“And whatsoever ye do – in word or (lit.) in work – do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus – giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.!” [Col.3:17]
“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.” [Rom.6:17]
The verse right before the first one (Col.3:16) exhorts us as being God’s elect-to-eternal salvation to: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly”; or, “abundantly”! So much so (in accordance with 3:17) as to influence all our words and all our works! So that everything that we do – in the entirety of our beings — including all our thoughts, intents and motives – we do – we perform — as living proof that we are indeed the true children of the Christ, our God. And, this, in turn, brings forth the wonderful reality of that which is descriptively declared unto us from our second text, Rom.6:17! Which introduces to us something that we can truly be thankful to God alone for. Let us, therefore, examine this truly grand premise.
Rom.6:17 declares dogmatically that something fantastic has happened unto us by God’s grace! And, it is from Rom.6:18 that we have it clearly laid out what that something is. It says: “Being then made free from sin – ye became the servants of righteousness!” Wow! What exactly is this portion of scripture saying to us?
In order for us to get the full and actual impact of what God’s Word is declaring here we need to understand the language that it is really using here. When it says in its use of the word “servants” – it is literally meaning: “bondslaves”. A bondslave is always subject to the contextual reality of their actual circumstances. This is what they are bound (or, bonded) to. They are not truly free and independent contractors, or actors. They are the property of their taskmasters who have their entire being – and will — under their complete control – at all times!
When Jesus taught plainly and clearly from Jn.8, He said from vs.34: “Verily, verily, I say unto you whosoever committeth sin is the servant [or, lit., “the bondslave”] of sin.” This statement includes every single one of us – without exception! Who doesn’t commit sin?! So, who isn’t a bondslave of sin? Therefore, who in this fallen-in-sin world has a free will? No one – that’s who. Who isn’t a sinner? Again – No one – that’s who! “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!” [Rom.3:23]. Rom.6:20-22 is extremely relevant to this premise – when it says: “For when ye were the servants [or, more lit., “the bondslaves”] of sin – ye were free from righteousness. (21) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed(?) – for the end of those things is death. (22) But now – being made free from sin – and become servants [or again, more lit., “bondslaves”] to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness – and the end everlasting life!” Praise the Name of our Savior, God – the Lord Jesus Christ!
This brings us full circle back around to Col.3:17! “And whatsoever ye do in word or work – do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus – giving thanks to God and the Father – by Him!” And, Rom.6:17 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants [or, “the bondslaves”] of sin – but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine [lit.] whereunto ye were delivered.” In other words, the real truth of the matter is that God always delivers His true children over into the hearing and seeing and receiving and believing the pure truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ! Hence, Jesus says: “And ye shall know the truth – and the truth shall make you free!” Jn.8:32
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpnter
