The true grace of God, when rightly understood, never compels us toward sin but instead transforms our hearts, leading us to desire and pursue righteousness. The freedom we receive in Christ is not a license to indulge in sin, but a call to live under a new and better master—one who empowers us to walk in obedience. As we embrace the abundance of God’s grace, we find that it is not an excuse for disobedience, but the very power that enables us to turn from sin and live for God. [05:20]
Romans 6:15-18 (ESV)
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 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? 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, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Reflection: In what area of your life have you misunderstood grace as permission to compromise, and how can you ask God today to help you use your freedom to pursue obedience instead?
Every person is shaped and governed by a master, whether sin or righteousness, and true freedom is not the absence of all restraint but joyful submission to Christ, who brings life. The idea of radical autonomy is a myth; we all serve something or someone. In Christ, we are transferred from the bondage of sin to the joyful servitude of righteousness, and this new allegiance brings about a harvest of sanctification and life. [39:17]
Romans 6:19-22 (ESV)
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. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 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. 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.
Reflection: What “master” do your daily choices reveal you are serving, and what is one practical step you can take today to present yourself to God as a servant of righteousness?
God’s work in salvation is not merely external or behavioral; He changes us at the deepest level, giving us new desires and making us “obedient from the heart.” This supernatural transformation means that our obedience is not a grudging effort to earn God’s favor, but a joyful response to His love and grace. Even when obedience is difficult, the steady state of the Christian is a heart that delights in honoring God, fueled by the Spirit and the truth of the gospel. [23:46]
Romans 6:17 (ESV)
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.
Reflection: When was the last time you sensed God changing your desires, not just your actions? How can you invite Him to deepen your obedience from the heart today?
The form or pattern of teaching we receive molds our lives, and being committed to sound doctrine is essential for true spiritual growth and transformation. We are not left to invent our own way; God has handed us over to the truth of His Word, which shapes us into the likeness of Christ. The health of our faith depends on our willingness to be poured into the mold of biblical teaching, rather than the world’s philosophies or our own ideas. [28:56]
2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV)
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Reflection: Are you intentionally allowing the truth of Scripture to shape your thinking and living, or are you being molded by other influences? What is one way you can more deeply commit yourself to God’s pattern of teaching this week?
Sin always pays out in death, but God’s free gift is eternal life in Christ—a life that begins now and continues forever, marked by the Spirit’s power and the hope of glory. The contrast is stark: the old way leads to destruction and shame, but in Christ, we receive not only forgiveness but a new quality of life that is abundant and everlasting. This is not just a future promise, but a present reality for all who trust in Jesus. [43:10]
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection: What “fruit” from your old life do you need to leave behind, and how can you embrace the gift of eternal life that God offers you in Christ today?
Romans 6:15-23 reveals the profound reality of what it means to live under grace rather than law. The question Paul anticipates—does grace give us license to sin?—is answered with a resounding “By no means!” True grace, rightly understood, never leads to more sin but instead transforms the heart, creating a new desire for obedience. The freedom Christ gives is not a freedom to return to old patterns of sin, but a freedom to willingly submit ourselves to a new master: righteousness. Just as in the ancient world, a servant might willingly enter a household for provision and care, so too do we, by God’s grace, become willing servants of Christ, finding our highest honor and joy in belonging to Him.
The Christian life is not a matter of external conformity or legalistic striving, but of a supernatural change wrought by God. We are not simply told to “try harder,” but are reminded that God has already changed our hearts, making us “obedient from the heart” to the pattern of teaching entrusted to us. This new obedience is not a grudging duty, but a delight that flows from a heart set free. The more we immerse ourselves in God’s grace, the more we find ourselves growing in righteousness and sanctification. The principle is simple but profound: whatever we sow, we will reap. If we continually give ourselves to the desires of the flesh, sin’s grip will only tighten. But if we submit ourselves to the Spirit and to God’s commands, we will see a harvest of righteousness.
Paul’s illustration of slavery is not to glorify the institution, but to make clear that everyone serves a master—either sin, which leads to death, or God, which leads to life. Radical autonomy is a myth; true freedom is found in joyful submission to Christ. The fruit of our old life was shame and death, but now, having been set free, the fruit is sanctification and eternal life. This is not just a future hope, but a present reality: eternal life begins now, as we live in the power of the Spirit, experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised.
The call is clear: examine who your master is. If you are still bound to sin, Christ offers freedom and new life today. For those in Christ, rejoice in the grace that not only forgives but transforms, and let that grace fuel your ongoing growth in obedience and joy.
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Romans 6:15-23 (ESV) —
> 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, 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. 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.
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