Romans 6:19-20

Passage

I speak as a human through the weakness of your flesh.  For just as you all presented your members into lawlessness as slaves to immorality and lawlessness, therefore now you all presented your members into sanctification as slaves to righteousness.  For when you all were slaves of sin, you all were free to righteousness.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul tells his readers that he is speaking in human terms because we are weak.  We always wrestle with sin.  There is a reason that growing closer to God is a process.  We don’t flip a switch, say a quick prayer, and then instantly become a new person.  Well, I should say we don’t do that this side of the resurrection into eternal life.  Then, God will do precisely that.  But before we die, we are human beings.  We are weak.  We wrestle with sin.  It is a process of refinement.

Why is it important to understand that even after we surrender to Christ perfection is outside of our grasp?  Why is it important to remind ourselves that we are in it for the long haul and things will not always go perfectly?

Second Thought:

Sanctification.  This is a word that most people in the faith don’t fully understand.  Sanctification is different than justification.  Justification happened on the cross 2,000 years ago.  It happened, and it is over.  Each of us who are saved was saved 2,000 years ago when Christ died.  Sanctification is the process of change that happens within us after justification.  Sanctification is the working of the Holy Spirit to mold us and shape us and develop that character within us that God is drawing out.  Paul is encouraging us to embrace sanctification and present ourselves to God as willing members looking to be shaped and molded.

Is it always fun to have God shape you and develop character within you?  When is it fun?  When is it hard?  When in your life are you most aware of sanctification?

Third Thought:

In this last verse, Paul tells us that when we were slaves to sin, we were free to righteousness.  We started to talk about this concept a little yesterday, and I would like to go deeper into it today.  Here’s what Paul is saying.  When sin was your master, righteousness had no claim on your life.  In other words, you cannot serve two masters.  Either you serve sin or you serve righteousness.  You can’t have your feet in both worlds.  Certainly you can serve sin and struggle with the call into righteousness.  Most of us go through that process before coming to truly know Christ.  Certainly you can also serve God and struggle with sinfulness.  We know that struggle after coming to Christ.  But you cannot serve both God and sin at the same time.  It is impossible to serve two masters.

Which do you serve?  If you serve God, where do you struggle with sin?  If you serve sin, when are you pulled towards righteousness?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 6:21-23