CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
Romans 6:15-16
The Apostle Paul once again (as in Romans 6:1) presents us with guidance by asking us a question of the obvious in Romans 6:15a, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?” He then (as in Romans 6:1) quickly answers the question with a resounding, “Certainly not” (Romans 6:15b). Paul then gives the example of how we live our lives as in comparison to being a slave. He states that to or for what or how we live our lives is in slavery (as to be held to a way of life) in obedience to that guidance. For example, to live our lives in the sinful nature is to be a slave to it. Paul teaches us that this way of life only leads to eternal death. But to live as a slave to the obedience that is required in seeking God’s will for our lives is living as a slave to God, and this leads to righteousness that we have learned is given for all who put their faith in Christ Jesus.
This is the reality of a changed life through our Savior Jesus.
This is a command to stop living in sin and begin living in obedience to God through salvation in Jesus.
This is the reality of the control over our lives – we are all slaves to something whether it be the sinful nature or obedience to God through Jesus Christ. Because we have been forgiven from our sins is not a reason to continue living in them as this shows no change in one’s life. God has given us the gift of forgiveness through sending His one and only Son Jesus to save us from sin so that we may have a change in our lives from the bondage of the sinful nature and living in it, to a new forgiven life through Christ Jesus that is reflective of Him. We cannot continue living in the sinful nature and be a reflection of Jesus to all those around us and throughout the world.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that when we put our faith in Christ Jesus to forgive us, we are dying in our sinful lives with Him on the cross and being raised to a new life with Him as He was raised from the dead. We then too should now be alive – in Christ as the Apostle Paul has taught us in Romans 6:10-11. We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to obedience in Christ Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.