We are free in Christ (from the law). – Attempting to gain righteousness through the fulfillment of law makes the cross useless to us. “Everything is permissible” – But not everything is beneficial. “The Bell Curve of Freedom” – Regulation > Freedom > Desired Restraint The greatest expression of freedom? – Choosing not to exercise it.

The ULTIMATE achievement in freedom for us? SLAVERY

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:16-18

We have the option of two masters… – Sin > Death – Obedience > Righteousness What, then, is sin?

But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:23

All wrongdoing is sin… 1 John 5:17(a)

Then, Who is our alternative master? – “Obedience” to what? The law? – According to the Bible? – According to the sovereign nation of your heart? How can you serve both the grace of Jesus and the law?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2; 14

Jesus gave both the condemnation of the law and the grace of forgiveness from it. As King, He creates the law. As High Priest, He intercedes for the law. As Sacrificial Lamb, He atones for the law. All three passionately seek relationship with you!

Maybe you missed it: – “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey…” What is this passage referring to?

If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant. Deuteronomy 15:12-17

God has given us free will. In His design, we have the freedom to choose our own master. If we choose His Son, our ear is pierced into a doorpost, reflective of… – The piercing Christ suffered for us. – The commissioning of priests. – The healing of lepers.

Why not “partner” or “BFF?” – A slave is committed to unquestioning service. – A slave does not have self-determination for circumstances or outcomes. – A slave’s workload is clearly defined. – A slave does not have to procure his own tools. – A slave does not have to find time. – A slave is given all he needs to perform his tasks: food, water, shelter, gifts.

What’s the sure-fire way to get in trouble as a slave?

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51

How do you know if you’re properly serving your Master? How do you know you’re headed in the right direction? How do you know if you’re working hard enough?

What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:21-23

“The wages of sin in death…” We often view this phrase in its finality…the ultimate and eventual outcome of disobedience. The word also translates “rations.” – Death is your ultimate reward AND your daily dose if you are serving the wrong master.

God gave me pneumonia three times in a year so that I could fully appreciate this analogy. You know the smell, taste, and feeling of decay or health. Death or life. Destruction or progress.

Why did you choose to have your ear pierced into a doorpost? Have you expressed your ultimate freedom by committing yourself to be an excellent slave? What will your Master find you doing in His home today? Next week?