15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, 18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.
Romans 6:15-19
Years ago, I watched a TV interview where a famous boxer was asked about his prior party life before accepting Christ. His painfully honest answer has stuck with me for decades. “Oh, sinning was fun. Whoever says it isn’t didn’t do it right.” So, what made him change?
Life is full of consequences, both good and bad. By nature, we are all sinful. In Galatians 5:17, Paul states “For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.”
God gave us free will, the ability to make our own choices. When we choose to follow Christ, we repent and change our lives in an attempt to become more “Christ-like” and to get closer to God. The ways of the world are a constant temptation, and we are bombarded with opportunities to fail, which we will.
It’s good to know that Romans 11:29 says “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable,” so our salvation is not in jeopardy. But sin still separates us from God. Paul goes on to say that by offering ourselves as slaves to righteousness, the result is sanctification, which means becoming more holy.
We have to choose, and there are consequences either way. There is no middle ground. We are either in or we are out. If we choose to be in, we must be all in. Are you in or out?
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Is there something in your life separating you from God? Large or small, it affects your relationship with Him.
- If you never even mentioned your faith, would people suspect you were a Christian merely by your actions?
- Sin begins in your mind. What are you feeding it, how are you tending it, and how far does it go before you bring it before Him? Seek His guidance and support to strengthen your relationship.
Missions Prayer
Pray for global workers in Central and South America. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel with those searching spiritually. Find these areas on a globe or map and pray specifically for the people in the countries you see there.