READ: Rom. 6:15-23: … But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The believer is no longer under the law but under grace, says verse 14. But that does not mean that there is no more sin. The believer is legally free from sin: he has been bought free from it (v.7); sin can no longer lay claim on him.
But that does not mean that as a believer you are without sin. Sin will always try to recapture us. If we are under grace and know that our sins are forgiven, that must not be a reason to continue sinning.
We are no longer slaves of sin (v.16), are we? So no longer obey sin, but obey the Lord. Then the outlook is not death but righteousness—that is, acquittal from death.
In our lives it comes down to whom we serve: sin (Satan) or God. The latter is to be credited to God Himself (v.17).
Freedom is not an attitude of doing nothing. We are free from the slavery of sin in order to obey God and to please Him as His servant. Believing is an active matter. It must be given to us by grace, but the Lord asks for a living faith.
If you let yourself be led by sin, you drift away from righteousness. It comes down to following the teaching of the true gospel (v.17). Not the teaching of being “under the law,” nor the teaching of being “without the law”—both lead to death. But this true teaching of grace and sanctification in Christ leads to eternal life in which God is served.
The gracious reward that follows the life of faith in service to the Lord is a strong motivation for us to be rich in good works. That is pleasing to God.
When does eternal life begin?
Sing: Ps. 103:4