Lester Kamp
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16). The simple truth is that we become servants to whomever we present ourselves in obedience. This is true whether we are servants of sin or servants of righteousness. Remember that being the servant of sin has its consequence—death; being a servant of righteousness, however, brings eternal life. In consideration of these consequences, who would choose to be a servant of sin?
Next, Paul thanks God that these Romans had changed their allegiance and their master. The KJV is not as clear as the ASV in this verse. Paul is certainly not thanking God that the Romans had been sinners, but Paul gives thanks to God for the change these Christians in Rome had made. They were servants of sin, but are now servants of righteousness unto God.
But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18—ASV).
Note in these verses that the obedience that caused them to become servants of righteousness involved two things. First, it was “from the heart.” True obedience comes from the heart; it is not merely outward compliance to God’s instructions. Obedience that results in a change of spiritual masters is genuine and sincere—from the heart. In the Bible the heart is the part of man that thinks (Mat. 9:4), reasons (Mark 2:8), believes (Rom. 10:10), and understands (Mat. 13:15). Here in Romans 6:17, the heart is what prompts proper obedience.
Second, this obedience is “to that form [pattern] of teaching.” This is a reference to the fact that one’s obedience in baptism (the act of obedience in which one ceases being a servant of sin and becomes a servant of righteousness) follows the pattern of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (6:3-4). This is obedience to the Gospel. Without that obedience, salvation is not possible. When Jesus comes to judge the world, it will be “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 The. 1:8). Further‐ more, we are told that Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9). If we are going to be saved, we must be obedient to the Gospel.
In Romans 6:18, stress is again given to the fact that Christians are “servants of righteousness.” Christians are no longer under the law of their previous master; Christians have the responsibility of serving only their new master. Dividing one’s service between sin and righteousness is not possible (Mat. 6:24). Once a person has obeyed from his heart the pattern of doctrine and has entered into the service of righteousness unto God, he is to concentrate on serving only God by doing only righteousness.
Paul then gives an illustration of this truth “after the manner of men” (i.e., by using something familiar in everyday life). He uses this illustration because he realized their difficulty in under‐ standing. After all, they were in the flesh. The illustration he uses here is about slavery and the recognition of ownership. He wrote:
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness (Rom. 6:19-20).
If a slave is sold from one master to another, he no longer has any responsibility to serve his old master. His obligation now is to his current owner, not his previous one. Formerly, these Christians were the servants of sin which persistently grew worse and worse (“from iniquity unto iniquity”), but now they are servants of righteousness which leads consistently to holiness (sanctification—ASV; i.e., being set apart from sin unto righteous). Paul is saying that since our master has changed we need to act like it. Our lives will reveal whom we recognize as our master.
As long as we served sin, we had no concern or desire to practice righteousness. In that condition, we were still accountable before God, but we, at that time, had no regard for doing what was right before God. When we became servants of righteousness, we should have no longer any concern or desire to practice sin. As servants of sin, we were free with regard to righteousness. As servants of righteousness, we are free concerning sin.
Paul closes this sixth chapter of Romans by urging the Romans to recognize the catastrophe which would result were they not to devote themselves to serving righteousness. Paul wants these brethren to think about the consequences of their behavior. All behavior has results. Paul told the Galatians: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:7-8).
To think that it does not matter what we do is to deceive ourselves. Behavior always has consequences. A life characterized by the works of the flesh (sin) will result in eternal consequences. A life devoted to righteousness in service to God will be eternally rewarded. Think about how we live and what we do! Give this serious thought!
These Romans Christians were now ashamed of the things they formerly practiced. While they were servants of sin, shame was not present. They had formerly enjoyed the temporary pleasures of sin, but now as servants of God, they recognized the shamefulness of their former deeds. A return to their former way of life would be assuredly fatal. Sin is deceptive. It promises benefit, life, and happiness, but it surely brings death. Even the pleasures of sin are fleeting. Moses chose to endure the trials of the people of God rather than to “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25-28).
The result of righteous living is “fruit unto holiness” (sanctification—ASV; a distinct, clear severing of our involvement in sin and a distinct and clear setting apart unto doing what is right). The end of this holy living is eternal life. Sin on the other hand has wages. That which is earned by living in sin is death. There are some other results from a life of sin which may occur. There may be mental, emotional, or physical consequences in this life that result from sinful behavior, but there will always be the eternal consequence of death—eternal separation from God and all that is good.
We know the result of a life of sin is death. We also know the result of a life of righteousness is eternal life. How strange it is, knowing these end results, that so many willingly enter into lives of sin but few pursue the way that leads to life everlasting (Mat. 7:13-14)! Why is it that we have to beg and plead with so many men and women today to leave their lives of sin and become obedient to the Gospel of Christ that they might have life?
“The gift of God is eternal life through [in—ASV] Jesus Christ our Lord.” Gifts are not earned, but something needs to be done by the recipient to enjoy the blessings of the gift. Untying the bow, tearing the wrapping paper, and opening the box certainly are not acts by which one earns whatever is given. Obeying the commands of God in the Gospel of Christ does not earn salvation, but obedience is the only way we can begin to enjoy the spiritual blessings which are in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
