Paul has been using the analogy of slavery to make his point, a fact he alludes to in verse 19, and the point has been that in life we must serve either of two masters. Either we must serve sin, or we must serve God. There is no neutral ground. This has been Paul’s main point. But do you really believe this? If we understood it and really believed it, would we sin as frequently or as easily as we sometimes do? Would we take sin lightly and be as casual in the pursuit of righteousness as we often are?

What Paul has been describing in these verses is the doctrine of the two ways, which is found throughout the Bible. The best known statement of it is in the words of Jesus recorded in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). The last section of that sermon lists a series of contrasts among which choices must be made: two gates and two roads, two trees and their two types of fruit, two houses and two foundations. The part regarding the two roads is in Matthew 7:13-14. The point is that a person can be on only one of these two roads, because the roads are entirely different and lead in opposite directions.

The first road starts with slavery to sin. It’s the condition into which each of us is born, for none of us is born righteous. Sin is a cruel master; it drives us along. By ourselves we are unable to escape this harsh tyranny. This leads to “impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness” (v. 19). Impurity refers to sin as it affects the individual. It means personal defilement, particularly by sins that are opposed to chastity. Wickedness refers to violation of the divine or human laws.

The second road starts with slavery to God, which God accomplishes in us and which is actually freedom. This road leads to “righteousness,” and righteousness leads to “holiness” (v. 19). “Righteousness” in this context means primarily righteous acts. “Holiness” is an inner state characterized by conformity to the will and character of God. The phase “righteousness leading to holiness” teaches that the practice of outward godliness leads to inward godliness; that is, doing right things actually brings a person along the pathway of spiritual growth. The end of this healthy, developing road is eternal life (v. 22). In this context “eternal life” refers to the fruit, or end result, of a godly life, not the life itself or its reward. It refers to eternal fellowship with God, who is its source.

Certain Bible verses stand out above others as striking summaries of very important doctrines, particularly those that lie at the very heart of the gospel. Romans 6:23 is one such verse. It’s one of the most familiar verses in the Bible. It says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v. 23). The appeal of this verse is in its summary of the doctrine of the two roads, which we have been studying in one way or another throughout this entire chapter and even in Romans 5. The doctrine has been presented repeatedly, though in different formats.

In Romans 6 the two roads have been described as out workings of two slaveries. On the one hand, there is a slavery to sin. Each of us is born into slavery, which leads to “impurity and ever-increasing wickedness” (v. 19). The end is death (v. 21). On the other hand, there is a slavery to God, which leads to “righteousness leading to holiness” (v. 19) and ends in life (v. 22). This is what is summarized in verse 23.

When Paul contrasts “death” with “eternal life,” as he does in verse 23, we immediately think of the state of souls beyond the grave. That is part of the picture, of course, an important part. But we need to remember that, in Romans 6, Paul is writing about the present life of the believer and stressing that, having been freed from slavery to sin, a Christian must thereafter live to serve God. Although death and life are eternal ends, we must not overlook that there is also a present death and a present life to be considered.

We still have one important phrase left over from verse 23; it is the phrase “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It’s not part of the contrasts we have been studying; “God” is set against “sin,” “gift” against “wages,” “eternal life” against “death.” Why then, does Paul include it? Obviously, because it brings out what was all-important to him, indeed the great truth for which the entire Book of Romans has been written. Paul never forgot that we are saved from sin only because of Jesus’ work. And that raises a final question – a personal one, because religion always is personal; it must be. Are you in Jesus? Is Jesus your Savior, your Lord? There are only two ways you can answer that question, either “Yes” or “No.” He either is your Savior or He is not.

If He is, let me ask these follow-up questions: Are you living for Jesus? If you are not, why not? He gave Himself for you. He died for you. He even lives for you. Paul’s purpose in Romans 6 is to show that if you have been delivered from your bondage to sin by Jesus, it is so that you might thereafter be His, starting in this life. In the midst of a world that is being swept along by the flood torrent of sin, you are to stand out as Jesus’ servant. You are to live for and witness to Him.

If your answer to the question is “No,” I ask why you would willingly keep going on such a self-destructive path, particularly when the way of salvation is known to you. Haven’t you been trapped by sin long enough? Don’t you long for deliverance? The wages of sin is death, and spiritually speaking you are as dead as the dry bones in the Valley of Dry Bones (see Ezek. 37:3). No one but God can bring life out of death. No one but Jesus can make your dead bones live. God can do it. And He will as you come to Him. You need to come. You need to come now!

Romans 6:19-23 Reflection Questions:

Paul moves from the analogy of slavery to an analogy of roads. Describe the two “destinations” that Paul speaks of in verses 20-23.

Slavery to sin or to God and His covenant purposes, embracing our true identity as freed from sin, and presenting ourselves fully to covenant justice are all main ideas in chapter 6. Imagine if Paul were to look up for a moment from writing this letter and glance round the church, maybe your church, at the start of the twenty-first century. What might he say regarding these themes?

Pray specifically for yourself and others in the areas raised by the study of chapter 6. Pray for freedom from the control of the wrong master and for the strength to live in the true identity of Christ.