February 15, 2019 -- Romans 6:17-18 -- Slaves set free

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,  and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:17-18 ESV

The writer of these verses, Paul, is not pulling any punches! He is writing to group comprised of slaves and former slaves, slave owners, Jews and non-Jews, rich and poor. The idea of being a slave would be offensive to so many of them. It is a concept offensive to many of us as well. The party-er is a slave to the party scene and all that goes with it. This culture eats our children—the movies, the music, t.v.s shows, the video games and the public schooling are all designed by fools who deny in their hearts the existence of God. No wonder children are rebellious against their parents (a sign of the end times). And our children become slaves to the culture and angry with their parents should their parents try to act like parents pulling them away from its evil influence. Gluttons are slaves to food. The lustful are slaves to pornography. The bitter are slaves addicted to anger. The fools, those who deny the existence of the God they know exits, are slaves to their folly. They would prefer to believe nothing exploded and formed all we see today, rather than believe the universe was created in six days by the God Who so loved the world that He gave us His Son Jesus that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, knowing better and enjoying this Creator. You get the picture.

It was pointed out to me that all slaves know the Master of Heaven and Earth exists. The heavens declare His glory and the earth shows forth His power. And the ones who are slaves to Jesus, obedient to Him, are aware we are called to be “correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” II Timothy 2:25-26. The first step of freedom is to repent from not believing in the God Who exists. It is acknowledging one’s slavery to anything other than the Living God. In such repentance, turning away from the sin of not believing in the God of the Bible, one finds the knowledge of the truth. Oh what joy there is in truth, Jesus Christ.

God, You are the source of all Truth. As believers we pray for our friends and family members who are enslaved to any ideology, or anything which suppresses the Truth of Your glory. Help us to be gentle, but persistent, in pointing to the Scriptures which clearly reveal You, complementing creation’s witness of Your mighty acts. Help us as believers to grow in our faith and glad-hearted obedience to Jesus Christ and all He has revealed by His Spirit in the Bible. Amen.