Overview
Romans 6:15–23 continues the Apostle Paul’s argument about the believer’s relationship to sin, emphasizing the radical transformation that occurs through grace. Paul begins by anticipating a possible objection to his teaching on grace: if believers are no longer under the law but under grace, does that mean they are free to sin? He answers emphatically, “By no means!” He explains that everyone is a servant to something—either sin, which leads to death, or obedience, which leads to righteousness. Paul uses the analogy of slavery to illustrate that when someone offers themselves to obey a master, they become that master’s slave. Before conversion, the Roman believers were slaves to sin, living in spiritual ignorance and engaging in actions that led to shame and ultimately death. However, now that they have been set free from sin, they have become slaves to righteousness.
Paul acknowledges that he is using human terms—specifically the analogy of slavery—because of the weakness of human understanding. He encourages believers to reflect on their past: how they once presented their bodies as instruments of impurity and lawlessness, which only led to more lawlessness. Now, they are to offer themselves fully to God in righteousness, leading to sanctification. The transformation is not just a change in behavior but a complete change in allegiance and identity. Paul contrasts the outcomes of the two paths: slavery to sin results in death, while slavery to God produces holiness and culminates in eternal life. He concludes the passage with one of the most well-known verses in the New Testament, summarizing the entire section: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This final statement underscores the gravity of sin and the surpassing grace of God, who offers not a wage but a gift—eternal life through Jesus Christ.
In-Depth
In Romans 6:15–23, the Apostle Paul addresses a second rhetorical question stemming from his doctrine of salvation by grace: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?” Paul anticipates the potential abuse of Christian liberty—misunderstanding grace as a license to sin—and he strongly refutes this idea with the exclamation, “By no means!” This mirrors his earlier rejection of the notion that grace encourages continued sin (Romans 6:1). Here, however, Paul shifts from the concept of union with Christ in His death and resurrection (discussed in earlier verses) to the language of slavery and obedience, drawing on a societal metaphor his audience would have readily understood.
Paul asserts that humans are not autonomous moral agents; rather, they are always enslaved to a master—either sin or obedience. Slavery here is not merely social but spiritual and existential. To “present yourselves as obedient slaves” (v. 16) means to yield the will, mind, and body to the control of one master or another. Sin, as a master, leads to death—not just physical death but spiritual alienation from God. Obedience, on the other hand, leads to righteousness—not as self-earned merit, but as the evidence and outcome of living under God’s gracious reign. Paul’s logic is clear: liberation from the law does not imply moral anarchy; rather, it entails a new kind of slavery—one that paradoxically results in true freedom.
In verses 17–18, Paul praises God for the transformation his readers have experienced: though they were once slaves to sin, they have now become “obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching” they received. This phrase suggests a deep, inward submission to apostolic teaching—likely referring to the gospel itself, which reshaped their lives. The obedience is not external or legalistic, but heartfelt, indicating a Spirit-empowered transformation. The result is emancipation from sin and re-enslavement to righteousness. Paul’s use of the term “slavery to righteousness” is provocative, but he qualifies it in verse 19 by acknowledging the limitations of human language: “I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations.” He uses the metaphor of slavery to make a theological truth more comprehensible, not to glorify the institution itself.
Paul then calls the believers to “present your members”—that is, the faculties of their bodies—as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. Sanctification (hagiasmos in Greek) denotes the progressive growth in holiness and moral transformation that follows justification. In contrast to their past, where offering themselves to impurity and lawlessness led to ever-increasing moral decay, their present calling is one of increasing consecration to God.
In verses 20–21, Paul reminds them of the futility of their former life. When they were slaves of sin, they were “free in regard to righteousness”—not in a positive sense, but meaning they had no relationship with righteousness. The result of that life, he says, was shame and death. This reflects not only the ethical emptiness of a life apart from God but also its ultimate consequence: eternal separation from Him.
Finally, in verses 22–23, Paul brings the contrast to its climax. Believers have now been set free from sin and become slaves of God. This slavery, unlike their previous bondage, yields sanctification and ends in eternal life. The contrast is stark and absolute: sin pays wages—death is what is earned and deserved. But God gives a gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The structure of the sentence in verse 23 emphasizes this: sin is a cruel master that pays a fatal wage, whereas God, in His grace, offers something unearned and undeserved—a gift that is both present and future, spiritual and eternal.
This passage thus underscores several deep theological truths: the incompatibility of grace with ongoing sin, the inescapable reality of spiritual servitude (either to sin or to God), the process of sanctification as essential to the Christian life, and the decisive contrast between what is earned through sin and what is given through grace. Ultimately, Paul is not only describing a moral choice but a cosmic shift in identity—from being enslaved to a destructive power to being transformed and secured under the lordship of Christ.
Discovery Questions
Romans 6:15–23 is a powerful and sobering portion of Paul’s letter that explores the believer’s relationship to sin, grace, and obedience. Paul uses the metaphor of slavery to vividly contrast life under sin with life under God. He emphasizes that though believers are no longer under the law but under grace, this freedom is not an excuse for moral laxity, but a call to wholehearted allegiance to God. Through this passage, Paul challenges believers to consider who or what they are serving, and what the results of that service will be.
