True Repentance (part three)

 3. From slaves of sin to slaves of Righteousness

Let us look at some of the admonitions given in regard to this area of repentance /conversion; we have been duly admonished saying:

a.        “Do not present your members (of your body) as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).

b.      “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? Note carefully that it is obedience to something that leads to righteousness. And that thing is stated as follows; "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous" Romans 6:16; 1 John 3:7).

c.         “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” (Romans 6:17-18).

d.        “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” (Romans 6:19).

e.       “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness” (Romans 6:20).

f.       “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).

This area requires some further expansion for example; the definition of sin which is the transgression of the law, or all unrighteousness: The definition of righteousness, which is the keeping of all of God`s commandments and of course, making a clear distinction between imputed righteousness and the three-fold aspects of practical righteousness; and of course the fruit of righteousness which is holiness.

We however have the consolation which says; “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace,” but this is no justification for one to continue transgressing the law. Because the question is asked: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?” And the undisputed answer is: “Certainly not!” (Romans 6:14-15).

So the crux of the matter is, one is either a slave to sin, or a slave to righteousness, for, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin (transgressing the laws of God) that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

I therefore, beg to ask the question, are these changes figurative, metaphoric, or are they literal and practical transformations that must be manifested in the life of anyone who profess to have repented or converted?

Stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph