Romans 6:22-23  ²² 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. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Since you have been emancipated from sin and made servants of God, you are now undergoing an extreme make-over. The result will be a mature, godly life that will lead to eternal life in heaven. Sin is a terrible employee! And your paycheck is nothing but DEATH ! ! Through Messiah Jesus, you have been given the free gift of the life God always meant for you to have in the first place – life with Him forever. (JMV)

Justification is the judicial act of God counting us to be right with Him upon placing our faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Sanctification is the life-time, ongoing process through which Christ works on us, molding us, and transforming us into His very likeness.

       Old Slavery                                   New Slavery

Slave master = Sin 6:20                   Slave master = God 6:22

Free from righteousness 6:60            Free from sin 6:22

What benefit = None 6:21                What fruit = Sanctification 6:21

Master gives wages 6:23                  Master gives gifts 6:23

Wages = Death 6:23                       Gift = Eternal Life 6:23

Sin puts you in the driver’s seat of an out-of-control, runaway eighteen-wheeler, out of control, and barreling down a steep mountain-side with no brakes (Reminds me of going down “Mount Eagle” just outside Chattanooga TN). When you get to the bottom, which is sure to come sooner or later, well . . . let’s just say it isn’t very pretty! (John Blanchard describes sin as “moral mutiny by man.”)

Life in Christ is not merely putting the truck in reverse; and it is certainly not riding into the sunset in a silver BMW, relaxing and taking in the view while Jesus steers you through sunny, flower-strewn meadows. When you’ve received a new life in Him, the real work is just beginning!

Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30 JMV)

When we ‘change employers’ so-to-speak, Jesus gives us a completely new job description. At the top of our ‘to-do list’ is everything that chips away the rough edges (or whole chunks of granite in some cases) that do not conform to His image. Sometimes we may think the process is too painful and we might wish to have a little ‘break time’. But a life-time of being ‘on the job’ with Him is the best full-time ‘job’ we could ever have.

And the total benefits package is out of this world.

just a thought,

jack

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