The Right Side of Spiritual Slavery

In Romans 6 we have two sides of spiritual slavery. If you missed yesterday I suggest reading it to get the complete picture. Here’s a link: Yesterday’s Post   We are talking about the idea of spiritual slavery. Yesterday we focused on the idea that we are born as slaves to sin, in complete control by sin. But when we receive Christ as Savior, that power of sin is broken. I like the line from an old hymn in referring to Jesus: “He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free….” This is what Paul writes in Romans 6 about our new “slavery” to righteousness: But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

 In Christ we serve a new master. We are no longer slaves to sin but we are slaves to righteousness, through Jesus Christ. We are not “free agents”…but slaves to Jesus. However, we need not fear being a slave to Jesus because He can’t do anything except treat us well…in our own best interest. So now our responsibility is to “show up for work” each day, presenting our bodies as slaves to righteousness, fulfilling the calling that God has for us each day. Being set free from sin we have been made slaves to righteousness and our service can count for today and for eternity. Yes, there will be times when we fall back into the ways of our old selves, but sin has no more power as before; if you have been changed by Christ. So, when you find yourself acting as if you are a slave to sin, repent and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and power.

Aside: There are many who claim to have no power over sin…that they are stuck in sin and can’t “help it”. Or, they have lived lives that are patterned after sin and an indifference to God. The remedy is not to try to defeat the sin. The remedy is to surrender to Jesus….to be born again..to stop trusting in some childhood experience or emotional moment that more than likely didn’t bring salvation. Your life and my life will bear fruit to righteousness if we have been united with Christ. Please don’t attempt to fool yourself. If I can help, message me.

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