ROMANS 6:22

"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye  have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22 ). In our haste to go to verse 23 to show that the wages of sin is , we often make the verse of our text sort of a “fly over” verse, not noticing the wonderful life that belongs to the one who has died to sin.

Paul has clearly shown in this chapter that the Christian has indeed died to sin. Before that time, it was also clear the sort of sinful lives some led (Rom. 1:21 -32). But what of the one who has died to sin; who has put it away from him, and no longer lives in it? the verse of our text gives us a beautiful picture of such a life in four snapshots of that life.

First, Paul speaks of a great deliverance. He told his readers they had been made “free from sin.” The Bible speaks of great deliverances, such as Noah from the flood (Gen. 7), or Daniel from the den of lions (Dan. 6), or Peter, John, Paul and Silas from prison. All these were great in scope because behind them was the working of God. But no deliverance is so great as that from sin. Sin is a slavery from which no man can extricate himself without the help of God. It has power, as it touches, withers and destroys the higher and nobler part of man’s nature. Sin ruins the life, even as it caused the only perfect life the world has ever known to be ruined on a cross. Sin is the tool of Satan, and from the beginning his desire has been to make sinners out of men who would otherwise serve God. But the Christian belongs to a race that no longer serves sin, because he has been delivered from it.

Next, there is a new relationship. Paul told the Romans they had become “servants to God.” The Christian is freed from the slavery of sin so he may give his heart and life to being a servant of God. There is no man so free as he that is a slave to Christ! In obeying the gospel, one changes masters. Whereas he was once a “servant of sin,” he is now a “servant of righteousness” (vv. 17-18). In this new relationship, a man and all he is belongs to God (1 Cor. 6:19 ), for he has presented himself to God ( Rom. 12:1-2). The New Testament speaks often of the family aspect, or relationship, involving the Christian and God. Christians need to understand that they have divested themselves of any relationship with the world from a spiritual perspective and now belong to God. Jesus clearly taught that "no man can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24 ).

Then, there is a transformed life. This is seen in that the Christian has his “fruit unto holiness.” The ASV has it, “your fruit unto sanctification.” As he inhabits a spiritual realm ( Rom. 8:6-7), the Christian must understand that his goal is complete holiness (2 Cor. 7:1). He knows that God is the standard of holiness, calling upon him to “be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16 ). The old man and whatever fruit he may produce must be cast aside, and dedicate the life wholly to God (Col. 3:1-14). The life of one who has been transformed will show forth the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22 -24) in his daily walk. His life is no longer conformed to the world, but transformed (Rom. 12;1-2). It is only from such a life that “fruit unto holiness” may be derived.

Last, there is a glorious eternity to be anticipated, for in the end there will be “everlasting life.’ Someone has said that salvation may be compared to a drama which reaches its glorious climax when the soul enters into glory. Eternal life suggests a certain kind of life. It is a qualitative life as well as one of quantity. Sinners have immortal souls, but are never said to possess eternal life (see 2 Thess. 1:7-9). Their “quality of life” in eternity certainly cannot compare to that of the faithful Christian! Eternal life is a great promise of God and comes only through knowing and obeying Christ (John 10:27 -28). As the Christian looks by faith beyond this land of parting, he sees a glorious eternity awaiting him.

Yes, by all means, we need to stress Romans 6:23 , and teach men that sin has its wages, but eternal life is a gift. But as we do this, let us not pass over the previous verse, for it says great things about the Christian who has died to sin.  – Bill Moseley