Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Paul has to put things clearly for the Romans. This verse is another clear summary of what he has been trying to make clear. The word “presented” implies a choice, decision, thinking, and act of the will. It also has the nuance of worship. To present our members means to offer them to be used by whoever or whatever we submit and honor. If we honor ourselves and live to please our flesh, we will become slaves to this. This begins a vicious cycle that gets worse over time and causes more problems in our lives. “Lawlessness” is living without regard to God’s laws. God’s laws are ignored. This could even be open rebellion. This is a path of self-destruction. Many harms in this life result from slavery to sin. As Paul has pointed out, the final result is experiencing God’s wrath.
The alternative is to present or offer ourselves to righteousness. This is the path that pleases God. It is the life that has been consecrated and sanctified to God. As we present ourselves to God as God’s instruments, God will make us holy vessels of honor for his use. He sanctifies us for his purposes. One type of slavery replaces another. Slavery to sin is a heavy burden because sin as the task master forces us to do things that ultimately harm us. Slavery to righteousness is actually a love relationship. We are obligated to obey, but we do so with blessings and strength. One path brings hardship and the other brings victory and freedom.
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