc., to God (Romans 12:1).
Moral corruption and iniquity are the opposite of God’s ways of life and morality and righteousness identical to God’s own law and way of life.
It is now open for us to leave those ways and live the way God wants us to live—the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). We have this freedom to do so because of the atonement by Jesus as the Passover Lamb and our faith in Jesus alone.
Holiness is living and thinking the way God wants us to do (1 Peter 1:15).
V20 When you were sin’s servants, you were free from righteousness.
This describes us before we placed our faith in Jesus alone. Sin is an addiction that we cannot cure. Only a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) can cure the problem. The new creation, being born again, is only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Free from righteousness refers to us being all defiled by sin.
Comments:
Zerr: “This means that a man cannot be a servant of sin and still be a servant of righteousness; that would be like serving two masters.”
Precept Austin: “Notice that in Romans 6 Paul allows for no self-autonomy, thus demolishing the myth of the unsaved that they think they are no one’s slave. They envision themselves as totally independent of any constraining influences or people. In this great chapter of Romans, Paul highlights that there is no such thing as autonomy in this fallen world. The simple truth is that every person ever born (other than Jesus) is governed either by Sin or by God. That’s what Paul is saying in this verse as he explains who it was to whom the saints at Rome formerly owed their allegiance. One of the ultimate questions in life then is not “who” you are (even “who” you are “in Christ”) but more foundationally, “whose” you are (cp 1Co 6:19, 20)! Who is your master (cp Mt 6:21)? To whom do you belong?”
V21 What result did you have then with those things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.
What were the consequences of our sins? The end is death, God’s wrath, and an eternity of conscious torment.
Sacrifices will not clear the conscience—Micah 6:7.
What we say will be examined—Matthew 12:36.
Sinful pleasures are only temporary—Matthew 7:26-27.
Sinful pleasures lead to destruction—Galatians 6:7-8.
V22 Now being freed from sin and becoming servants to God, youp have yourp fruit resulting in sanctification, and its conclusion is eternal life.
We are freed from sin. This doesn’t mean we are sinless, but we now are not addicted and have God’s assisting grace (1 Corinthians 10:13).
We were servants of satan’s kingdom, now we are children of God the Father and servants of the Lord Jesus.
We are now to bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The end of this life on Earth is the beginning of eternal life. Our soul and spirit are already redeemed, but at death, our bodies die to be later resurrected to a new body like the Lord Jesus has. Of course, the Rapture would be better for we would not have to die.
Constable: “Now, in contrast, they were free from sin’s tyranny because of their union with Christ. If they presented themselves as slaves to God voluntarily, they could anticipate the sweet fruit (“benefit”) of progressive “sanctification” (holiness), and the fullness (abundant “outcome”) of “eternal life” (cf. 10:10; 17:3). Scripture speaks of eternal life as both the immediate and the ultimate product of progressive sanctification. Quality of life is involved as well as quantity.”
Barnes:
“Everlasting life – Note, John 3:36. This stands in contrast with the word “death” in Rom 6:21, and shows its meaning. “One is just as long in duration as the other;” and if the one is limited, the other is. If those who obey shall be blessed with life forever, those who disobey will be cursed with death forever. Never was there an antithesis more manifest and more clear. And there could not be a stronger proof that the word “death” in 21 refers not to temporal death, but to eternal punishment. For what force would there be in the argument on the supposition that temporal death only is meant? The argument would stand thus: “The end of those sins is to produce temporal death; the end of holiness is to produce eternal life!” Will not temporal death be inflicted, it would be immediately asked, at any rate? Are Christians exempt from it? And do not people suffer this, whether they become Christians or not? How then could this be an argument bearing on the tenor of the apostle’s reasoning? But admit the fair and obvious construction of the passage to be the true one, and it becomes plain. They were pursuing a course tending to everlasting ruin; they are now in a path that shall terminate in eternal life. By this weighty consideration, therefore, they are urged to be holy.”
V23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
We work/do, and earn the wages of sin. We sin and get in return our wages—death. This is not just physical death, but a death of soul and spirit. Truth is harder to discern. Resisting sin becomes harder.
We need:
It is free because it is a gift, and we do not work to receive it. God’s free gift by believing in Jesus Christ, God’s gift for our salvation. Our faith is not a wage (Romans 4:1-5).
We learn:
- Sin has consequences—death.
- Faith has consequences—life.
- Sin is an addiction.
- Faith in Jesus frees us from sin’s addiction.
Questions:
- Are you living as free from sin?
- Are you a servant of Jesus Christ?