As you read and reflect on this passage, consider the language Paul uses, the stark contrasts he draws, and the implications for your personal spiritual journey. Use the following questions to guide your discovery of the text, its meaning, and how it applies to your life.
Observation Questions (What does the text say?):
- What question does Paul pose in verse 15, and how does he immediately respond to it?
- What metaphor does Paul use throughout this passage to describe a person’s relationship to sin and righteousness?
- According to verse 16, what is the result of presenting oneself as a slave to sin? What is the result of obedience?
- In verses 17–18, what change has taken place in the lives of Paul’s readers?
- What does Paul mean when he says he is using “human terms” in verse 19?
- What contrast does Paul make in verses 20–21 between their former and current lives?
- According to verse 23, what are the wages of sin? What is the gift of God?
Interpretation Questions (What does the text mean?):
- Why does Paul use the analogy of slavery to describe both sin and righteousness? What does this metaphor communicate about the nature of spiritual life?
- How does being “under grace” affect the way a believer relates to sin, according to this passage?
- What does it mean to be “obedient from the heart” to the standard of teaching?
- How does Paul define true freedom in this passage? Is it freedom from something, for something—or both?
- What is the significance of the phrase “sanctification” in verses 19 and 22? How does it relate to the believer’s journey?
- Why does Paul contrast “wages” and “gift” in verse 23? What theological truth is he highlighting about sin and salvation?
Reflection and Application Questions (How does the text speak to me?):
- Who or what are you truly serving in your daily life? How can you tell?
- In what areas of your life are you tempted to take God’s grace for granted or to use it as a license to sin?
- How do you actively present yourself as a servant to righteousness in your thoughts, actions, and relationships?
- Are there areas in your life where you’re still living as if enslaved to sin? What steps can you take toward freedom?
- How does knowing that eternal life is a gift from God, not a wage you earn, impact your relationship with Him?
- How can this passage shape your understanding of sanctification as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event?
Cross-References
On Not Using Grace as a License to Sin
- Romans 6:1–2 – “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” – Parallel to 6:15; Paul addresses the same misconception about grace.
- Galatians 5:13 – “You were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh…”
On Slavery to Sin vs. Slavery to Righteousness
- John 8:34 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” – Jesus uses similar language about sin’s controlling power.
- 2 Peter 2:19 – “For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” – Echoes Paul’s teaching about spiritual bondage.
- Galatians 4:8–9 – “…you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods…how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world?” – Reflects on former enslavement before Christ.
On Obedience from the Heart and the Standard of Teaching
- James 1:22 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – True obedience involves action and internal commitment.
- 2 Timothy 1:13–14 – “Follow the pattern of the sound words…guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” – A possible allusion to the “form of teaching” in Romans 6:17.
On Sanctification and Holiness
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 – “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality…” – Sanctification is a central theme of the Christian life.
- Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
On the Fruit of Sin vs. the Fruit of Righteousness
- Galatians 6:7–8 – “Whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption…” – Reinforces the idea of outcomes or “wages” of sin versus life in the Spirit.
- James 1:15 – “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
On the Wages of Sin and the Gift of God (Romans 6:23)
- Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” – Emphasizes salvation as a free gift, not earned.
- Titus 3:5–7 – “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness…so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs…”
- Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God…”
Shows the deadly consequence of sin. - Revelation 21:6–8 – Contrasts the gift of life with the “second death” for those who live in sin.
In Summary
In Romans 3:15–17, the Apostle Paul continues his argument that all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—are under the power of sin. Quoting from the Old Testament (especially Isaiah and Psalms), he describes the depth of human depravity: “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” These verses illustrate how sin affects every part of human behavior, particularly in relation to violence, destruction, and a lack of peace.
In verse 18, Paul concludes the series of quotations by stating, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” This line identifies the root of human sinfulness: a willful disregard for God’s authority and holiness. Without the fear of God—a reverent awe and acknowledgment of His justice—people go astray.
From verses 19–20, Paul shifts to emphasize the purpose of the Law. He asserts that the Law speaks to those under it to silence every excuse and make the whole world accountable to God. No one can be justified—declared righteous—by works of the Law, because the Law’s primary function is to make people aware of their sin, not to save them from it. It exposes guilt but cannot remove it.
Finally, in verses 21–23, Paul introduces the hope of the gospel. He declares that “now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,” meaning that God has provided a way to be made right with Him that does not depend on human effort or adherence to the Mosaic Law. This righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ and is available to “all who believe.” Paul concludes with a universal statement: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This verse encapsulates humanity’s collective need for salvation and levels the spiritual playing field—no one is righteous by nature or by law; all must come to God through faith in Christ.
In summary, Romans 3:15–23 presents the utter sinfulness of humanity, the inability of the Law to save, and the unveiling of God’s righteousness through faith. It underscores both human guilt and divine grace, setting the stage for Paul’s full explanation of justification by faith.
