Romans 6:17-18

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Thanks to God that you obeyed. You have been set free from and have become slaves to righteousness. Notice first that Paul is thanking God for the conversion of these Christians. If people determine their destiny, or save themselves, either by their faith or works, why is Paul thanking God for their obedience? But if it is God’s grace that saves, if it is God Who grants the faith, the willingness and the ability to believe in Christ, then that’s a really good reason for Paul to thank God. Even in this first phrase in v17, Paul is proving that salvation is by grace alone. Do you thank God for giving you faith?

When you hear that God is sovereign and that He has guaranteed that those under grace will not be defeated by sin, do not jump to the conclusion that the battle is a charade, and nothing hangs on your choices. Don’t come to the Bible assuming that if it does not depend on what you choose ultimately, it does not depend on what you choose at all. That is man-centered, unbiblical thinking. Rather say, “Since it depends on God ultimately, there is hope that I, a dead and hardened sinner, may choose what is good and live a life pleasing to God.” Let the sovereignty of God make you hopeful that change is possible, not passive as if no change were necessary. Realize that Paul is teaching us in this chapter how to live for the glory of God, not the glory of ourselves. That is why God’s action is ultimate and ours is dependent on His. That is why God doesn’t say, “Just do it.” He says, “Because you are under grace, do it. Because you have died with Christ, don’t do it. Because you are enslaved to righteousness, do it.” “Just do it” is man-centered. Do it because “God is at work in you to do it” is God-centered. Putting it this way keeps the work of God front and center. And He gets all the glory. 1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised.”

God’s grace is the thing which liberates, and true liberation is found in obedience to godly desires, not in obedience to sinful desires. Paul is saying here that God’s grace brings power for obedience to God. And notice that this obedience is whole-hearted. God’s commands are good, and it’s only sin that makes us think that they are binding and cramping our style. God’s sovereignty over us as His servants is always for His glory, and not only that, but also in our best interests. By His grace, we are made able and willing to give whole-hearted obedience!

We once defined freedom not as “from obedience or obligation,” but “to obedience and for obligation.” Paul reminds us here that freedom means having the ability and willingness to obey. And if the Son sets you free (in this sense), you are free indeed. To be a child of God is to obey. If you want to be like God’s Son, which you will if the Spirit lives in you, and which is what you are as a believer, an adopted son of God, then obey. Paul is saying the freedom of grace is for obedience, and that’s what it means not be to under law, but under grace.