Introductory remarks:
"Since our sins are forgiven, what stops us from sinning? When Christ died, our old life died with Him, and we are free from sin. We live because of Christ and we should live righteously unto God. No longer to be the servant of sin, but instead to be the servant of righteousness" (Brenda's Survey of Romans). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Dead to sin but alive in Christ vv. 1-14; slaves of righteousness vv. 15-23.
Slaves of Righteousness
Verse 1, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound?"
LGT "What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin, in order that grace may abound?"
What shall we say then: In chapters 1-5 Paul was discussing the doctrine of salvation. Now he begins to discuss living the Christian life in righteousness. In the previous chapters he was discussing justification by faith alone in Christ alone; now he begins to discuss the doctrine of sanctification. The difference in justification and sanctification is that we are justified the moment we accept Christ as our Savior with no works involved, that is, no strings attached; sanctification is a lifelong pursuit; works are involved in this experiential sanctification; the one thing we must keep in mind regarding our works is that our motives for righteous living will be judged, not the quantity of our works. We do not work to please God; we work because God is already pleased with us. Paul begins with this question; in light of all that I have been teaching in the previous chapters, shall we continue in sin because we have been justified and we are forever forgiven. Shall we persist in sin, in order that grace may abound: Paul sees the possibility of perverting grace by license in lieu of liberty. There is no such thing as sinning without penalty; the more doctrine we learn the more humiliation sin presents to us, because we know that God does not wink at sin; forgiveness is by His mercy by means of His grace, and we should perish the thought that God ever dismisses our sins without our confession.
Calvin remarks on this verse:
"The Apostle takes notice of that most common objection against preaching of divine grace, which is this, -'That if it be true, that the more bountiful and abundantly will the grace of God aid us, the more completely we are overwhelmed with the mass of sin; then nothing is better for us than to be sunk into the depth of sin, and often to provoke God's wrath with new offences [I make one small correction here; what Calvin calls God's wrath is actually quenching and grieving His Spirit, for we are delivered from God's wrath forever]; for then at length we shall find more abounding grace; than which nothing better can be desired.' The refutation of this we shall hereafter meet with."
Verse 2, "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?"
LGT "May it never be. We who died to sin, how still shall we live in it?"
May it never be: this is Paul's answer the previous verse. We who died to sin: this is a positional truth that our identification with Christ, and the fact that we are declared righteous, proves that we died with Christ to sin; we died with Christ positionally; we were buried with Christ positionally; we are raised with Christ positionally; and we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies; what a profound position we have in Christ; let us stop right here and give Him our praise and glory. How still shall we live in it: when we realize this wonderful position we have in Christ, what better motive do we have to stop sinning. This phrase does not mean that we are dead to sinning, for as long as we have this human nature we will sin; this verse is making it very clear that our position in Christ, that He has declared us justified, should be our logical motive to not sin.
McGee has an interesting story he tells regarding the human nature and this positional truth of being identified with Christ:
"It is verses like that that have led a group of sincere folk. Whom I call super-duper saints - I hope I'm not being unfair to them - to feel they have reached an exalted plane where they do not commit sin. One such group is a branch of those who teach the 'victorious life.' They feel they have reached the pinnacle of perfection. There are different brands of these, I know, but one group was especially obnoxious several years ago in Southern California. One young man approached me following a morning worship service, and asked, 'Are you living the victorious life?' I think I shocked him when I said, 'No, I'm not!' Then I asked him, 'Are you?' Well, he beat around the bush and didn't want to give me a direct answer. He said he tried to. And I said, 'Wait a minute, that's not the question. You asked me if I am living it, and I said no. Now you answer me yes or no.' and to this good day he hasn't answered me. Like most of them, he was a very anemic-looking young fellow; I suspected he was a fugitive from a blood bank. He continued arguing his case. 'Well, doesn't the Scripture say, 'I am crucified with Christ?' and doesn't it say that we are dead to sin?' I said, 'No, that is not what the Scriptures say, We died to sin in Christ - that's our position - but we are never dead to sin in this life. You have a sin nature; I have a sin nature; and we'll have it as long as we are in this life.' He persisted, 'Then what does it mean when it says we are crucified with Christ?' So I told him, 'When Christ died over nineteen hundred years ago, that is when we died. We died in Him, and we were raised in Him, and we are joined now to a living Christ. This is the great truth that is here."
