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Commentaries
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Romans
  
2. Freedom from the Law facilitates our deliverance from sin
(Roman 6:15-23)
15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!16Do 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?17But 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.18And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.19I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. 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.20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.21What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.22But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.


The cunning questions of the Jews reechoed once again in Paul’s mind: Shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but are delievered by grace?
Paul entirely rejected this satanic question, for it was produced not by the Holy Spirit, but by the regions. Paul testified to the believers that they had willfully and absolutely put themselves at the disposal of Christ for his love, and therefore they became free from the power of sin and the complaints of the law, bearing the life and righteousness of God in themselves. Whoever claims the freedom of man without the fear of God is a liar. Dr. Luther compares man to a donkey, in his statement that the individual is unable to live without a master, because someone must ride on him. You are ridden either by the devil or by God. When God becomes your God, and you carry him gladly, and serve him continuously and diligently, then despair, sin and the power of death end in you. Instead hope, peace, and true spiritual freedom begin. Christ has delivered you, not to indifference and amusement, but to the service of God, and doing good to others in the guidance of the spirit of righteousness. Through obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, your conscience is relieved. Without this fellowship in the Spirit of Christ, you remain in despair and misery.
Christ himself testified that he had a yoke, though he himself was free and the eternal God. However, he gladly submitted to his Father’s yoke, and obeyed even to death, the death of the cross. Divine love made Jesus a bondservant to carry away the sin of the world. So, why don’t you follow him? Do you carry the sin of your friends, and suffer from their negligence? Do not be upset, but set your heart on their salvation and spriritual deliverance. The love of God urges you towards the redemption of all.
Life with Christ guides you to serve many, not theoretically or emotionally, but with resolution, sacrifice, and with all your strength. Just as you spent your time, money, and gifts in the past on false amusement, now put all of your abilities in the service of Christ and the salvation of the others. Comfort those who mourn, visit the sick, help the hungry, study with the weak, and enlighten those who seek righteousness with the gospel.
The love of Christ embodied in believers is patient hope in our unjust world. Have you become a servant of Christ, and a bondservant of the love of his Son? If so, sin has no power over you, having passed through death with your repentance, having been crucified with Christ, filled with his Holy Spirit, and established in his eternal life. You have a great hope with all those who live in Christ.