Romans 6:18

Romans 6:18

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

a. NLT: Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

b. NIV: You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

c. YLT: and having been freed from the sin, ye became servants to the righteousness.

d. Amplified Bible: And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action).

e. Worrell Translation: and, having been made free from sin, ye were made slaves of righteousness.

1. “Being then made free from sin…”

a. being…made free [1659 * eleuthero] [Strong: from 1658; to liberate, i.e. (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability):--deliver, make free.]

b. then [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

c. from [575 * apo] [Strong: a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.]

d. sin [266 * hamartia] [Strong: from 264; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful).]

1). Believing the gospel from the heart sets us free from sin.

a. Romans 6:16-18 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

2). Another witness is found a few chapters later in Romans.

a). Romans 7:22-8:2 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3). This was something the law of Moses could not do.

a). Acts 13:38, 39 [Amplified Classic]  So let it be clearly known and understood by you, brethren, that through this Man forgiveness and removal of sins is now proclaimed to you;

13:39And that through Him everyone who believes [who ^[i]acknowledges Jesus as his Savior and devotes himself to Him] is absolved (cleared and freed) from every charge from which he could not be justified and freed by the Law of Moses and given right standing with God.

2. “…ye became the servants of righteousness.”

a. ye became the servants [1402 *  douloo] [Strong: from 1401; to enslave (literally or figuratively):--bring into (be under) bondage, X given, become (make) servant.]

b. of righteousness [1343 * dikaiosune] [Strong: from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:--righteousness.]