Read: Romans 6:15-23
You have been set free . . . (v. 22)
On the first Saturday of every month, hundreds of people gather in Mukono, Uganda, for an eight-hour experience called “Know Your Freedom in Christ.” There are new and old believers, seekers, and strugglers of all sorts. Throughout the day the throng praises God, listens to biblical teaching, and earnestly seeks God in prayer. Nothing quite compares to seeing people discover and experience what it means to “have been set free from sin” (v. 22).
“Freedom” is an appropriate word for what God’s grace does. Paul got to the crux of our sin problem when he wrote that “if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey” (v. 16). Three times Paul used “present” to describe how we become slaves to whatever we present ourselves. If we become enslaved to sin’s besetting patterns, we bear its fruit of joy-robbing shame and, even worse, eternal death (v. 21).
On the other hand, if we present ourselves to God through his free gift of Jesus, we become slaves of a different sort: to righteousness (v. 19), and we reap its fruit of sanctification (becoming more like Christ) and, even better, eternal life (v. 23)! We “present” ourselves to God as we praise him in song, listen to his Word, and earnestly seek him in prayer. Nothing quite compares to discovering and experiencing that we have been set free. It’s a resurrection from death to life. —Jon Opgenorth
As you pray, present yourself to God in praise and prayer.
About the Author
Rev. Jon Opgenorth serves as president of Words of Hope. Previously, he served for 18 years as senior pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa. In preparation for ministry, he received a BA in Religion from Northwestern College, and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary.
