Unlimited: Slaves to Righteousness

Oct 27, 2022 838

Unlimited: Slaves to Righteousness

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18).

The Greek verb form for “you became slaves” is the aorist passive indicative, which means that someone else did something to the believer at a point in the past. The idea here is that of our salvation as a legal transaction. To redeem a slave was to pay the price to purchase his freedom. God has pronounced us legally righteous at the Cross, where he paid the price of our redemption from slavery to sin. As a result, out of a profound sense of gratitude and love for what he has done, we have chosen to serve him for the rest of our lives.

We are called to be slaves to righteousness.

Because we have been redeemed by Christ, what has changed for us isn’t that we have somehow magically been changed into different people, who now do only what is right and don’t sin. What has changed is our status. Previously we were slaves of sin, but now Christ has redeemed us for freedom, and now we willingly choose to serve him. That is why we are called “slaves of righteousness.” Righteousness is what now determines the shape of our lives.

While salvation is something that God has done for us, and it is the legal pronouncement of our freedom, this doesn’t now leave us free to sin. We have been set free from sin so that we may be now serve righteousness.

Spiritual Application

Write down the top three reasons why you choose to serve God. Consider them carefully. Are your motivations truly pure and selfless?

Eliezer Gonzalez

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