Romans 6:19-2019I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. (Romans 6:19‑20) demonstrates the progressive nature of walking in holiness (practical sanctification). Paul says, “Even as ye have yielded your members in bondage to uncleanness and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members in bondage to righteousness unto holiness [sanctification].” The Roman believers had once practiced lawlessness (before they were saved), and by doing so, only became more lawless; they were now to practice righteousness, and it would result in their becoming progressively more holy. This shows that it is a progressive thing in both directions. Just as a man who practices wickedness becomes increasingly more wicked (“lawlessness unto lawlessness”), so also the more a Christian practices righteousness, the more holy he becomes (“righteousness unto holiness”).
On the negative side, a man does not become a monster all at once; it may take years of practicing sin. He may do an evil deed today that five years ago he would have shrunk from doing. It has been reported that Nero wept over killing a fly in his early days, but ended his career laughing while Rome burnt! Paul’s point here is that just as surely as sin works progressively in a person, so also righteousness works progressively in the life of a believer. Every time we do a right deed, it becomes easier for us to do it again. Another has aptly said, “Every new victory will give you new power.” Thus, we “grow up unto salvation” practically (1 Peter 2:22As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)). The children’s hymn emphasizes this point: “Each victory will help you, some other to win.” Thus, Christians are now in a new and happy servitude as “servants [bondmen] to righteousness.”
Righteousness and Holiness
One difference that we should note is that “righteousness” and “holiness” are not the same. Righteousness has to do with doing right things because they are right. Holiness has to do with doing right things because you love what is right and hate evil.
In Romans 6:21-23,21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:21‑23) Paul concludes by pointing to the incredible difference in the results of these two opposing servitudes. He asks the Roman believers to consider the end of the course they were once treading before they were saved: “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed, for the end of those things is death?” What profit was there in it? It only brought forth death in every sense. But being set free, he tells them to look at the great and good results that were now being produced in their lives; there was “fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting [eternal] life.” They were now free to do the will of God in fellowship with God, and the path they were now treading would end in glory in a coming day. (As in chapter 5:21, Paul views “eternal life” here as being something we reach at the end of the path of faith, when we get to heaven in a glorified state. Of course, we have it now as well, which the Apostle John calls “life eternal” — see, for example, John 3:16,36,16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) J. N. Darby Trans.)
Verse 22 is sort of a summary of the truth presented in chapter 6. It says:
• We are made “free from sin.”
• We have become “servants to God.”
• We have our “fruit unto holiness.”
• The “end is eternal life.”
The Wages of Sin
The conclusion of the whole matter is this: “The wages of sin is death; but the act of favor of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). As mentioned, one course leads to “death,” and the other course leads to “life.” “The wages of sin” mentioned here is often taken to be sins (evil deeds) that men commit. Evangelists will use this verse to tell sinners that as a consequence of their sins, they will die and go to hell. But we must keep in mind that this section of the epistle is not dealing with sins, but rather with sin, the evil sin-nature in the believer. Paul has already shown in chapter 5 that death in the human race is not the result of personal sins, but the result of being descended from a fallen head. Death may claim a child that is only one day old. It is clear that death has not claimed the child because the child is guilty of sinning, but because he has a sin-nature and the effects of its working in his body has caused the death. Moreover, believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, whose sins are forgiven, still die. If their sins caused their death, we might mistakenly conclude that God had not forgiven them after all! Concerning this verse, another has said that it is “not an appeal to sinners as sometimes used, but to those already set free.”
B. Anstey