~ Contrast: Slave of Sin or Slave of Righteousness ~
Series Comment ~ The Scripture contains many
contrasts. In this series we look
briefly at some of them. Just like in
our “Binary” series many of these contrasts represent a choice of this or that.
Scripture
1 ~ “Do
you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are
that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of
obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were
slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you
were delivered. And having been set free
from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the
weakness of your flesh. For just as you
presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to
more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness
for holiness. For when you were slaves
of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness” (Romans 6:16-20).
Scripture
2 ~
“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not
differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians
and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in
bondage under the elements of the world.
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born
of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we
might receive the adoption as sons. And
because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your
hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a
son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. But then, indeed, when you did not know God,
you served those which by nature are not gods” (Galatians 4:1-8).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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