(I was out of town last week – so this recap will be even more brief than normal.)
Romans 6:15-23
Paul has been writing of grace so free that he anticipates an objection. Some might think that such free grace might make Christians want to sin (because they can get away with it). His answer: By no means!
Setup v.16
Remember that Christianity isn’t about behavior modification, but escape from sin slavery.
What’s True v.17-18
Christians have become obedient from the heart. Dr. Phil modifies behavior. God modifies hearts. Christians are new creatures with new hearts.
What to Do v.19
Become a Christian if you’re not one. If you are one, present your members as slaves of righteousness. Take your eyes off the porn and put them in the word. Take your ears from listening about people in gossip and put them toward listening to people in love. Take your hands and feet from the bed of laziness and put them toward the work of making disciples. Why? Because you can! You’re freed from all that deathly sin and you’re now in the service of God.
Explanation v.20-22
People are born enslaved to sin and free in regard to God. In other words, they can ignore a sermon, but not the glutinous donut on the counter. Christians are reborn enslaved to God and free in regard to in; which means they cannot hear God’s word without provocation and can master their temptations.
It’s as though gravity switches when one becomes a Christian. Where they used to be locked down to sin, suddenly everything changes and they find themselves drawn upward toward God.
So, the most important question is not, what rules do you follow and which do you break; but what is your deepest desire: sin or God?
