Walk in the newness of life.

We no longer live in sin but have died to sin since we have been buried with Jesus. We should walk in the newness of life.

 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Since we are dead to sin but alive in God, we must live to God. We should not only remember that we are alive to God, but we must also go and live to God in our actions and lives. Let us live for Christ.

Become a slave of righteousness.

16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

How do we become a slave of righteousness? We need to be obedient to God and that leads to righteousness. When we were once slaves of sin, becoming slaves of righteousness is not easy because it requires us to humble ourselves to submit to God. We need to want to change for the better, and we need strength from God. When we are used to sinning, we need an inner change to obey God.

If we lack the willingness to change for the better, we can always pray to ask God to grant us the willingness and the want to change for the better. On the other hand, if we want to change but cannot find the strength to, we also pray that God grants us the strength to become a slave of righteousness.

There is a reward of eternal life when we become slaves of God because we have our fruit to holiness. Every time we choose the right thing to do in the eyes of God, we are moving toward this righteousness and eternal life because we are choosing to submit to God. It will take time, effort, and reliance on God, but let us be patient and not lose heart.

Galatians 6:7-9 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 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. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

After becoming slaves of righteousness, those things that we once did make us ashamed, but we have our fruit to holiness and in the end, everlasting life. However, being a slave of righteousness is a lifelong journey, so we must continue to be slaves of righteousness all the days of our lives. On the contrary, if we remain slaves of sin, we will forever be slaves of sin even in death.

Pass it on.

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

Here delivered means entrusted. Entrusted with the doctrine? What an honour! We need to keep the doctrine with us, hide God’s word in our hearts, and preach God’s word to others.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Colossians 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

We need to preach to others so that they too can become slaves of righteousness.

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