God’s Saving Word: Hope
Introduction
Romans 6:15-23: In today’s reading, Paul describes being set free from sin and becoming slaves of righteousness and living under God’s grace.
Scripture Reading
Slaves of Righteousness
15 What, then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under God’s grace? By no means! 16 Surely you know that when you surrender yourselves as slaves to obey someone, you are in fact the slaves of the master you obey—either of sin, which results in death, or of obedience, which results in being put right with God. 17 But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received. 18 You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. 19 (I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes.
20 When you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What did you gain from doing the things that you are now ashamed of? The result of those things is death! 22 But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life. 23 For sin pays its wage—death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.
Today’s Key Verse: Romans 6:23b
God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflect
As in the opening of yesterday’s reading (6:1), verse 15 is a similar rhetorical question. What is Paul’s response to this question? Why does Paul exhort us to become “slaves of righteousness” (verse 18)? What does that mean to you?
Pray
Holy God, I surrender myself to your will in order that I might become a slave of righteousness for holy purposes. You have set me free from sin, and I dedicate my life to you. In your holy name I pray, Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Romans 15:1-13: The apostle Paul encourages the followers to have the same point of view among themselves by following the example of Christ Jesus.