Romans 6:15-23 Slavery comes in many forms. Certainly, as it was in our own country and still is in many parts of the world today where people are literally owned by their masters and used sometimes well, but mostly abused. The slavery we wish to address today is the slavery that we subject ourselves to. Not to a person but to a lifestyle. We all will be slaves to something or someone. The Apostle Paul sets up two basic categories - We are slaves to sin or we are slaves to righteousness. Paul begins this section with a little game that is often played when we want to find a way to do what we want to do. "Since we are not under the law, but under grace, sin is not a problem - we do what we want, it's okay, it's covered." Right? Wrong! Certainly, we can find forgiveness for our sin as we confess it and ask forgiveness - I John 1:9. - but there is no sin without a price tag. When you offer the members of your body to sin, you become a slave to that sin. The barb goes in - the ropes of bondage become a little tighter - the desire to escape becomes a little fainter. Verse 16 tells us that that route leads to death - eternal death. The other alternative is to offer ourselves to obedience to God - this leads to righteousness! Unfortunately, one decision does not get the job done. We have been following in the path of slavery to sin so long that the path is rather well worn and comfortable. The pleasures of sin are there for a season. The need for a decision to follow obedience runs from daily to continuous. The reward of slavery to obedience is righteousness the fruit of which is holiness and the end result is eternal life. Romans 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The choice is yours!

You'll be a Slave to Something