Prison Life

Romans 6:12-23 Prison Life

“Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.” –Napoleon Bonaparte

1. Paul tells the folks in Rome some Do Not’s Do not let sin reign

• Do not live in past slavery or prison you have been set free

• Do not live in slavery to sin D. L. Moody used to speak of an old black woman in the South following the Civil War. Being a former slave, she was confused about her status and asked: “Now is I free, or been I not? When I go to my old master he says I ain’t free, and when I go to my own people they say I is, and I don’t know whether I’m free or not. Some people told me that Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation, but master says he didn’t; he didn’t have any right to.”This is exactly the place many Christians are.

2. Paul shares we have some. Choices we can do

• If we choose We Can Walk In Rebellion - We can take grace for granted, v. 15, and we can just assume that God is going to accept us just as we are and live like we want to.

• If we choose We Can Walk In Righteousness - we do not have to yield to sin

3. Paul’s asks us whom do we present ourselves as slaves to obey

• To whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves: Whatever you present yourself to obey, you become its slave. For example, if I obey my appetite constantly, I am a slave to it.

• So we have a choice in our slavery: sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness or life.

• One way or another, we will serve somebody.

• Paul says Though you were slaves of sin: Paul puts it in the past tense because we have been freed from our slavery to sin.

• He also says that we have been set free by faith, which he describes as obedience from the heart.

• So let’s put our faith in God and His Word, and now you are set free. Now live every day consistent with that freedom.”

4. We are slaves to righteousness not sin

• What does it mean to be a slave? A slave was more than an employee. The noted Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest defined the ancient Greek word for a slave here by these terms:

• One born into a condition of slavery.

• One whose will is swallowed up in the will of another.

• One who is bound to the master with bonds only death can break.

• One who serves his master to the disregard of his own interests.

• The following was once true in regard to our slavery to sin:

• • We were born as slaves to sin.

• • Our will was swallowed up and captive to sin within us.

• • Our bondage to sin was so strong that only death – spiritually dying with Jesus on the cross – could break the bondage.

• • We were so enslaved to sin that we served it to the disregard of our own interest, even when sin destroyed us.

5. There are some keys to Freedom from slavery

• Good news is we don’t have to be prisoner of sin we can walk in the spirit

• Self-discipline is a key Paul says: “Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions” (v. 12). Sometimes we forget who’s in charge

• Remembering who you are is a key. Paul writes to the Roman Christians: “Consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” We are children of God! “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

• Another key Staying alert is a key. The Bible says (and it is not a suggestion): “Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8).

• Remember to take your keys with you. Have you ever walked out of the house to your car and forgotten your keys? I leave my keys at church

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6. Paul closes by saying the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life we are set free

• I once was prisoned by death but now I have been set free by the gift of life

• I have freedom because of Hope my surroundings are filled with the gift of hope of that one day