But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the "fruit" we now bear isn't just a vague sense of goodness, but a tangible outcome specifically leading to sanctification. It's not just an incidental result, but the direct purpose and path of our new servitude to God.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is contrasting the results of serving sin with the results of serving God. Having just explained that the "wages" paid by sin is death, he now highlights the positive outcomes of their new identity as freed slaves of God: a life lived in holiness now, leading to eternal life in the future. This serves as a powerful encouragement for them to continue in this path.
You used to belong to sin. Now, you belong to God. This isn't just a change of mind; it's a fundamental shift in ownership and identity.
Paul uses powerful imagery to describe this transformation. Before, you were "free from righteousness" and enslaved to sin (Romans 6:20). Now, the dynamic has completely reversed.
A New Master
You've been "made free from sin" and, crucially, "become servants to God." This isn't a gentle suggestion; it's a declaration of a new allegiance. Your ultimate Master is no longer sin, which leads to destruction, but God, who claims you as His own.
Ownership Redefined
This new servitude isn't about losing freedom; it's about finding your true Master. Before, you were a slave to destructive desires. Now, you are a servant to the One who created you and has a plan for you. It's the difference between being owned by a tyrant and being cherished by a loving Father.
What's the result of this new life in God? It's not just a feeling; it's a harvest of good things that ultimately lead to an incredible destination.
The verse clearly states the outcome of this new life as a servant of God: "the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."
The Fruit of a New Life
Your life now bears a different kind of fruit. It's not the rotten, destructive fruit of sin that leads to shame and death. Instead, it's the "fruit unto holiness." This signifies a life characterized by:
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This fruit isn't produced by your own effort alone but is the natural outflow of the Holy Spirit working within you as you surrender to God's lordship.
The Ultimate Destination
This ongoing process of sanctification isn't just about living a
Understand the original words
eleutheroō · Greek Verb
To be released from bondage, penalty, or power. Biblically, it refers to the liberation of the believer from the enslaving authority of sin through the work of Christ.
hamartia · Greek Noun
In the New Testament, this refers to a rebellious power or principle that alienates humanity from God. It is both an act of disobedience and a hostile master that exerts control over the unredeemed.
doulos · Greek Noun
Refers to the state of being a servant or bond-slave. Theologically, it describes the total devotion, obedience, and belonging of a believer to God as their rightful Master.
hagiasmos · Greek Noun
The process of being set apart for God’s purposes and being made holy. It involves the ongoing transformation of the believer into the likeness of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
zoē aiōnios · Greek Noun phrase
The life of the age to come, which is the quality of divine life possessed by believers. It is an unending relationship of fellowship with God, made possible through faith in Jesus Christ.
This passage describes the 'fruit of the Spirit' which directly parallels the 'fruit' believers now bear in Romans 6:22, highlighting the inward transformation that leads to holiness.
Hebrews 12:14This verse states that we should 'strive for... the holiness without which no one will see the Lord,' directly linking the pursuit of holiness mentioned in Romans 6:22 to the ultimate goal of eternal life.
Colossians 1:10This verse calls believers to live a life worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, which echoes the idea of bearing fruit that leads to sanctification.
John 15:16Jesus tells His disciples that He chose them to bear fruit—fruit that lasts—connecting the concept of bearing fruit to their calling and relationship with Him, which ultimately leads to eternal life.
Romans 8:5-6This passage contrasts the mindset of the flesh, which leads to death, with the mindset of the Spirit, which leads to life and peace, underscoring the profound difference in outcomes based on who or what one serves, mirroring the contrast in Romans 6:22.
cambridgeRomans 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."
22 . now ] i.e. as things are , by Divine mercy. to God ] The real Master of the justified. The figures, “Obedience,” “Righteousness,” “Rule of Doctrine,” &c., are now laid aside, that He to whom they refer may at last appear in the Divine simplicity of His ownership over the soul. ye have your fruit ] The verb, by position, is emphatic. “You now have , wh…
barnesRomans 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."
But now - Under the Christian plan of justification. Being made free from sin - Being delivered from its dominion, and from bondage; in the same manner as before conversion they were free from righteousness, Romans 6:20. Ye have your fruit unto holiness - The fruit or result is holiness. This service produces holiness, as the other did sin. It is implied h…
The verse highlights that the "fruit" we now bear isn't just a vague sense of goodness, but a tangible outcome specifically leading to sanctification. It's not just an incidental result, but the direct purpose and path of our new servitude to God.
Paul is contrasting the results of serving sin with the results of serving God. Having just explained that the "wages" paid by sin is death, he now highlights the positive outcomes of their new identity as freed slaves of God: a life lived in holiness now, leading to eternal life in the future. This serves as a powerful encouragement for them to continue in this path.
Paul is contrasting the results of serving sin with the results of serving God. Having just explained that the "wages" paid by sin is death, he now highlights the positive outcomes of their new identity as freed slaves of God: a life lived in holiness now, leading to eternal life in the future. This serves as a powerful encouragement for them to continue in this path.
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." — The verse highlights that the "fruit" we now bear isn't just a vague sense of goodness, but a tangible outcome specifically leading to sanctification. It's not just an incidental result, but the di…
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Last reviewed October 2026