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Third Millennium Study Bible
Notes on Romans 6:17-23

Slaves to righteousness - Romans 6:17-18

Mounce says:

People obviously are the slaves of the one to whom they offer themselves to obey (Rom. 6:17). Paul set forth two masters: (1) one is sin and (2) the other is obedience [to God]. There is no possibility of living without an allegiance to one or the other. Unbelievers may think they are free and would have to give up that freedom should they accept Christ. Such is not the case. They are servants of sin right now. In coming to Christ they simply exchange one master for another. Servitude to sin is replaced with servitude to God. The master we obey is clear evidence of whose slaves we really are. There is no room for compromise. As Jesus taught, "No one can serve two masters" (Matt 6:24). We also are reminded of Joshua's challenge to the Israelites at Shechem, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Josh 24:15).

Christians have been set free from sin; liberated permanently from their harsh taskmaster. Hodge says, "A freed slave does not continue to be subject to his former master. Similarly, our Lord says: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36)." Believers are free from the condemning power, tyranny, and enslaving power of sin. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Gal. 5:1; 1 Cor. 7:21-22). However, Paul does not confuse liberty with license. Christians have a new yoke (Matt. 11:28-30). Freedom in Christ is not an invitation to lawless living. The freed in Christ have become slaves to righteousness.

When you were free from the control of righteousness - Romans 6:19-21

Paul uses a human analogy in case someone misses his point (cf. 1 Cor. 15:32). When sin was our master, we were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did this give us - none! Romans 6:21 says "from the things you are now ashamed of." A sign of being a Christian is being "ashamed" (continuous) of past (and new) sins. This does not mean merely being embarrassed and sorry you were caught, but a loathing, painful, hurtful, state of mind concerning past sins. They are so detestable they you grow to hate them more day by day. You continue to obey the Gospel (Rom. 6:17).

Is there a benefit of being a slave to righteousness? Mounce says:

We have become slaves of God. And is there benefit in this? Most certainly! The reward for serving God is growth in holiness and, in the end, eternal life. In fact, apart from holiness there is no eternal life. The author to Hebrews counseled a holy life because "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). Slavery to sin results in death. Slavery to righteousness leads to eternal fellowship with God. Or, in the words of Jesus, the broad road (the path of sin) leads to destruction, but the narrow road (the way of righteousness) leads to life (Matt 7:13-14).

Wages . . . gift - Romans 6:22-23

Though the saint's "union with Christ" (see below) the Christian has been set free from the judgment of the law and the tyranny of sin. The aorist tense here indicates a decisive action - we ARE set free. Before Christ one is a slave to sin, after Christ, one is a slave to righteousness. Since Christians are new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21) they are "slaves" of righteousness. This leads to continuous sanctification (bearing of fruit). We ARE saved (Rom. 5:1-2) and SHALL BE saved (glorification - Rom. 8:29-30). See WCF 9.4; 16.2; WLC 167.

The wage sin pays is death. Instead of dollars in your wallet, sin gives you death in your soul. Death is the opposite of life. Sin promises life and gives death. Death is no arbitrary sentence, but the inevitable and just consequence of sin. Against this, Paul compares the gift (freeness) of God. So, Paul distinguished judgment (something we deserve) from salvation (something we receive entirely by grace). Eternal life is not a wage, but a gift. It is not something that can be earned, but only something that can be given. As in the Romans 6:22, eternal life seems to be used to include both the present possession (the gift of God "is") and the glorious consummation at the end of the age ("leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life"). See WCF 6.6; 15.4; WLC 27, 28; WSC 19; CD 1.1; 3-4.I.

Related Resources

• The Law of God: What Is God's Law?
• The Three Uses of the Law: What Good Is the Law?
• Legalism and Antinomianism: Why do I have to obey God's law?
• New Testament Applications of Mosaic Law
• Sanctification: When Will I Stop Sinning?
• Union With Christ
• Christian Liberty: How Free Am I?
• Divine and Human Holiness: What is Holiness?
• Overview of the Book of Romans

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