WHOLEHEARTED OBEDIENCE

Passage: Romans 6:15-18

Key verse: 17

NIV

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?(A) 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(B)—whether you are slaves to sin,(C) which leads to death,(D) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God(E) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,(F) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching(G) that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin(H) and have become slaves to righteousness.(I)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? (A)Are we to sin (B)because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves (C)to anyone as obedient slaves,[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But (D)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the (E)standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, (F)having been set free from sin, (G)have become slaves of righteousness.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 6:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse; also verses 17, 19 (twice), 20
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Slaves of the one you obey (15-16)

Does being set free from the law give us license to sin? No. We must not try to fool ourselves. We are slaves of whomever we obey. When I yield to my sinful desires and do something just because of the dictates of my sinful nature, this is not freedom; it is slavery. 'My own man' mentality is appealing, but it is not possible for one to be his own man. Everyone belongs either to God or to Satan. Obedience does not come naturally. Even Jesus had to learn obedience (Heb 5:8). To obey God a decision of faith is necessary.

2. Obey God with your whole heart (17-18)

Jesus has set us free from our slavery to sin so that we can joyfully and wholeheartedly obey God. God doesn't want superficial, legalistic obedience like that of the elder brother in Jesus' parable (Lk 15:11-32). He wants us to obey his gospel with all our hearts. He wants us to live like beloved children, not like grudging, gloomy slaves. The word 'wholehearted' means 'with one's whole heart.'

Prayer: Lord, I love you. Let your love and joy fill my heart so that I can obey your word wholeheartedly.

One Word: Obedience from the heart