How does Romans 6:20 describe our past relationship with righteousness before Christ? The Verse at a Glance “For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.” – Romans 6:20 Key Phrase: “Free of Obligation” • “Free” does not mean autonomous liberty; it means righteousness had no claim on us. • Our old master—sin—held the reins. Righteousness stood outside, without rights to guide or correct us. • We possessed: – No inner desire for God’s standards (1 Corinthians 2:14). – No power to fulfill them, even if we had wanted to (John 8:34). – No awareness of the danger we were in (Ephesians 4:18–19). What Slavery to Sin Looked Like • Captive hearts – “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). • Darkened understanding – “You were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). • Misplaced fruit – “The outcome of those things is death” (Romans 6:21). • Deceptive “freedom” – Sin promised fulfillment yet tightened its grip (Titus 3:3). Cross-References that Illuminate Our Condition • Ephesians 2:2 – “The course of this world… the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” • Titus 3:3 – “Enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.” • Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things.” • 1 Peter 4:3 – “For you have spent enough time… carrying out the desires of the Gentiles.” Why This Matters for Believers Today • Gratitude grows when we remember the pit from which we were lifted (Psalm 40:2). • Humility deepens—we contributed nothing but the sin that made salvation necessary. • Holiness becomes non-negotiable; we now serve a new Master (Romans 6:22). • Evangelism gains urgency—friends outside Christ remain “free” from righteousness yet bound to sin. Closing Reflection Romans 6:20 pulls back the curtain on life before Christ: no allegiance to righteousness, absolute servitude to sin. Understanding that stark reality magnifies the grace that set us free and calls us to walk wholeheartedly in our new, joyous slavery to righteousness. |
    |