I. The Word: Romans 6:15-22

15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

17But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

  20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

II. Reflection Questions:

1. There is a lot of references to Christians being called “slaves” in this text, does that bother you? Why or why not?

2. What the heck does, “Present your members…” mean?

3. Why is the last phrase in 21, “For the outcome of those things is death,” so crazy important to Christian growth (sanctification)?

Below is a great message…enjoy! But I must say that my third question above is paramount for Christians reading this. PARAMOUNT!

For me, faith is an incredibly intellectual thing, and this verse says so. Paul is asking, and I am begging, you to think about how and why you live your life, and what you place on the throne of your deepest desire for life. Think about it, what can you live for that survives death? Fame? Like Julius Caesar fame? You can make an argument for that, but fame is not all good, and spoiler alert…once your dead…you do not get to see how famous you have become! Anything and everything I have ever valued, lived for, loved to my deepest part, work tirelessly to achieve only ends in death or with my death. But not if Jesus is my center, my highest, sole, deeply motivating desire. If I am wrong about Jesus and heaven then I spent my life trying to lose so others can win…not a bad life. But if I am right about Jesus and heaven…then I have gained everything!

Think about your life today? What are you a slave to? What are you living and dying for? What are you centering your life on? Be careful. Be thoughtful. Be faithful.

“Death will either take you from your greatest treasure, or bring you to it, depending on where you hide it. So, hide it where it is most secure!” Levi Lusko

Click here to listen to a talk that has been one of the most foundational talks that has shaped my faith and world view by John Piper! The first 10-15 minutes is all I needed! The rest is great but after that intro I was done! (Thank you Scott Fiddler for posting this on Facebook…I have not heard it in some time now.)