(14) The Choice is Yours – Romans 6: 15-23

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
 19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

We all have a choice to make.  Should we live in sin, or live in righteousness?  Is it possible to be saved and still choose to live a sinful lifestyle?  The first century Roman Church was doing just that.  These Christians believed in the atoning sacrifice of Christ.  They believed in His resurrection.  They were baptized as an outward sign of their inward commitment to God.  But, because of the culture of the day, in the environment they lived in, with the constant threat of persecution, they were still living a sinful lifestyle.  Paul asked the question, “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? 

The issue of Salvation is a touchy subject.  Biblically speaking, if you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are saved (1 John 5:13).  You have the blessed assurance that when you leave this earthly life you will be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).  It can never be taken away (John 6:39).  It does not depend on you doing any type of work or going through any type of ceremony.  It is based purely on faith (Romans 3:27-28). 

But, here’s the touchy part.  It can be rejected.  You can make the decision to walk away and turn your back on God.  You can reject your Salvation.  You can be born-again, baptized, and living a life as a Christian, and then choose to no longer believe.  This is what Paul was worried about.

We are sinners and we will continue to sin until the day we die.  The question is; are you living for righteousness and occasionally falling into sin, or are you living a sinful lifestyle that is drawing you away from your faith in Christ?  Paul said, “Now you must choose to be slaves to righteousness so that you will become holy.”  In order to be sanctified, to live a life for Christ, we must constantly and continually choose to live a life that is pleasing to God.

We were slaves to sin.  Sin was our master, and we knew no other master.  Now God is our new master.  We were purchased and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Why do we continue to look back at our old master?  Paul explained in verse 20 that when we were slaves to sin, we were free from the obligation to do right.  Sin was our lifestyle.  We felt very little guilt or remorse when doing the things we did.  Oh sure, we had our basic sense of right and wrong, but we justified our actions.  We would think and say things like, “It won’t hurt anyone else.” Or, “The company has billions – they won’t miss this one laptop.  Besides, I’ve worked hard for them.  I’ve earned it!” 

Paul points out in verse 21 that as Christians, we are now ashamed of the things we used to do.  This is the Holy Spirit working in the life of the believer.  And you know what?  It’s not easy.  It’s not easy living in this world as a Christian.  The world makes it so easy to look back at our old master – sin – and long for the good ole days.  Sin is fun!  It’s empowering!  It’s addicting!  But, it is also deadly.

Paul was worried that the church in Rome was compromising their faith.  They were justifying their sin because of the environment of persecution that they were living in.  It’s true that if they were discovered to be Christians, they would be executed or imprisoned.  Their life on earth would be over.  But Paul had to give them the harsh truth.  “For the wages of sin is death…”  They were on a slippery slope, and they were sliding backwards.  Paul was worried that they could slide all of the way back to where they were before – non believers!  And in doing so, could reject their own salvation. 

Think about it.  How far would you have to go before you began to question your faith?  Not as far as you might think.  Tragedies happen everyday in the lives of believers as well as non-believers.  Even as Christian believers, our faith is challenged everyday.  I’ve talked to people who say, “I used to be a Christian, but now I don’t believe that stuff anymore.”  Bad things happen, and instead of turning to God, the world beats us down to the point where we lose all hope.  How far would you have to go before you began to think, “If there is a God, why isn’t He helping me?”  “God is just some mean old guy sitting up in heaven, laughing as we trudge through life, not willing to lift a finger to help.”  “God is only real to those who believe in Him.”  “Look at the world!  If God is real, He has a sick and twisted sense of humor.”  “God can’t be real.”  And finally, “There is no God.”

There was still hope for the first century Roman church, and there is still hope for us today.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23 NLT)  No matter how far you have drifted away, all you need to do is turn back and focus on the one person who can save you – Jesus Christ.  And don’t take your eyes off of Him! 

Let Christ be the first thing that you think of in every situation.  When you are about to enter an important meeting, think of Him.  When you are sitting at home “bored”, think of Him.  When you are about to light that cigarette or take that drink, think of Him.  When you are looking for your lost keys, think of Him.  And, when you find your lost keys, think of Him.  Don’t allow yourself to think of anything first.  As Christians, we are called to be believers in Christ.  We are not called to be believers in the church or any other religious organization.  The church was established to support all of those who believe in Christ.  You are not saved because you have attended church every Sunday of your life.  You are saved when you put your faith in Christ. 

You are now standing on the edge of a cliff, and you have a choice to make – Do you want to live, of do you want to die?  Do you choose God and live, or do you choose sin and die?

Study Questions

The choice is yours – which life do you choose?

Are you compromising your faith by your lifestyle?  The first century Romans felt that they were doing the best they could under the circumstances.  They lived with the fear of persecution and death everyday.  Paul worried that they had forgotten the choice that they made and were closer to their old, sinful self than the new self.  Are you?

Are you backsliding?

Do you still have the passion that you had when you gave your life to Christ?  They say that a Christian cannot stand still.  You are either growing and moving ahead, or you are sliding backwards.  Try spending 15 minutes in prayer, 15 minutes reading the bible, and 15 minutes alone with God every day.  I guarantee it will make a difference!