Romans 6:12-23
The Reality of Yielding (vv. 12-14)
- A new command
- A new choice
- A new condition
The Reason for Yielding (vv. 15-19)
- Inescapable service
- Incredible salvation
- Inevitable surrender
The Return for Yielding (vv. 20-23)
- Surrender to sin yields the fruit of shame and death
- Surrender to God yields the fruit of holiness and eternal life
More to Consider
Paul’s positive use of the metaphor of slavery may strike Christians today as offensive. However, slavery’s pervasiveness in the ancient world helped convey his point graphically. In fact, everyone is a slave either to sin—an evil, malicious slave master—or to God. God grants His slaves eternal life and freedom from sin’s destructive power. Sin pays death as wages; God grants life (Rom. 6:23).
Ted Cabal et al., The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 1689.
The martyr Jim Elliot wrote when he was age 22: "One of the great blessings of Heaven is the appreciation of Heaven on earth. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Signs of the Times.
This incident in the life of Nelson: In time of war, a French officer was once brought into his presence. He went boldly up to the great admiral and held out his hand. Nelson drew back. "Give me your sword," said he, "and then I will take your hand." sermon illustrations.com
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late. Closer Walk, December 1991.
Time plus yieldedness is the biblical prescription for spiritually mature sanctification. Unknown
