Page 45 - Romans Student Textbook.doc

were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you
were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”36 In trusting
in Christ their ownership was changed. They no longer belonged to sin or are controlled by its desires, but
now they belong to Christ and being set free from sin have become slaves (servants) of righteousness.
They have been made able to leave off serving those things that led to death and have been made able to
serve in a righteous way that leads to eternal life. Death was a wage — an earned reward — of sin, that
has been replaced by a gift — and unearned favor — eternal life.

The answer to questions about the nature of the relationship between sin and grace that Paul anticipated
the Roman believers having really boil down to one idea that is the heart of the final paragraph in this
chapter. By God’s grace people are set free from slavery to sin so that they might use that freedom to
serve righteousness that leads to being set apart as God’s slaves who are given eternal life.
Theology That Helps Us Live Wisely and Well

In our identification with Jesus in his death, resurrection and ascension we are made dead to
sin’s power to control our decisions. We no longer have to sin; we are made able to do other
than sin. We are made able to live as servants of good and righteousness and freed in Christ
from bondage to evil and unrighteousness.
God’s purpose in freeing us from bondage to sin and death is so that we will live in such a way that His
glory can be seen by a watching creation as they see how He has graciously changed us. In Christ we
become servants of that purpose.
Eternal life is a gift of God’s grace to those who put their faith in His Son. It is impossible for us to be able
to earn it. The wage we deserved because of our rebellion against God and his rule in our lives is death.
We have earned death but by God’s grace we are given life. We are to live as those who have received a
great gift by giving to others bound in sin the great message that they too can be set free from sin and
have a living relationship with God when they forsake trying to make themselves acceptable to God and
trust the promise of God given through His Son.

Shall we continue living a life of sin even though Grace abounds?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNf9_d3TbKc

36 Romans 6:17-18, ESV.

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