I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Romans 6:19 (ESV)
A fundamental change has occurred (Rom. 6:3-4) in those who have been justified through faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:23-25) and reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10-11). We are not what we were. And that should produce a change in us.
Paul attempts to explain this change in us. But its full understanding is beyond us. So, he uses human terms to describe it. Analogies are generally imperfect but can help us understand the truth they represent.
The analogy Paul uses here is slavery, although it is a somewhat voluntary slavery. He refers to us as presenting ourselves as slaves to one of two masters. Either to sin (impurity and lawlessness) or to righteousness.
When I choose to serve sin, it results in ever more sin. It is a downward spiral. But when I choose to serve righteousness, it leads to sanctification, an upward spiral.
This is a choice I make every day. Who will I serve? Am I going to serve myself, doing what I want, which is sin? Or am I going to serve God, doing what he wants?
The choice should be easy. I have been justified and reconciled to God and will be saved from the wrath of God. Why would I reasonably make any choice other than to serve the one who made that possible?
So, offer your members as slaves to righteousness—your mind, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet. What do you think about, look at, and listen to? What about the words that come out of your mouth? Where do you go, and what do you do? In everything, serve God and righteousness with all the parts of your body, and you will grow in sanctification.
