You Were the Servants of Sin Romans 6:17

Paul the apostle asked the people in Rome, “Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”, and in chapter six and seventeen of Romans, Paul recognized they were, “the servants of sin, but” they “have obeyed” where we read:

But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin,

but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

The verse begins, “But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, ...” Paul began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “be thanked” or “is of grace, that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness and unmerited favor”“that you were” which means “that Paul's believing readers used to be” “the servants” or “the slaves, bondmen and people of servile condition” “of sin” which means “of missing the mark, erring and being mistaken”. Paul “thanked God” because his believing readers were no longer the “slaves” of “missing the mark, error and being mistaken”.

The verse goes on to say, “... but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you.” Paul began with the word “but” or “moreover and” “you have obeyed” or “Paul's readers have listened, hearkened and submitted ” “from the heart” which means “out of, by and away from the soul or mind as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “that form” or “the imprint, stroke, print and blow” “of doctrine” which means “of the teaching and instruction” “which was delivered to you” or “that was given, committed and commended toward Paul's readers”. Paul shared how his readers “listened and submitted” “out of their souls and minds” to the “teachings” which Paul and his companions “gave” to them.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how he acknowledged the fact that his readers used to be “slaves” to “sin”, however, they “submitted” from their “souls” to he and his companions' “teachings”. Jesus Christ came to free people from their “bondage” to “sin”, and when they “obey” the “doctrine or teaching” of the “gospel” or “good news” of Jesus Christ. Those who believe and trust in Jesus will be “set free” from the “power of sin”, and are promised to live “eternally” with God.

Next time Paul tells the people in Rome, “made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.