Title: “You Gotta Serve Somebody” Scripture: Rom. 6:15-23
Type: Series/Expository Where: GNBC 5-2-21
Intro: Bob Dylan wrote a song in 1979 that would appear on the “Slow Train A Coming” album. The song is aptly appropriate for the section of Romans we are examining today: “You Gotta Serve Somebody”. The lyrics begin with: You may be an ambassador to England or France. You may like to gamble, you might like to dance. You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls. But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord. But you're gonna have to serve somebody. Now, I am not sure if the Apostle Paul would have liked Dylan’s music, but he certainly would have agreed with the lyrics of this song as he came to Romans 6.
Prop: Romans 6:15-23 Paul lays out 4 Principles that relate to two types of slavery common to man.
BG: 1. Although Paul had never been to Rome. He greets no less than 26 people by name who were in this church. Although an Apostle, Paul was ever the pastor. As such wanted to see them grow.
2. Leading up to Rom. 5 Paul has expounded upon the great doctrine of Justification by Faith.
3. Now, however, he begins to discuss the concept of Sanctification. The believer’s pursuit of righteousness.
Prop: Let’s examine Rom. 6:15ff to see 4 Principles relating to 2 types of slavery common to man.
I. Principle: Self Surrender Leads to Slavery v. 15- 16
A. The Apostle Begins this section with a similar question to the beginning of the chapter.
1. Paul repeats the same idea with which he began the chapter.
Illust: The question is similar to that in 6:1, but with a different twist. In 6:1 the question anticipates the false inference that if grace increases where sin increases, then why not continue in sin? In 6:15 Paul’s question anticipates another false inference, namely, that if Christians are no longer under the law, but under grace (Rom 5:20), then why not sin freely? After all, it was Paul who just finished saying that where there is no law, sin is not taken into account, i.e., there is no punishment (Rom 5:13). So then, if the demands of the law have been set aside and no longer have any real application to the Christian, then why not sin to our heart’s content? Paul points to the Accepted Concept of his time: “A slave obeys his master.”
2. This is the last occurrence of the verb “to sin” (hamartesomen) in this chapter and indeed the entire book. It means, as it has done in every previous occurrence in Romans, responsible acts of disobedience to God whether there is a law in place to point it out or not (Rom 2:14-15; 3:23) Again, like in vv. 2, Paul’s reply is an emphatic denial of such nonsense: “May it never be!” This seems to say, "Let it never even be considered" or "Don't even let the thought enter into your mind" or "Don't even discuss the possibility!" The idea is repulsive to consider.
B. Paul begins to set up a stark contrast between slavery, sin, and death, and obedience, righteousness, and eternal life. There is no Middle Ground. Paul declares everyone a Slave.
1. Obedience to the master is the required outcome of slavery. Illust: Many uneducated individuals think that slavery is a peculiarly American experience. Hardly! Nearly ever country and culture the world over has had the institution of slavery. The Global Slavery Index (2018) estimated that roughly 40.3 million individuals are currently caught in modern slavery, with 71% of those being female, and 1 in 4 being children. No one ethnicity more guilty than another. As our Liberian brothers can confirm, between 1816 and 1847, about 12k American freedmen immigrated to Liberia, founding the nation in 1847. What did many of these men do upon reaching Liberia? You guessed it: bought and enslaved others.
2. The slavery Paul was speaking of often took place in a time of war. A soldier or sailor captured in battle was usually offered one of two alternatives: Death or slavery. Sometimes those impoverished would sell their freedom so they could live and eat by becoming another’s slave. The good news was you got to live. The bad news was you were a slave. Don’t forget that Paul was writing to Rome, where more than half of the population were slaves! Most like, most of the church members.
C. Applic: A Person is a Slave to the one he obeys. Paul announces with complete egalitarianism: “Everyone is a slave!” But, one Master is way better than the other! One master, sin, leads to death. The other, God and righteousness, leads to eternal life.
II. Application: Conversion Exchanges Slaveries vv. 17-18
A. Paul States that Conversion is a Status of Exchanged Slaveries.
1. Considering his own words, Paul breaks out with a spontaneous doxology, “Thanks be to God!” Illust: All true believers can relate to the Apostle in this. We often will break out into praise to God for His provision, safety, blessing, benevolence. What is Paul praising God for? Salvation! “You became obedient from the heart…” Again, the key concept here is that slaves obey their master. So, if one is now obeying righteousness, it is evidence of his or her conversion to Christ!
