‘The result is eternal life’
[Romans 6:19-22]
“Those things result in death!” (Rom. 6:21) In other words, the end of the slavery of sin is death.
First, the slave of sin yields his own members to impurity and to lawlessness (v. 19). Here, impurity refers to being morally unclean, and lawlessness refers to disobeying and breaking God's law. Second, the life of a slave to sin is freedom in regard to righteousness (v. 20). Third, the slaves of sin produce shameful fruits (v. 21). Fourth, the end of the slave to sin is death (v. 21). Here, death means three things: (1) Spiritual death: The slave of sin is already spiritually dead. The reason is because the slave of sin has been cut off with the life, the source of life, and fellowship with God who gives life. (2) Physical death: It is the separation of body and soul. The slave of sin is death as the penalty for sin (v. 23). (3) Eternal death: After the slave of sin has died physically, it leads to the second death (Rev. 20:14, 21:8). The second death here is the lake of fire (20:14), where the fearful and the unbelievers and the abominable and the murderers and the fornicators and the sorcerers and idolaters and all liars will be thrown in the lake burning with fire and brimstone (21:8). In the lake of fire there, the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched (Mk. 9:48). When a rich man died and was buried in the ground and was tormented in hell, he saw Abraham the head and Lazarus was in his arms, and he cried out in a loud voice, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire” (Lk. 16:19, 22-24). It never ends when the body dies. This means that our life does not end with the death of the body. The Bible clearly states that there is a second death. The Bible clearly states that those who do not believe in Jesus will live forever in a lake of fire that burns with fire and brimstone, where the worm does not die and the fire does not quench. Therefore, I hope and pray that you will not come to the second death by believing in Jesus Christ.
‘The result is eternal life’ (Rom. 6:22). In other words, the end of the servant of righteousness is eternal life.
Look at Romans 6:22 – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Here, “the result” is not referring to the end of the slaves of sin, but eternal life, the end of the slaves of righteousness. Also, here “But now” is a triple stress (strong meaning). This is a very important and precious word. We were originally slaves to sin (v. 17), yielding our members to impurity and lawlessness (v. 19), free as to righteousness (v. 20), bearing fruit to shame (v. 21), and our end was death (v. 21). But now (verse 22) we are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves of obedience (v. 16), slaves to righteousness (v. 18), set free from sin (v. 22), bear fruit that leads to holiness, and its end is eternal life (v. 22). Who do the slaves of righteousness refer to here?
(1) The slaves of righteousness are those freed from sin.
In Romans 6:22, “you” refers to those who were originally slaves to sin, but are now free from sin. We were originally slaves to sin, obeying sin and obeying sin to reign. How we became slaves to sin is because of the sin of one man, Adam, we all became slaves to sin (5:12). Although we were originally slaves to sin (6:17), we are now set free from sin (v. 22). We are set free from sin (v. 22). Previously we had yielded our members to impurity and to lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness (v. 19). “But now” (v. 22) we, as slaves of righteousness, follow and serve righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ, who is righteousness. Now (vv. 19, 22) we present our members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification (v. 19). The Bible says we cannot serve two masters. Look at Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.” We must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and follow Him and serve Him. We must present our bodies as slaves to righteousness and live holy lives (Rom.6:19), not as slaves to sin and surrender our bodies to impurity and lawlessness (v. 19).
(2) The slaves of righteousness present their members as slaves to righteousness.
Previously, as slaves to sin, we yielded our members to impurity and lawlessness, but now we are slaves to righteousness presenting our members as slaves to righteousness (v. 19). For example, the psalmist presented his members as slaves to righteousness. If we look at the lyrics of the hymn “Take My Life, and Let It Be,” we are dedicatedly praising the need to offer our members (body) as slaves to righteousness: (v. 1) Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise. (v. 2) Take my hands, and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee. (v. 3) Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be Filled with messages from Thee. (v. 4) Take my silver and my gold Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use Every pow'r as Thou shalt choose. (v. 5) Take my moments and my days. Let them flow in endless praise. Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee. Amen. These verses are based on Romans 6:13 – “and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Now that we are slaves of righteousness, we must present our members to God to glorify Him. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” Look at Romans 14:7-8: “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.” This is the life of those who have become slaves of righteousness.
(3) The slaves of righteousness produce the fruit that leads to holiness.
Look at Romans 6:19b – “… so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.” The slaves of righteousness are sanctified the moment they are justified. That is why the slaves of righteousness are called saints. Look at Colossians 1:2 – “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” Catholicism is not called a saint at that moment just because a person is righteous. Because he lives a justifying life, he must be respected and praised by many to be called a ‘saint’ (eg. St. Teresa). The word “sanctification” in Romans 6:19 is an exhortation/command to live holy like a saint. As slaves of righteousness, we must give our bodies as slaves of righteousness and live holy lives, so we must become more and more like the holy Jesus. In other words, we must bear fruit that results in sanctification (v. 22). That means we have to reach maturity. We must be like Jesus. Look at Romans 8:29 – “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” The purpose of God's foreordained us is that we may become little Jesus in the image of Christ, the “firstborn” of God the Father.
(4) The result of the slaves of righteousness is eternal life (6:22).
Look at Romans 6:22 – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” We are no longer slaves to sin, but “slaves to the one whom you (we) obey” (v. 16), “slaves to righteousness” (v. 18), set free from sin (v. 22), and bearing fruit that leads to holiness, the result of which is eternal life (v. 22).