“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” LLC Ministers and Board Members Meeting July 3, 2015

Romans 6:16-18 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 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. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Servants of Sin Christian Freedom Servants of Righteousness Grace Teaches

Servants of Sin Jesus said, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34) We often speak of the bondage of sin. Sin does take away our freedom, along with our peace and joy. Apostle Paul writes about the work of Christ saying that He led captivity captive (Eph 4:8).

Christian Freedom Jesus said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever; but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:34-36) Apostle Paul wrote of God's kingdom, "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Gal. 4:26)

What is Christian Freedom? Freedom is a central part of Christian faith. However Christian freedom can be understood in a wrong way, as freedom to live according to one’s own mind. This kind of freedom is not supported by the Bible. What is the freedom of God's kingdom like? It is a freedom from the bonds of sin, from death, and from the power of the enemy of souls, and not a freedom to do sin or to live contrary to God's word.

What is Christian Freedom? When a person is freed from sin through the gospel, he now is walking in the light of God’s word. He does not want to do sin but to be obedient to God’s word. In this way, one’s conscience becomes bound to God’s word and is cared for by God’s word. From this freedom arises love for God and love to serve one’s neighbor and a desire to act and live responsibly personally and towards others. Apostle Paul wrote, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Gal. 5:13)

Servants of Righteousness Being made free by God’s grace does not give freedom to live in sin. Apostle Paul wrote, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.” (Rom. 6:1-4)

Servants of Righteousness What does it mean to be “servants of righteousness” or to “walk in newness of life”? In accordance with the doctrine of Christianity, we teach that there are three parts of repentance: – Distress over sin. – Faith in the gospel of forgiveness of sin. – Amendment of life.

Servants of Righteousness God’s children do not have posted lists of rules by which we live. God’s word is a light unto our pathway, and God's Holy Spirit guides us in His kingdom. The instructions of the Spirit are like the instructions of a loving mother who wants to keep us from evil. They are instructions intended to help us to preserve faith and a good conscience and to keep us on the pathway which has a future and a hope.

Servants of Righteousness Amendment of life is not our own doing. Jesus said that we are known by our fruits (Matt. 7), but He also said that, just as the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, neither can we unless we abide in Him (John 15). God’s blessing is found in endeavoring in obedience of faith, as Apostle James wrote, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:25)

Ephesians 2: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2.Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3.Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Ephesians 2: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5.Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6.And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7.That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9.Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Grace Teaches “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar pelple, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Grace Teaches The bondage of sin can be experienced through living an ungodly life, after the lusts of the flesh, or according to one’s own mind. It can also occur through trying to live zealously, pleasing God through one’s own righteousness. Christian freedom is found in neither way.

Grace Teaches Luther has written in this way: “It is the perversity of the world that, when we preach about forgiveness of sins by pure grace and without merit of man, it should either say we forbid good works, or else try to draw the conclusion that man may continue to live in sin and follow his own pleasure; when the fact is, we should particularly strive to live a life the reverse of sinful, that our doctrine may draw people to good works, unto the praise and honor and glory of God. Our doctrine, rightly apprehended, does not influence to pride and vice, but to humility and obedience.”

Saved by Grace God calls sinners unto repentance and His kingdom. Here He daily and richly forgives all believers all sins. In the gospel of forgiveness, the child of God finds strength to believe and to walk humbly in obedience of faith. May God preserve us in this freedom. Only by faith, only by grace, only by the merits of Christ.

Look to the Reward Graces renews the hope of Heaven. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22

Discussion Questions What does it mean when we say “grace is not a cover for sin”? What are some of the temptations or questions of our time that war against faith? What did Apostle Paul mean when he wrote, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.” (Col. 4:6) How does looking toward the reward help us in our endeavor of faith?