2. Illust: You know why so many Christians are depressed? Secretly they think God got a pretty good bargain when He got them. Think they were pretty good and get depressed by what they think they missed out on in the world. Do you still get happy about your conversion, Christian? Do you sometimes get overcome by the fact that Christ saved you? Illust: Stevie Rutherford was an old man I knew in Belfast. He was a street character would see running up and down Newtownards Road. No money. Council house. Happy as a lark. Always laughing and about every third sentence was “Praise the Lord!” Literally, like that regardless of company.
B. Paul reminds the Christians that their conversion involved a change of slavery, and he sets this out in four clearly defined stages.
1. First, v. 17a “You used to be slaves to sin. Paul isn’t beating around the bush here. No mincing words with the Apostle. Only two types of people, and both are slaves. Slaves to sin or slaves of God. When one comes to faith in Christ, he/she is transferring one’s status to another. Once a slave to sin and now a slave to righteousness.
2. 2nd, v. 17b “You wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted” Now, this is an unusual statement. Paul does not say that the repentant sinner has obeyed God the Father or Christ the Son. Rather, he says that they obeyed a certain form of teaching. This was the sound teaching of apostolic instruction. It certainly contained at least an elementary course in the doctrine of salvation and an ethics course on how to live the Christian life. Illust: Modern Evangelical Church sees conversion as trusting in Christ alone for salvation. In part that is true. Paul saw conversion as not only trusting in Christ, but also believing, acknowledging, and living out that truth in such a way as to change one’s life.
3. 3rd v. 18a the Romans had “Been set free from sin.” Illust: As American entered into her 3rd year of bloody Civil War, on Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the “Emancipation Proclamation” which stated: “"that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free.” When Christ died at Calvary He proclaimed emancipation from sin and death for everyone who would trust in Him.
4. 4th v. 18b “they have become slaves to righteousness” -Paul cant help but being happy when he considers how decisive this transfer of grace was by God that took a hell bound slave of sin and instantly turned him into a heaven bound trophy of grace!
C. Applic: When a person knows that he/she has been rescued from the KO Darkness and transferred into the KOL, he is grateful and praises the Lord.
III. Analogy: How Both Slaveries Develop. Vv.19
A. Paul beings this verse with an Apology for his incomplete Metaphor.
1. This is in some ways a type of apology.
a. Essentially, Paul is saying that the metaphor of slavery is not completely accurate or appropriate for the Christian life. Whereas it does picture our exclusive relationship to Christ. He doesn’t mention that Christ’s yoke is easy, that the Master’s hand is gentle, or that the service to our King is in fact liberating!
b. Yet, the more one enters into a relationship with sin or righteousness, the more that relationship grows, because what one serves demonstrates what he is enslaved to. Sin resulting in death. Christ, resulting in righteousness and life.
2. Paul clearly states that neither slavery is static, but rather, is dynamic.
a. In either case the one will steadily deteriorate while the pother will progressively grow or the one will progressively grow while the other deteriorates. “Presented your members” – Paul is saying here that when we are enslaved to sin we degrade ourselves with our own bodies. I.e. sexual sin, bondage to adictions.
b. Illust: You see this in the life of individuals. The Christian who is growing in Christ progressively becomes more and more like Christ as he sheds off self in his pursuit of the Lord. We have also seen the apparent Christian who begins to dabble in the world, and step by step moves further and further from Christ as he/she becomes more and more enslaved to sin.
B. The Paradox: Slavery Brings Freedom Whereas Freedom Brings Slavery vv.20-22
1. Paul continues His Comparison b/t 2 Slaveries.
a. Paul points out that each type of slavery has an accompanying kind of Freedom. So, in a strange way, both types of slavery gives “freedom”. One is true whereas the other is false. Yet the Apostle says that when you were a slave to sin you were free from the control of righteousness. For the person in Christ, you have been set free from sin and becomes slaves of God.
b. Illust: Similarly, each type of freedom is a kind of Slavery. The young man who starts huffing or snorting or smoking thinks he’s getting freedom from his depression or failure or lack of self worth. But it ends up being a very cruel master. The young woman starts having sex with a man because she lacks her father’s love or wants a relationship so badly because her self worth is so low, take any man who comes along and tells her enough lies. Before long she is enslaved to an abusive relationship.
