I learned something on our recent vacation to southern Illinois. From its inception, Illinois was an anti-slavery state. This is made clear in the state’s founding constitution. There was, however, one curious carve-out in the constitution for an area of southern Illinois. Called the Saline Exemption, it allowed slavery for the salt works around Gallatin County. Salt production from the saline springs was a huge source of income for the state at that time. Finally, in 1848, the practice was outlawed, and the Constitution was amended. By 1870, the salt works were out of business due to falling prices from other, more modern salt sources.
What does that bit of history have to do with Romans? In chapter six, verses 15-23, Paul uses the example of slavery to explain spiritual conditions. “What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not! Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:15–23, CSB)
We are slaves to something or somebody. We are either slaves to sin in some form or slaves to righteousness. That slavery to sin is expressed in many different ways. The easiest examples to point out are addictive behaviors of self-gratification. But we can also be slaves to gossip, back-biting, and bitterness. Like a slave – we can’t help it because it controls us. Through Christ, however, sin is no longer our master.
While we have been set free in Christ, we now willingly obey a new Lord. Sin is not our master, and we are not our own lord, but we choose to follow Christ and seek His righteousness. The outcome of our previous slavery was death; the fruit of choosing to follow Christ is sanctification and the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans applied. Slavery to sin gave us little choice. We may find temporary freedom from one sin, only to be enslaved by another. But being enslaved to God is a choice. We choose daily whether to live in humble obedience or willful self-gratification. The former leads to being made more holy in Christ (sanctification), the latter enslaves us again to sin until we repent. This obedience to Christ is born of love, worship, and willingness. We don’t obey to earn eternal life, we obey and serve Him willingly to bring Christ glory. One question we should always ask ourselves – who am I serving? In this choice, decision, behavior, desire, dream, thoughts, words, or silence, am I serving Jesus, sin, or myself? Be like a slave in regard to making righteous choices in all you do. Always remember, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, CSB)
- Romans Applied – Slaves - June 10, 2026
- Proverbs – Timeless Wisdom - June 8, 2026
- Romans Applied – Prevailing Grace - June 3, 2026