Verse 3, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"
LGT "Or are ye ignorant that we as many as were baptized unto Christ Jesus, we were baptized unto His death?"
Or are ye ignorant: the fact that you are dead to sin is a fact that you should not be ignorant. That we as many as were baptized unto Jesus Christ: this is not water baptism. The baptism Paul is referring to is the Spirit baptism. The very moment a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, they are immediately baptized unto Christ; this Spirit baptism is a very important part of the souls conversion. We were baptized unto His death: what Paul is saying here is that we should not be ignorant regarding our being identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and ascension, and His present session now at the right hand of the Father. We are not only saved by His grace, we are also kept saved by His grace, and our life is now Hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
Vincent notes here:
"As He died to sin, so we died to sin, just as if we were literally members of His body. Godet gives an anecdote related by a missionary who was questioning a converted Bechuana on Col. 3:3. The convert said: 'Soon I shall be dead, and they will bury me in my field. My flocks will come to pasture above me. But I shall no longer hear them, and I shall come forth from my tomb to take them and carry them with me to the sepulcher. They will be strange to me, as I to them. Such is the image of my life in the midst of the world since I believed in Christ."
Verse 4, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
LGT "We were buried therefore with Him by means of baptism unto death, in order that as Christ was raised up from among the dead by the glory of the Father, so also we in newness of life should walk around."
We were buried with Him by means of baptism unto death: this Spirit baptism looks back to Christ death on the cross, so positionally we were buried with Christ; our sins were also buried with Him, so that we are now a new creation in Christ. Water baptism by immersion, in the Apostolic Church, identified the believer with Christ, that is, that they were Christians; however, now that we have the entire written Word of God, there is no more need for the sign, for we are taught directly by the infallible Word of God. In order that as Christ was raised up from among the dead by the glory of the Father: water baptism has blurred the picture Paul was giving us here because from the early Church Fathers down through the centuries, men have put entirely too much emphasis on the symbol of water baptism, that they actually have taught that it was necessary to be baptized to be saved; the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Church of Christ, not to mention the false cults, still teach this damnable heresy. Paul is simply teaching our Spirit baptism has placed us into union with the Lord Jesus Christ, which includes His death, burial, resurrection ascension, and that we are seated with Him in the heavenlies; this is a positional truth of incalculable value. Think about it for a moment; because of our union with Christ, God the Father loves us with the equal glorious love that He has for His only begotten Son; is this grace or what? So also we in newness of life should walk around: Paul gives us the motive for service. Because we are united with Christ in this positional union, we should want to walk around as new creations. Remember, at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will be rewarded for our motives for service and not for the results of our service, because only He knows the results.
Verse 5, "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
LGT "For if we have become united together [with Him] in the likeness of His death, so also we shall be in [His] resurrection."
For if we have become united together with Him: the "if" in this phrase could be read "since". The moment we accepted Christ as our Savior, we were immediately united with Him. In the likeness of His death: this is not simply a symbol but an actual position wherein we stand; as He died to sin, so we also have died to sin, that is, sin does no longer reign in our mortal bodies. We have been crucified with Christ. So also we shall be in His resurrection: as we have been united to Christ positionally, by His resurrection; the likeness is that we have been raised with Him and we have victory over sin, and ultimately we will in the future be united to Him forever by way of resurrection to eternal life after death.
Verse 6, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
LGT "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], in order that the body of sin might be cancelled, that we no longer be subservient to sin."
Knowing this: all Christians should know this, and if not, pay very close attention to what I am about to say. That our old man was crucified with Him: this did not take place at water baptism, but was only pictured there; this crucifixion took place the moment we accepted Christ as Savior. Vincent says: "Paul viewed the Christian before they were saved as another person." McGee says: "When Paul says our old man was crucified with Him, he is not referring to your father, but your old sin nature." Paul is very repetitious on these positional truths, because of their importance, and that every Christian needs to know them. In order that the body of sin might be cancelled: the entire body of sin: Paul uses this term "body of sin" in the same context as "the old man." Paul is referring to our tendency to sin because even though we have been crucified with Christ positionally, we still possess our "old man" or as he puts it another way, "our old sin natures." The battle we have now is the battle between the flesh and the Spirit; the Spirit has already won the battle positionally, however, in our Christian life, we must live this battle every day, and we may have victory over the flesh depending on our applying Bible doctrine to our lives. That we no longer be subservient to sin: sin is personified as a master that has been conquered. We no longer have to be slaves to sin, if we follow the leading of the Word of God, that is, walk in the Light of His Word. Calvin wrote: "It hence follows, that as long as we are children of Adam, and nothing more than men, we are so in bondage to sin, that we can do nothing else but sin; but that being grafted in Christ, we are delivered from this miserable thralldom [being a slave to sin]; not that we immediately cease entirely to sin, but that we become at last victorious in the contest." Our victory over sin is awarded to Christ and His finished work on the cross, and our final victory will be realized when we see Him face to face; however, we do have the means to win the battle, and that is knowing and using Bible doctrine.
