In the first part of this chapter Paul explained that Christ has broken the bonds of sin that enslave the Christian (vv. 1-14). In the second part he warned that even though we are free we can become enslaved to sin by yielding to temptation (vv. 15-23; cf. John 8:34). Rather we should voluntarily yield ourselves as slaves to righteousness.
"Three words summarize the reasons for out yielding: favor(Rom. 6:14-15), freedom(Rom. 6:16-20), and fruit(Rom. 6:21-23)."203
6:15 Paul's question here is not a repetition of verse 1. There he asked if we could "continue in sin"or "go on sinning."Here he said, Shall we "sin?"There he was looking at continual sinning. Here he dealt with specific acts of sin. A sinful lifestyle and acts of sin are both inappropriate for a believer who is living under God's gracious authority.
6:16 Having presented himself to God in dedication (v. 13) the believer needs to obey Him. Obligation always follows dedication whether the dedication is to sin or to obedience. The outcome of dedication to sin is death (5:12; 8:13), but the outcome of dedication to obedience is righteousness. Imparted, moral righteousness (progressive sanctification) is in view here, not imputed righteousness (justification, cf. 5:19).
"Many people who have been convicted of the guilt of sin and have relied on the shed blood of Christ as putting away that guilt, have not yet, however, seen a state of sin as abject slavery."204
6:17 The form of teaching Paul had in mind was the teaching that the Lord Jesus Himself gave during His earthly ministry and then through His apostles (cf. Gal. 6:2) in contrast to the Mosaic Law. God had not forced Paul's readers to yield to it as to law. They had willingly embraced it as law for themselves. They had committed themselves to it from their hearts. Paul was not stressing the fact that the Lord had committed His teachings to his readers, as the AV translation implies, but that they had committed themselves to it.
6:18 The slavery of the readers to righteousness was therefore voluntary. It seems that because of his very nature man must be the slave of something. "Righteousness"here is the result of following Christian teaching, and it is the equivalent of godly living. It is righteous character and conduct.
Paul did not say that every believer takes advantage of his or her freedom from sin's tyranny to become a slave of God. He said his readers had done so, and in this he rejoiced. Dedication to God is voluntary, not automatic for the Christian (cf. v. 13; 12:1). If a believer does not truly dedicate himself or herself to God, he or she will continue to practice sin (v. 16).
6:19 Paul had put his teaching in human terms. He had compared the believer's situation to that of a free person on the one hand and to a slave on the other. He did this to help his readers grasp his point but evidently also to make a strong impact on them. Paul felt constrained to be very graphic and direct in view of their past. They had formerly deliberately yielded to sin. Now they needed to deliberately present (offer) themselves as slaves to God (cf. vv. 13, 16). This would result in their progressive sanctification. Note again that progressive sanctification is not totally passive or automatic. It requires some human action.
". . . what we most earnestly assert is that not only Paul here, but our Lord Himself, and Scripture generally, sets forth that only those that know the truth and walk therein, are free."205
6:20 As an added incentive, Paul reminded his readers that when they had chosen the slavery to sin option in the past they did not gain any (moral) righteousness. They did not become more righteous in their conduct. What Paul said applied equally to their pre-conversion and post-conversion experience.
6:21 His readers reaped no benefits from their slavery to sin. Shame was its immediate result and death its final fruit.
6:22 Now in contrast they were free from sin's tyranny because of their union with Christ. If they presented themselves as slaves to God voluntarily, they could anticipate the sweet fruit of progressive sanctification (holiness) and fullness of eternal life (cf. John 10:10; 17:3). Eternal life is the immediate and the ultimate product of progressive sanctification.
6:23 Paul brought his thoughts on this subject to a summary conclusion in this verse. The principle stated here is applicable to all people, believers and unbelievers. It contrasts the masters, sin and God, with the outcomes, death and eternal life. Paul also distinguished the means whereby death and life come to people. Death is the wage a person earns by his or her working, but eternal life is a gift free to those who rely on the work of Another.
Wages normally maintain life, but these wages result in death. Employers usually pay them out regularly and periodically rather than in a lump sum. Death also comes to the sinner regularly and periodically during the sinner's lifetime, not just when he or she dies. Furthermore wages are a right.
"Man has rights only in relation to sin, and these rights become his judgment. When he throws himself on God without claim, salvation comes to him."206
Verses 15-23 teach truth by way of contrasts. Obedience to sin yields unfruitfulness, shame, and death. Obedience to righteousness results in progressive sanctification and the fullness of eternal life.
In chapter 6 Paul prescribed three steps designed to promote practical sanctification. First, we must "know"certain facts about our union with Christ, specifically that sin no longer possesses the dominating power over the believer that it has over the unbeliever (vv. 3-10). Second, we must "reckon"(believe) these facts to be true of us personally (v. 11). Third, we must "present"ourselves to God in dedication as His slaves to perform righteousness (vv. 12-19). Each of these verbs has the force of an active command. Each represents something every believer should do. These are our basic responsibilities in our progressive sanctification regarding our relationship to sin.207
