Romans 6:18
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Romans 6:18
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Freedom from sin isn't just about being let off the hook; it's a radical exchange where you willingly surrender your will to righteousness as your new "master." This isn't a passive release, but an active transfer of allegiance, like a freed slave choosing to serve a new, noble lord.
Paul is explaining that because believers are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, they are no longer slaves to sin. He argues that just as a person is a slave to whomever they obey, believers have transitioned from obeying sin, which leads to death, to obeying God's command for righteousness. This shift means they are now willingly devoted to God's will, transformed by His grace.
Ever feel like you're just 'going with the flow'? The Bible says there's no such thing as spiritual neutrality. You're either a slave to sin or a servant of righteousness.
Paul uses a powerful metaphor here: slavery. He's saying that every single one of us, by nature, is enslaved to sin. It dictates our desires, our actions, and ultimately, our destination.
But here’s the incredible part: when you put your faith in Jesus, you are 'manumitted' – freed from that bondage. It's like a slave being set completely free from their master.
However, this freedom isn't an end in itself. It's a transition. Because you are no longer enslaved to sin, you are now free to choose your new master. And Paul declares, you have become 'servants of righteousness.' This isn't a reluctant obligation, but a willing surrender to the One who has truly liberated you.
We often think of 'righteousness' as God's standard or judgment. But here, Paul presents it as something you actively serve. What does that mean for your daily life?
When Paul says believers become 'servants of righteousness,' he's personifying righteousness. It's not just an abstract concept or a set of rules; it's presented as a new 'master' to whom you've willingly submitted.
This isn't about earning your salvation through perfect behavior. Instead, because you've been declared righteous through Christ's sacrifice, you are now free to live out that imputed righteousness. Your obedience is no longer driven by fear of punishment, but by love and gratitude for the One who has set you free.
Think of it like this: God's righteousness is the principle that now governs your life, directing your actions and desires towards what is holy and pleasing to Him.
Understand the original words
eleutherothentes · Greek Verb/Participle
The state of having been released from the power, penalty, and dominion of a previous master (sin/death). In Christ, this freedom is not license to do as one pleases, but liberation to serve God.
This passage directly echoes the theme of being rescued from the domain of darkness (sin) and transferred into the kingdom of God's beloved Son (righteousness).
John 8:36Jesus declares that if the Son sets you free, you are truly free, reinforcing the idea that freedom from sin is not an end in itself, but a transition into a new form of servitude to righteousness.
Philippians 3:19This verse starkly contrasts those whose god is their stomach and who glory in their shame, highlighting the profound spiritual shift and the clear choice between serving sin and serving righteousness.
Galatians 5:1This verse powerfully states that Christ has set us free for freedom, urging believers not to be enslaved again to the dominion of sin, which aligns with the concept of becoming slaves of righteousness.
1 Peter 2:16Peter calls believers to live as free people, yet not to use their freedom as a cloak for evil, which speaks to the responsible use of freedom from sin by gladly serving God.
henryRomans 6:16-20: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
6:16-20 Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration. The apostle rejoiced now they obeyed from the heart the gospel, into which they were de…
barnesRomans 6:18: "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
"Being then made free from sin." That is, as a master. You are not under its dominion; you are no longer its slaves. They were made free, as a servant is who is set at liberty, and who is, therefore, no longer under obligation to obey. Ye became the servants ... - You became voluntarily under the dominion of righteousness; you yielded yourselves to it; and are therefore bound to be holy; compare the note at J…
Freedom from sin isn't just about being let off the hook; it's a radical exchange where you willingly surrender your will to righteousness as your new "master." This isn't a passive release, but an active transfer of allegiance, like a freed slave choosing to serve a new, noble lord.
Paul is explaining that because believers are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, they are no longer slaves to sin. He argues that just as a person is a slave to whomever they obey, believers have transitioned from obeying sin, which leads to death, to obeying God's command for righteousness. This shift means they are now willingly devoted to God's will, transformed by His grace.
Paul is explaining that because believers are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, they are no longer slaves to sin. He argues that just as a person is a slave to whomever they obey, believers have transitioned from obeying sin, which leads to death, to obeying God's command for righteousness. This shift means they are now willingly devoted to God's will, transformed by His grace.
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"and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." — Freedom from sin isn't just about being let off the hook; it's a radical exchange where you willingly surrender your will to righteousness as your new "master." This isn't a passive release, but an a…