Verse 7, "For he that is dead is freed from sin."
LGT "For he that died has been justified from sin."
The one who has died to sin is acquitted or absolved from sin, just as a dead man sins no more. "As a man that is dead is acquitted and released from bondage among men, so a man that has died to sin is acquitted from the guilt of sin and released from its bondage" (Alford - quoted by Vincent). Every believer is dead to sin positionally, so this verse does not mean that we do not die daily to sin experientially, that is, we must live the sanctified Christian life daily by adapting our lives to Bible doctrine; this verse is saying that we are justified from the penalty as well as the guilt of sin.
Verse 8, "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."
LGT "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,"
Now if we died with Christ: this if is in the first class condition and can be translated since we died with Christ. We died with Christ positionally the very moment we believed on His name. We believe that we shall also live with Him: since we have participated in Christ death, we should also participate with Him in His sanctified life. We know that one day we will live forever with Christ, but this is not the point Paul is making here in this verse; here Paul is stressing the motive for experiential living the sanctified life in constant fellowship here and now. We may visit the pigpen from time to time as the Prodigal did, but a true son never stays in the pigpen, he will eventually come home to his Father.
Verse 9, "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."
LGT "Knowing that Christ having been raised up from among [the] dead, no more dies."
Knowing: Paul states this as a fact they were all aware. That Christ having been raised from among the dead: the fact of His resurrection gives us this assurance. No more dies: by His resurrection, He conquered spiritual death; and we have this knowledge that we will also conquer death. Christ's death frees all His people.
Verse 10, "For in that he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
LGT "For what He died, He died to sin once for all: but in that He lives, He lives to God."
For what He died: the death which He died. He died to sin once for all: a very good reason we should believe once saved always saved. If a person believes they can lose their salvation they would necessarily crucify the Son of God afresh, and this can never be, for He died to sin once that we might live. But in that He lives: by His resurrection Christ lives, and we live in Him. He lives to God: "Christians by their profession are united to Him. They are bound to imitate Him. As He now lives only to advance the glory of God; as all His mighty power, now that He is raised from the dead, and elevated to His throne in heaven, is exerted to promote His glory; so should their powers, being raised from the death of sin, be exerted to promote the glory of God" (Barnes). By believing in Christ we are vitally joined to the Son and the Father by the Holy Spirit, For we are hid in Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
Verse 11, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
LGT "So also reckon you yourselves indeed [to be] dead to sin, but alive to God, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So also reckon you yourselves: based on the fact that Christ died to sin, count yourselves also indeed to be dead to sin: we now, having died with Christ to sin, are able to live victorious over sin when we take this divine viewpoint of sin. In Christ Jesus our Lord: our union with the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, the fact that we have been engrafted in Him, gives us the power over sin; for without this union, we would still be slaves to sin, that is, powerless over sin. As long as we remain ignorant of our union with Christ, we also remain powerless to live sanctified lives. All of our living sanctified lives are due to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf.
Verse 12, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."
LGT "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, for to obey it in its vain desires."
Let not sin therefore reign in your earthly body: do not let sin continue to reign in your mortal bodies as it did before you were saved. The mortal body is not to be taken as skin and bones, but as the entire self, our old man. Paul's purpose in teaching positional sanctification is so that we may be able to experientially experience sanctification here and now. It is possible to remain the maximum amount of time in fellowship with Christ, however, not without knowledge of what Paul is teaching us here. I am not referring to sinless perfection, for this is impossible. What I am saying regarding fellowship is simply, that when we sin, we immediately confess that sin and remain in fellowship, that is, as some put it, 'keeping short accounts with God.' For to obey it in its vain desires: these vain desires are the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life; these are the threefold basis of appeal to the flesh that Satan used on Adam and Eve in the garden; Christ in the wilderness; and now the saints in the age of grace. Thank God Christ imputed His righteousness on us, or we would not be able to understand these wonderful doctrines Paul is teaching her.
