"That end is eternal life"

[Romans 6:19-22]

"The end is death" (Rom 6:21). In other words, the end of the slave to sin is death.

First, the slave to sin gives his members over to uncleanness and lawlessness (v. 19). Here, "uncleanness" refers to moral impurity, and "lawlessness" refers to transgressing and breaking God's law.
Second, the life of a slave to sin is freedom from righteousness (v. 20).
Third, the slave to sin bears shameful fruit (v. 21).
Fourth, the end of the slave to sin is death (v. 21).
Here, "death" has three meanings:

Spiritual death: The slave to sin is spiritually dead. This is because the slave to sin's communion with God, who is life, the source of life, and the giver of life, has been severed.
Physical death: The separation of body and soul. The slave to sin dies because of the wages of sin (Rom 6:23).
Eternal death: After the physical death, the slave to sin faces the second death (Rev 20:14, 21:8). The "second death" refers to being cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:14), where the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the fire never goes out, and the worms do not die (Mark 9:48). A rich man, after dying and being buried, is seen in hell in torment. He cries out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire" (Luke 16:19-24, Modern Translation).

When the body dies, it is not the end. Our lives do not end with the physical death of the body. The Bible clearly teaches about the second death. It is certain that those who do not believe in Jesus will live forever in the lake of fire, where the worm does not die and the fire is never quenched. Therefore, we pray that we do not reach the second death by believing in Jesus Christ.

"That end is eternal life" (Rom 6:22). In other words, the end of the slave of righteousness is eternal life.

Look at Romans 6:22: "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to holiness, and its end, eternal life" [(Modern Translation) "But now you have been set free from sin and have become God's slaves, and have become holy in your living; the result is eternal life."].

Here, "end" does not refer to the end of the slave to sin but to the end of the slave to righteousness, which is eternal life. Moreover, "but now" is emphasized with a triple force, indicating something very important and valuable. This is a very precious statement.

Originally, as slaves to sin (v. 17), we gave our members to uncleanness and lawlessness (v. 19), we were free from righteousness (v. 20), we bore shameful fruit (v. 21), and our end was death (v. 21). But now (v. 22), we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves of obedience (v. 16), slaves of righteousness (v. 18), set free from sin (v. 22), bearing fruit that leads to holiness, and its end is eternal life (v. 22).

Who, then, is the slave of righteousness?

(1) The servant of righteousness refers to those who have been freed from sin.

In Romans 6:22, the term “you” refers to those who were originally slaves of sin but have now been freed from it. We were originally slaves to sin, following sin and obeying when it ruled over us. How did we become slaves of sin? It was through the transgression of one man, Adam, that all of us became slaves to sin (Romans 5:12). Therefore, although we were originally slaves to sin (Romans 6:17), we have now been freed from it (v. 22).

Our old self was crucified with Christ, and the body of sin died, so that we no longer serve sin (Romans 6:6). Now, we enjoy freedom from sin (v. 22). Before, we gave our members to impurity and iniquity, leading to more iniquity (v. 19). But now (v. 22), as servants of righteousness, we follow and serve Jesus Christ, who is righteousness itself, by believing in Him. Now (vv. 19, 22), we give our members as servants to righteousness, leading us to holiness (v. 19).

The Bible says that no one can serve two masters. Look at Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." We must receive Jesus Christ, who is righteousness, as our Lord and follow and serve Him. We must offer our bodies as servants of righteousness, living in holiness (Romans 6:19, Modern Bible) and not as servants of sin, giving our bodies to impurity and iniquity (v. 19).

(2) The servant of righteousness gives their members as servants to righteousness.

Before, as slaves to sin, we gave our members to impurity and iniquity, but now we give them as servants to righteousness (v. 19). For example, the psalmist gave his members as servants to righteousness. In the hymn "I Give My Life to Thee" (Hymn 213 in the new hymn book), the lyrics express devotion to offering our members (bodies) as servants of righteousness:

(Verse 1) "I give my life to Thee, Lord, receive it,
That as I live, I may praise Thee here on earth."
(Verse 2) "I give my hands and feet, Lord, receive them,
That they may be swift for Thy work."
(Verse 3) "I give my voice, Lord, receive it,
That only Thy truth may be proclaimed."
(Verse 4) "I give my treasures, Lord, receive them,
That they may be used according to Thy will for the Heavenly Kingdom."
(Verse 5) "I give my time, Lord, receive it,
That I may serve Thee all my days, amen."

The basis for these lyrics is Romans 6:13: "Do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness."

Now that we are servants of righteousness, we must offer our members to God for His glory. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."

Also, look at Romans 14:7-8: "For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s."

This is the life of those who have become servants of righteousness.

(3) The servant of righteousness bears fruit that leads to holiness.

Look at Romans 6:19: "… now present your members as servants to righteousness, leading to holiness." The servant of righteousness becomes holy the moment they are justified. Therefore, the servant of righteousness is called a saint.

Look at Colossians 1:2: "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father." In the Catholic Church, a person is not called a saint the moment they are declared righteous. They must live a righteous life, earning respect and praise from many, to be called a "saint" or "holy one" (e.g., Saint Teresa).

In Romans 6:19, the phrase "leading to holiness" is an encouragement or command to live in a manner worthy of being called saints. As servants of righteousness, we are to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness and live holy lives, gradually becoming more like the holy Jesus. In other words, we must bear fruit that leads to holiness (v. 22). This means we must reach a mature state. We are called to be like Jesus.

Look at Romans 8:29: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" [(Modern Bible) "God predestined those He foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that Christ would be the firstborn among many saints."].

God's purpose in predestining us is for us to be conformed to the image of Christ, the "firstborn" Son of God, so that we may become "little Jesuses" in the world.

(4) The end of the servant of righteousness is eternal life (Romans 6:22).

Look at Romans 6:22: "But now, having been freed from sin and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life." We are no longer slaves to sin but have become "slaves of obedience" (v. 16), "slaves of righteousness" (v. 18), freed from sin (v. 22), and bearing fruit that leads to holiness, and the end result is eternal life (v. 22).