Paul asks a second question similar to verse 1 in verse 15. If we are under God's grace, and we'll be forgiven every time we sin, why not just continue to sin? And again, he answers the same way: "By no means!" We can only serve one master, as Jesus says elsewhere (Mt 6:24). We can either be slaves to sin or slaves to obedience (to God). If one leads to death and the other to righteousness (and thus eternal life), it certainly makes sense to choose the latter! But we can't decide who to serve on our own. Our sinful nature would dictate that we become slaves to sin. But thanks be to God, that through Jesus we have been set free from sin and are made slaves to righteousness!

How can we begin to offer ourselves as slaves to righteousness? Paul gives us an example. We can do it "just as" (Ro 8:19). "Just as" we used to offer ourselves as slaves to sin, now we can offer ourselves as slaves to righteousness. We know how to offer ourselves as slaves to sin. That's easy! We have plenty of experience there. In the same way, we can offer ourselves as slaves of righteousness. What is the benefit? Eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord!


Application: Father, I lived so much of my life as a slave to sin. But because of your son, who died on the cross for my sin, I have been set free and am now a slave to righteousness. Thank you for your gift.
One Word: God gives us his gift, eternal life