Who is Our Master?

Prepare: Bible does not talk about open ended freedom without any control.
Read: Romans 6:12-23

Two kinds of masters: Today's passage clearly talks about an either/or option:Either surrendering our lives as slaves to sin or to Christ. Paul personifies sinas a master because of its potential to enslave anyone. Conversely, he encourages the believers to walk a moral life. His line of reasoning is that believers are now in a better disposition because of their union with Christ.

A Christian is one who wholeheartedly chooses Jesus as his/her master. Paul gives thanks to God, for the opportunity He has provided to the believers to live as slaves of righteousness.

Contrasting lifestyles: Once we were slaves to sin and our lifestyle clearly revealed the pattern of sin: impurity and everincreasing wickedness. However, as slaves of Christ, the present life should reveal righteousness, leading to holiness. The wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Though Paul talks greatly about the freedom that comes in Christ, he does not annul the responsibility of the believers. His repeated appeal to the believers is that Christian life is freedom with responsibilty. Freedom from the obligation of law does not mean that we can live a lawless life. Paul's exposition is that the law forced the followers to do things out of compulsion, whereas as slaves of Christ, we are expected to do those things willingly.

Respond: Lord Jesus, I invite You to rule and reign in me completely.