August 24, 2021 -- Romans 6:20-23 -- To Whom or What are you a slave?

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 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. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:20-23 ESV

It is easy to be a sinner. That is a comment I heard recently. This comment was rattling around in the back of my mind as I read this passage as part of my morning devotions. I appreciate how Paul, inspired by the Spirit of God, makes this comparison between two types of slavery.

All of us are slaves. Some of us are slaves to sin—where there can be no consideration for the righteousness of God or His holiness. Those bound up by sin will have the fruit, or the result, of this slavery which is death. Conversely, those who are slaves to God will have the fruit, or the result, which is greater obedience to God (which is what sanctification is) and the final fruit which is eternal life.

What is the difference between these two types of slavery? Slaves to sin live their lives in reference to hell and under bondage to their Master, the Devil. Sin becomes ever greater, more encompassing, more daring and more deadly because sin conceives in a person more sin and raises up in a person greater sins and lusts. The LORD of Heaven and Earth confirms their destruction and at the final judgment will give them the reward of their wickedness and rebellion against Him.

Those who are slaves of God have become such by the gift of God given in Jesus Christ. What Christ has done is broken the claim of Satan over sinners. Satan used to be able to say: “That person is a slave to sin and in rebellion against You, O God”. Now, because of His sacrifice at the cross, Jesus our Priest replies, “That one is Mine. The wrath of God is ended because his sins have been atoned for.” Slaves of God are not free from sin in this life, they have become adept at recognizing sin at earlier and earlier stages. It is the work of the Spirit in them, helping them root sin out at more tender stages so that their lives are constantly being weeded from sins. The Spirit of God applies the blessing of the Word and the awakening of the conscience in order to bring ever greater sanctification in the lives of believers.

All people are slaves. The question is, whose slave are you?

O Heavenly Father,
Teach me to see
   that if Christ has pacified thee and
       satisfied divine justice
  he can also deliver me from my sins;
that Christ does not desire me, now justified,
  to live in self-confidence in my own strength,
  but gives me the law of the Spirit of life
  to enable me to obey thee;
that the Spirit and his power are mine
  by resting on Christ’s death;
that the Spirit of life within answers to
   the law without;
that if I sin not I should thank thee for it;
that if I sin I should be humbled daily under it;
that I should mourn for sin more than other men do,
  for when I see I shall die because of sin,
  that makes me mourn;
when I see how sin strikes at thee,
  that makes me mourn;
when I see that sin caused Christ’s death,
  that makes me mourn;
that sanctification is the evidence of reconciliation,
  proving that faith has truly apprehended Christ;
Thou hast taught me
   that faith is nothing else than receiving thy kindness;
   that it is an adherence to Christ, a resting on him,
   love clinging to him as a branch to the tree,
   to seek life and vigour from him.

I thank thee for showing me the vast difference
  between knowing things by reason,
  and knowing them by the spirit of faith.
"Belonging to Jesus." The Valley of Vision. ed: Arthur Bennett. Carlisle: Banner of Truth Trust 2020, page 102

https://youtu.be/jMvnEazZdQ8