Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness. Romans 6:18
Paul had
difficulty communicating the truth in the verse above due to the limitation of
language. He said in the next verse, “I speak after the manner of men because
of the infirmity of your flesh…” (Romans 6:19). The Message translation says,
“I’m using this freedom language because it’s easy to picture…” (Romans 6:19
MSG).
He had to bring
the discussion to a seeming mundane level that they could relate with. The
reality is that the new creation wasn’t “set free” from sin; rather, he was
born sin-free; there’s a difference between the two. Born sin-free means you
were born without sin.
This is easy to
understand when you realise that the new creation is the result of the
resurrection (not the death) of Jesus Christ. Your new life started with the
resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into
death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
2 Corinthians
5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature…”; a new species or kind of man, born in
righteousness with no past of sin to be set free from. In Christianity, we
don’t get set free; we’re free-born! That’s the reality for the one who’s born
again. You’re sin-free. No wonder Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have
dominion over you….” The concept of sin can’t be properly understood until you
have a good understanding of the doctrine of righteousness.
So, when the
Bible says, “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from
righteousness” (Romans 6:20), the expression “free from righteousness” actually
means righteousnessfree or you were “righteousness-exempt.” In other words, you
were a slave of sin, and couldn’t practise righteousness. However, now that
you’re born again, it’s the reverse; you can practise righteousness and produce
fruits and works of righteousness because that’s your nature in Christ Jesus.
Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
I’m a new
creation, a new kind of man; old things are passed away and all things have
become new. I walk in righteousness and produce works and fruits of
righteousness. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:17;
Romans 6:4-7
1-YEAR BIBLE READING
PLAN: Romans 3 & Psalms 42-44
2-YEAR BIBLE READING
PLAN: Ephesians 4:1-10 & Isaiah 48
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