Romans 6:12-23
Doulos
November 15, 2015
Vss. 12-14
-These verses take us from the mystical to the practical. Salvation, baptism, communion, and worship are all
mystical experiences. Something happens that is beyond us. We can’t explain it but we recognize something
outside of ourselves, beyond our control, has happened.
- But Christianity is not some impractical, emotional experience or inward mysterious narcissism. Christianity is
a very practical way of life. We are not to live in some “holy huddle” as “rabbit hole Christians,” rapidly
scurrying from one cool Bible study to the next. We are to live our lives in the teeth of the storm, with all the
world’s trials and attacks.
- So we were dead and are now alive. That part of ourselves that Satan once used for sin (pride, greed,
selfishness, etc.) are now the same parts that God will use for His work of righteousness (humility, generosity,
selflessness, etc.) (vs.11)
Vss. 15-19
- We are all slaves. There is not such thing as freedom. We all serve Christ or sin.
- The Greek word for slave is “Dulous”.
- In Paul's time, the status of the slave was quite different. Literally he had no time which belonged to himself;
every single moment belonged to his master. He was his master's absolutely exclusive possession. That is the
picture that is in Paul's mind. He says: "At one time you were the slave of sin. Sin had exclusive possession of
you. At that time you could not talk of anything else but sinning. But now you have taken God as your
master and he has exclusive possession of you. Now you cannot even talk about sinning; you must talk about
nothing but holiness."
- Anyone who thinks they can do whatever they wish but will still be saved is “deluded.” (James 1:22)
- No one can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24c)
- With God it’s all or nothing. You are either 100% His or you are not His at all. You cannot be 99% saved.
- A Christian is someone who has given Christ complete control of His life, holding nothing back.
Vss. 20-23
- What does slavery to sin get you? Pleasure? Riches? Power? But it’s never enough. It always leaves you
hungry, always wanting more. Sin never satisfies. And in the end slavery to sin only leaves you with death.
- What does slavery to God get you? It gets you on the right road. Sanctification: the process of salvation. And
in the end slavery to God brings you into eternal life!
- Paul finishes with a great saying that contains a double metaphor. "Sin's pay is death," he says, "but God's
free gift is eternal life." Paul uses two military words. For pay he uses “opsonia.” Opsonia was the soldier's
pay, something that he earned with the risk of his body and the sweat of his brow, something that was due
to him and could not be taken from him. For gift he uses “charisma.” The charisma was a totally unearned
gift which the army sometimes received. On special occasions, for instance on his birthday or on his
accession to the throne, or the anniversary of it, an emperor handed out a free gift of money to the army. It
had not been earned; it was a gift of the emperor's kindness and grace. So Paul says: "If we got the pay we
had earned it would be death; but out of his grace God has given us life."
- Once again, like the ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge’s partner Marley said, “I wear the chain I forged in life. I made
it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.” Marley
EARNED his chains.
- Death through sin is what we earn. Life through Christ is a free gift.