Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. I. WE ARE "FREE FROM SIN." 1. We are free from — (1) Its guilt and pollution. Sin is represented as an evil of enormous magnitude. It is said to be a plague and a leprosy, foul, odious, detestable. But now there is a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."(2) Its curse and condemnation. "So many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." The acts of our disobedience are innumerable, and the curse of heaven comes down where sin is. But "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Therefore is there now to us no condemnation. (3) Its tyranny. Before our conversion it did reign; we obeyed not God but sin. Since our conversion sin has not had dominion over us; for we are not under the law, but under grace. (4) Its sting and bitterness. There is no comfort, no peace, as long as we are indulging sin and under the power of it. Christ makes us free. His precious blood, presented to us, pacifies and purifies the conscience. (5) All its consequences perfectly and forever. "The wages of sin is death"; but "he that believeth My sayings," says Jesus Christ, "shall never see death." "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory by our Lord Jesus Christ." 2. We are made free. There is some power exerted upon us distinctly Divine: we call it grace or the work of God. God calls us to come forth from our bondage; and we, hearing His voice, do come; but the power which gives us the ability to assert our freedom is His own. This freedom is ascribed — (1) To the Father: "You hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins"; "We give thanks to the Father, who hath translated us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son."(2) To Christ. He was anointed to preach the opening of the prison doors to them who are bound; "and if the Son shall make us free, we shall be free indeed."(3) To the Holy Ghost. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The plan emanates from the Everlasting Father; the carrying of it into execution is the work of the Son; and its application to our minds, by which we are personally made free, is the work of the Holy Ghost. 3. The instruments employed. (1) The truth. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."(2) Grace; and the more we know of it, the better we understand the riches of the grace of God. (3) The ministry. "I have sent thee to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light," etc. And all these conspire and unite. II. WE BECOME "SERVANTS OF GOD." Our deliverance from sin is in order to this. 1. This name, "servant," is a name of glory because it has been borne by Christ, and by the most distinguished men that ever lived. Moses, Job, David, Paul, James. These triumphed in nothing so much as rendering service in their free state to God. His service is perfect freedom. 2. How is it brought about? We first receive the truth; the blessings of the gospel, freeing us from sin, are brought by faith and knowledge into our nature. The natural effect of this is confidence and love towards God. We cease to be afraid; the spirit of bondage gives way; and the Spirit of adoption comes in its stead. This new view of God induces consecration. We yield ourselves unto God as those that are alive from death, and our members as the instruments of righteousness unto God. 3. What will the Master have us to do? It is required in a servant that there be — (1) Integrity. (2) Faithfulness. (3) Diligence. (4) Affection. III. OUR FRUIT IS UNTO HOLINESS. 1. Beautiful fruit; "fruit meet for repentance." "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering," etc. "Holy fruits": that is, fruits that are vital, fresh, blooming, luscious. 2. There never has been any fruit unto holiness separate from the principles of the gospel. There may be morals, dry and barren, but there is no holiness but as it arises out of faith and love towards Jesus. 3. In order to fruitfulness there must be cultivation. There must be a diligence and a care that we show forth in our tempers and practice the various points of that blessed light and beauty which is called in the text holiness. IV. THE END IS EVERLASTING LIFE. The end is everything. If it were so that the course of religion in this world were a course of sorrow, if the end were everlasting life, it were worth the while to walk it. But it is not: the way is peace, the path is light, the progress is joy, and then the end is everlasting life. The more I see of this life, the more I feel that it is a poor, dissatisfied life. Irrespective of God, it is not worth having. And I am increasingly persuaded that the life to come is unbounded, and perpetual, and everlasting activity, conscious purity, splendid glory, and rest in His beatific vision. (J. Stratten.) Parallel Verses KJV: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. |
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