Romans 6:19: I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
The illustration of the master and servant is obvious. Whatever you yield to becomes your master. Before you were saved, you were the slave of sin. Now that you belong to Christ, you are freed from that old slavery and made the servant of Christ. Romans 6:19 suggests that the Christian ought to be as enthusiastic in yielding to the Lord as he was in yielding to sin. 1
Out of the 120 million people in the Roman Empire, one–half were slaves. Many Christians were slaves. Now Paul uses this familiar metaphor which he describes as “human terms.” He doesn’t mean he is not speaking by inspiration, but he is speaking in a manner which we will understand. And we will understand by these human terms that we are actually slaves. 2
Application
- Will you use your freedom in Christ for more of your purposes or for more of His?
- Does your prayer life reflect a heart for those living as a prisoner of sin?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for delivering me from the slave market of sin and death.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
2. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 1-8) (electronic ed., Vol. 42). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
