Romans 6:15-23

Romans 6:15-23Senior Pastor Alex Kennedy"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?" Paul is using the term "doulos" that has been translated "slave". A doulos is someone whose life is oriented around the will of their Lord. In this case, someone that is either devoted to a life of sin that leads to death, or someone that is a devoted servant of Jesus—one who belongs to Him, follows Him, and finds freedom under His lordship.
Whatever "master" you follow, either sin or righteousness, will move you somewhere. Sin always moves you toward death. Christ always moves you toward life.
How sin traps us:-It begins with small compromises-It grows through habit and desire.-It ends in bondage.
The alternative is obedience to Christ. In verse 18, Paul does not confuse liberty with license. Freedom in Christ is not an invitation to self-centerdness. The freed in Christ have become slaves (doulos) to righteousness. This means the freed have purpose and direction as they give themselves over completely to Christ.
Paul has shown two master and two slaveries, and in verses 20-21 he describes two results.
Sin's FruitShameRegretEmptinessSpiritual DeathEternal Separation
Christ's FruitHolinessJoyPurposeMeaningEternal Life
Paul ends with a beautiful contrast that shows the heart of the gospel in verse 23, "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." In other words, it sin will pay you, and it's wages is death. God doesn't pay with a wage, but with a free gift of eternal life through a relationship with Him!
Questions to Consider:

1. What are some things people today might become “slaves” to without realizing it?
2. What’s the difference between obeying because you “have to” and obeying because you “want to”?
3. How does serving God make a person more free—not less?
4. What are practical ways we can “present ourselves to God” each day?

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