Calvin comments on this verse:
"To the same purpose is the declaration of Christ, What is born of the flesh is flesh (John 3:6). But if any makes this objection - that the case with the soul is different; to this the ready answer is - that in our present degenerate state our souls are fixed to the earth, and so enslaved to our bodies, that they have fallen from their own superiority. In a word, the natures of man is said to be corporeal, because he is destitute of celestial grace, and is only a sort of empty shadow or image. We may add, that the body, by the way of contempt, is said by Paul to be mortal, and this to teach us, that the whole nature of man tends to death and ruin. Still further, he gives the name of sin to the original depravity, which dwells in our hearts, and which leads us to sin, and from which indeed all evil deeds and abominations stream forth. In the middle, between sin and us, he places lusts, as the former has the office of a king, while lusts are its edict [proclamation] and commands."
Verse 13, "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
LGT "Neither be presenting your members instruments of unrighteousness to sin: But present yourselves to God as alive from among [the] dead, and your members instruments of righteousness to God."
Neither be presenting your members: stop presenting your members, that is, your physical members such as your hands, feet, tongue etc., your mortal bodies of verse twelve. Instruments of unrighteousness to sin: do not habitually present our members to become slaves of sin. This verse is proof that we deliberately sin, and that the Devil doesn't make us do it. Sin is a choice we make, and Paul is saying stop doing it; this sure sounds simple, but the only defense we have is found in the next phrase. But present yourselves to God: habitually present yourselves to God. Adjust your life to God's Word. I can't stress the importance of daily Bible study enough; we must feed on the spiritual food of the Word of God daily or we become spiritually skinny, and we soon become anemic, wishy-washy Christians. As alive from among the dead: Christ has made us alive; we were dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph.2:1), so now we should live unto God, who has set us free. And your members instruments of righteousness to God: this positive act of presenting our selves to God (Rom. 12:1,2) is the act of yielding to God instead of sin; Paul says stop presenting yourselves to the flesh, and start presenting your members as instruments God can use. Remember at the Bema Seat of Christ, rewards will be handed out for willingness to be used and not the results of the yielding. God is the only One who knows the results, so we should just relax, present ourselves to God, and let the Holy Spirit do His work. I might add, that the Holy Spirit can only use the person who knows the Word; the Psalmist said, The Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11): so, you see, we must be occupied with Christ in order to not be habitually serving the flesh.
Verse 14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
LGT "For sin shall not rule over you: for you are not under law, but under grace."
For sin shall not rule over you: sin will be in our lives as long as we are dragging around this filthy flesh, but it will never rule the Christian; this is why we present our selves to God daily. For you are not under law: the Law was given to help us combat the old sin nature; but now we have a new nature, that is, the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, so it is impossible for sin to rule over us. But under grace: God has saved us by His matchless grace, and He is now sustaining us by this same matchless grace. Thank God He did not save me and then leave me to my own resources, for I would fail for sure. I do not have to live defeated, but I will never appreciate all that He has done for me until I learn all that His Word has for me. It will take eternity for me to learn all that was involved in my redemption, and I thank God that I will spend eternity with Him.
Slaves of Righteousness
Verse 15, "What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
LGT "What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be."
What then: in the light of the last fourteen verses that Paul has been teaching us about positional sanctification and justification, what then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law: shall we sin occasionally because we are not committed to the law, and we are no longer under the condemnation of the law? But under grace: Barnes writes: "If Christians are not under the law, which forbids all sin, but are under grace, which pardons sin, will it not follow that they will feel themselves released from obligation to be holy? Will they not commit sin freely, since the system of grace is one which contemplates pardon, and which will lead them to believe that they may be forgiven to any extent?" Many people today have drawn this conclusion based on their misunderstanding of the doctrine of God's free grace. There are three ways Christians live today: (1.) They live under the law, that is, they are what we call legalists, for they have a long list of rules and regulations that prohibits them from any sort of liberty. The Christian book market is flooded with books telling Christians how they must live and what rules they must follow in order to live the Purpose Driven Life. When I was active in the religious movement we were taught five taboos any good Christian would avoid in order to be a good little Christian. These were: drinking, smoking, dancing, going to movies, and gambling. Now it was taught by the religious leaders that if one would abstain from these taboos they were good Christians. (2.) They live under license, that is, they believe because they were not under the law they have the right to live any way they please and God will forgive them no matter what, and (3.) They live under liberty, that is, they have a true perspective that since they are under grace, and that God, by His tender mercy and grace, does forgive, they are motivated to please the Father and exercise their liberty in being His disciple. These Christians do not live to please God, but they live because God is already pleased with them, and they are pleased to adjust their whole lives to Bible Doctrine. May it never be: Paul objects to such careless thinking that because we are no longer under the curse of the law, that we have the liberty to abuse God's grace. God's grace should motivate the Christian to live a holy life, rather than to abuse grace with this unmitigated foolish thinking of having a license to sin.
