Freedom is a concept that permeates our society. We talk about freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom of choice. There is equality of pay, equality of opportunity, and racial and sexual equality. However, in our unending search for freedom, there is something very important that we have forgotten.
No one can ever be truly free. Now don't misunderstand me. The Bible says that "whom the Son sets free is free indeed" (John 8:36), and I'm not arguing with that. I suppose a more accurate term would be to say that no one can ever be independent - we can never depend on and be subject to nothing. The Bible is equally clear that everyone will serve a master - no matter how independent they think they are.
So the question is, who do you want to serve? Do you want to be a slave of sin, or a slave of righteousness? The consequence of sin is death, plain and simple. There's no other way to say that. Let's choose life, and life more abundantly. Become a slave of righteousness - that's the only way you can truly be free.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
No one can ever be truly free. Now don't misunderstand me. The Bible says that "whom the Son sets free is free indeed" (John 8:36), and I'm not arguing with that. I suppose a more accurate term would be to say that no one can ever be independent - we can never depend on and be subject to nothing. The Bible is equally clear that everyone will serve a master - no matter how independent they think they are.
So the question is, who do you want to serve? Do you want to be a slave of sin, or a slave of righteousness? The consequence of sin is death, plain and simple. There's no other way to say that. Let's choose life, and life more abundantly. Become a slave of righteousness - that's the only way you can truly be free.
Romans 6:12-18
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
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