2. What was the fruit of this slavery or their freedom? What’s the benefit one receives from this slavery or their freedom?
a. The Greeks had a def. of righteousness that was “giving God and man their due.” The Christian life is one that gives God His proper place with respect to human personality.
b. Life in the world leads to sin and slavery. Illust: I recently read an interview that indicates Brad Pitt may in fact be returning to his Biblical Christian upbringing. While in college, a girlfriend, the daughter of a pastor, encouraged him in his rebellion. Over time became an agnostic and then a professed atheist. One of the leading men of Hollywood, had it all…but then a series of failed relationships, alcoholism, and aging, made him question his spiritual rebellion. Seems to be a lot of information on the internet suggesting that he has become a Christian in the last two years. If this is the case, I am sure he probably has the remorse the apostle spoke of in v.21 that all Christian knows. The pleasure we derived from our sin. That which we used to brag about and spend our time and resources pursuing is now a matter for regret and blushing.
3. The Christian Life is a life of Sanctification.
a. V.22 “sanctification” – hagiasmos. All GK nouns ending in “asmos” describe a process, not a completed action. Sanctification is a road every Christian travels down in the process of becoming more and more like Christ.
b. Illust: Author R. L Stevenson said: “To travel is hopefully better than to arrive.” What is true is that it is a great thing to set out on some great goal, even if we never get the whole way.” We will never be perfectly like Christ in this life, however, it is a great goal and a great adventure.
C. Applic: “When a man gives his life to Christ, he does not then become a perfect man; the struggle is by no means over. But in Christianity, the direction the man is facing and traveling is as important as whatever stage he is at.”
IV. Conclusion: The Antithesis v. 23
A. Those Who are in Adam Serve Sin..
1. What is the outcome of this slavery? One outcome of this slavery is eternal death. When we live for self we die. When we seek our own rights and life we lose it. When we lose our lives and live for Christ we receive eternal life.
2. Paul introduces a new concept: “The Terms of Service”.
a. Illust: Before someone agrees to work a job he/she wants to know what is required by the employer. Also wants to know the benefits. Finally, wants to know the amount of remuneration. Want to know what he will get paid for the work he does!
b. Paul tells us that sin pays its wages. Its wages is DEATH. Sin always pays its employees. The word for “pay” (opsonia) was a soldiers pay received from risking his life and limb. It was what was due him and could not be taken away from him.
B. Those Who are in Christ Serve God.
1. What is the Outcome of this slavery?
a. The outcome of this slavery is eternal life. We receive life when we die to self.
b. Whereas the sinner who remains in Adam receives the due wages of death. The Christian, turning from his sin to slavery in Christ, receives a “free gift”. “Charisma”, was a totally undeserved gift which the army received upon special occasions such as the ascension of a new emperor, the birth of his child, or the anniversary of his rule. It was a special gift given that they did nothing to earn.
2. But declares the outcome of the two lives couldn’t be any more different.
a. “The picture is that of two lives totally opposed to one another. Jesus said that one of these was the broad road that lead to destruction whereas the other was the narrow road that led to eternal life. Paul says they are two types of slavery. By birth we are in Adam, the slaves of sin; by grace and faith we are in Christ; the slaves of God. Bondage to sin yields no return except shame and moral destruction, culminating in the death we deserve. Bondage to God, however, yields the precious fruit of progressive holiness, culminating in the free gift of eternal life.” (Stott, Romans, p. 186)
b. Illust: Christopher and Peter Hitchens were born in 1949 and 1951 to a career British naval officer and his wife. When the boys were young their mother had an affair and committed suicide with her lover in a pact. As teens both boys left their faith and became avowed atheists. At 15 yrs. Peter burned his Bible in his boarding school courtyard. As young men, both joined the Socialist Workers Party in the UK. Both became social commentators, authors, journalists. Both were best selling authors including Christopher’s “God is Not Great”, in which he called the 3 monotheistic religions the greatest cause of evil in the world. After marrying, Peter thought he should explore and uphold British tradition and would on occasion visit a local Anglican Church that had art work displayed. t was staring at the picture of one such artist – Rogier van der Weyden’s Last Judgment – that Hitchens felt sudden and true conviction. Seeing the naked figures as they fled the fires of hell, all of his intentional rebellion and misdeeds came back to his mind, and with them, the realization that his life was a testament to the truth found in the painting before him: that misdeeds required justice, and that if anyone required saving from this justice, it was he. Christopher scoffed. Peter dug deeper into his faith. Christopher would become Britain’s greatest spokesman for the “New Atheism” movement. Peter became an outspoken supporter of Conservative Christianity. At 62 yrs of age Christopher would be struck down with cancer…of his esophagus. The very throat and mouth he used to denounce God and criticize others, ended up killing him. One brother died a slave to sin and rebellion. The other became a slave to righteousness with the outcome of eternal life.
C. Applic: Paul is telling us “If we got the pay deserved, it would be death, but out of grace, God has given eternal life to all who live for Christ.”