Verse 16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to who ye obey: whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness?"
LGT "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves bondservants to obedience, bondservants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin to death, or obedience to righteousness?"
Know ye not: when were yet unsaved we were bondslaves to sin; Jesus rescued us out of the slave-market of sin. That to whom ye yield yourselves bondservants to obedience: yielding to the Word of God is the only way a Christian may live the victorious life; now this does not mean yielding to a specific set of rules, but to the will of God, and this can only be known by study. Bondservants ye are to whom ye obey: we are either slaves to sin or slaves to Jesus Christ. When we decide to sin we are endangering ourselves to becoming its slave. Whether of sin to death: sin leads to death, as we will soon see. Or obedience to righteousness: while sin does lead to death, obedience does not lead to life. Eternal life is the gift of God, and Paul is not teaching this doctrine to distinguish how a person may be saved, but the motivation for holy living, for he is speaking to believers. Remember, Christ paid the price for all sin, past, present, and future, on the cross, so it is not eternal life or eternal death that is being taught.
Verse 17, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."
LGT "But thanks be to God, that you were bondservants of sin, but you obeyed from [the] heart a form of teaching to which you were delivered."
But thanks be to God: the Author and Finisher of our faith. That you were bondservants of sin: Paul is not thankful that they were once slaves to sin, but the fact that they have turned from that state. But you obeyed from the heart: the heart here, as in most all Scripture refers to the mind, that is, the soul of man. Christ changes man from the inside out. Calvin notes: "Christ inwardly forms our souls in a better way, than when the law constrains them by threatening and terrifying us." A form of teaching: they have yielded themselves to the true doctrine they have been taught. They yielded to the form of doctrine Paul taught in opposition to Judaism. To which you were delivered: the KJV above has been corrected in my LGT. The KJV "which was delivered you" is literally: to which you were delivered. Christians have died to the old sin nature and Christ has given us a new nature. This new nature allows us to yield ourselves to Christ. This new nature does not let us go about like a horse that has been turned out to pasture, to romp around and buck up and down because he has no restraint; this is not the effect of our new natures; we have been given a new heart in order that the love of Christ now constrains us. We don't live life now in order that Christ may love us; we live unto Christ because He already loves us. We have been delivered from the slave market of sin; we should now live as freedmen to Christ. "There is no power in the new nature. That's where most of us make our mistake. We think that because we are now Christians, we can walk on top of the world. We can't. We are just as weak as we've ever been before. This is the reason that we have to walk by faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can produce the Christian life" (McGee).
Verse 18, "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
LGT "And having been set free from sin, you have become bondservants to righteousness."
And having been set free from sin: we have been enlightened; Christ has made it possible that we can now serve Him instead of our sin natures, which we still possess. You have become bondservants to righteousness: we have simply changed masters; instead of slaves to sin, we are slaves to His righteousness. No one can be a slave to righteousness except he first be liberated from the power of darkness; than and only then can one walk in the Light as He is in the light; this is true fellowship.
Verse 19, "I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."
LGT "I speak humanly on account of the weakness of your flesh. For as ye yielded your members in bondage to uncleanness and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members to righteousness unto sanctification."
I speak humanly: Vincent says: "Paul seems to have felt that the figure of service, bondage, etc., were unworthy of the subject, and apologizes for his use of the image of the slave-market to enforce such a high spiritual truth, on the ground of their imperfect spiritual comprehension." On account of the weakness of your flesh: on account of your weakness in understanding spiritual truth. Barnes brings out the sense of this phrase: "I use an illustration drawn from common affairs, from the well-known relations of master and slave, because you will better see the force of such an illustration with which you have been familiar, than you would one that would be more abstract, and more strictly spiritual." For as ye yield your members in bondage to uncleanness: this has reference to the manner of uncleanness that was popular in the heathen world. These are the fleshly lusts that defile you. And to lawlessness unto lawlessness: when they were unsaved they had no choice but to sin; the believer sins by missing the mark; however, the unbeliever has no mark, so they sin lawlessly, that is, they sin without restraint. The unbeliever sins as a way of life, and Paul feels it very important to remind them of their former life. So now your members to righteousness unto sanctification: "let your surrender to holiness be as effectual as your surrender to sin" (Barnes). Experiential sanctification begins with that magnificent word yield. This is the key to living the victorious Christian life; we must first study Bible Doctrine, and then yield to it. As the late Lewis Sperry Chafer said in one of his lessons: "the way to victory is by adjusting ones life to Bible doctrine." In this same lesson he said: "across this nation there are thousands of ministers on Sunday telling people to be good, but none of them tell people how to be good." I agree with Chafer, except I would add: "even when they do tell people how to be good it is from a humanist viewpoint, such as that insidious Book, The Purpose Driven Life. All the humanist pastors can do is tell people how to be good by the effort of the flesh, and this we know is, wood, hay, and stubble to be burned up at the Bema Seat of Christ.
Verse 20, "For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness."
LGT "For when ye were bondservants of sin, ye were free as to righteousness."
When they were unbelievers they were free, as to righteousness, that is, righteousness was the furthest thing from their thoughts, they simply did as they pleased. An unbeliever is too self-centered to have any thoughts as to righteousness. Even in unbelief they could not serve two masters, for they were given over completely to their father the devil. The unbeliever is totally depraved, for they have no fondness, nor the slightest desire to do a righteous act; because of this, they are totally incapable of even thinking about a righteous God.
Verse 21, "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death."
LGT "What fruit therefore had ye at that time? In those things of which ye are now ashamed, for the end of those things [is] death."
What fruit therefore had ye at that time: Paul use the metaphor fruit both in a good and a bad sense. The only fruit that can be produced by an unbeliever is wickedness continually. Only the Light of the Lord can reveal to an unbeliever their gross wickedness. In those things of which ye are now ashamed: "Paul could not more strikingly express what he intended than by appealing to their conscience, and by confessing shame as it were in their person. Indeed the godly, as soon as they begin to be illuminated by the Spirit of Christ and the preaching of the gospel, do freely acknowledge their past life, which they have lived without Christ, to have been worthy of condemnation; and so far are they from endeavoring to excuse it, that, on the contrary, they feel ashamed of themselves. Yea, further, they call to remembrance of their own disgrace, that being thus ashamed, they may more truly and more readily be humbled before God. " (Calvin). For the end of those things is death: the unbeliever stands on the precipice of death until God's mercy rescues them. The filthiness of the flesh has blinded the minds of those who refuse to believe in Christ.
Verse 22, "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
LGT "But now having been set free from sin, and having become bondservants to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end life eternal."
But now having been set free from sin: now that you have accepted Christ and are born again, you are free from the condemnation of sin, that is, the penalty of sin. And having become bondservants to God: a man can only serve one master; either he will hate the one, and love the other, or he will love the one and hate the other. Remember, our new nature makes it possible for us to be able to be bondservants to God. Only believers can serve God, because they are the only ones who know God. And the end life everlasting: everlasting life is spiritual life that begins the moment one is saved. They were on a road to everlasting ruin in their unbelief, but now they have everlasting life.
Verse 23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
LGT "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the free gift of God [is] life eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This verse explains the result of all that Paul had been teaching in this previous section. He ends this section on this wonderful fact: For the wages of sin is death: wages are paid for service rendered; that is why eternal life is always depicted by Paul as a free gift, because it is not earned, it is only received. If a person were to try to earn eternal life they will only end up with the wages of sin unto eternal death. But the gift of God is life eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord: eternal life is God's free gift, but never a wage. Satan rewards his children with eternal death and separation from our God; God rewards His children with everlasting life of love and bliss. It is amazing that even this verse can not convince a person who refuses to believe the Word of God that they are heading to hell, and that even if they did read it, this would never deter them on their mission. Perish the thought that any one of us can convince an unbeliever that they are going to hell; the only person who can do this insurmountable job is the Holy Spirit; however, this is not an excuse that we should not live sanctified lives before the world, because we do not know whether or not we are being used to shed some Light in a darkened world. Barnes wrote: "No man is so foolish and so wicked as he who is willing to reap the proper wages of sin. None so blessed as he who has part in the mercy of God, and who lays hold on eternal life."
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