Freed To Become Slaves
The Christian's life is more than a mere negation. It is not enough to "abhor that which is evil;" we must also "cleave to that which is good." (Rom. 12:9) There is more than just a negative "thou shalt not" phase of the Christian's life; there, is also many "thou shalts." The positive side of our spiritual relationship is that we live unto God. The negative side is that we are dead to sin and practice it no longer. (Rom. 6:2)
Children of God have left a cruel, unjust, and tyrannical master in forsaking sin, and they have entered into the service of another and greater Master who is gracious and merciful, and whose purpose in calling them to His service is to make them truly free (John 8:31,32). Christ can develop within us all that is noble, righteous, and pure.
So Christians are indeed free, but not free from the necessity of service (Rom. 12:1, 2); of spiritual conflicts (Eph. 6:12); and of constant effort in behalf of the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:5). We are free from sin, but we are the slaves of Christ.
As we have before, in the service of sin, yielded our members readily as instruments of unrighteousness; so now, in the service of Jesus, we should yield our members (hands, feet, ears, eyes, minds, and mouth) as instruments of righteousness. If we did the former willingly when the end was spiritual and eternal death, how much more readily should we do the latter when the end shall be life everlasting!
"For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's sake shall save it." (Mark 8:35)
— Port Arthur, Texas