But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.
But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.
But now, being free from sin, and having been made servants to God, you have your fruit in that which is holy, and the end is eternal life.
But now being made free from sin, and having become servants to God, ye have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.
But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.
But now being made free from sin - As being free from righteousness is the finished character of a sinner, so being made free from sin is the finished character of a genuine Christian.
And become servants to God - They were transferred from the service of one master to that of another: they were freed from the slavery of sin, and engaged in the service of God.
Fruit unto holiness - Holiness of heart was the principle; and righteousness of life the fruit.
But now - Under the Christian plan of justification.
Being made free from sin - Being delivered from its dominion, and from bondage; in the same manner as before conversion they were free from righteousness, Romans 6:20.
Ye have your fruit unto holiness - The fruit or result is holiness. This service produces holiness, as the other did sin. It is implied here, though not expressly affirmed, that in this service which leads to holiness, they received important benefits, as in the service of sin they had experienced many evils.
And the end - The final result - the ultimate consequence will be. At present this service produces holiness; hereafter it will terminate in everlasting life. By this consideration the apostle states the tendency of the plan of justification, and urges on them the duty of striving after holiness.
Everlasting life - Note, John 3:36. This stands in contrast with the word "death" in Romans 6:21, and shows its meaning. "One is just as long in duration as the other;" and if the one is limited, the other is. If those who obey shall be blessed with life forever, those who disobey will be cursed with death forever. Never was there an antithesis more manifest and more clear. And there could not be a stronger proof that the word "death" in Romans 6:21, refers not to temporal death, but to eternal punishment. For what force would there be in the argument on the supposition that temporal death only is meant? The argument would stand thus: "The end of those sins is to produce temporal death; the end of holiness is to produce eternal life!" Will not temporal death be inflicted, it would be immediately asked, at any rate? Are Christians exempt from it? And do not people suffer this, whether they become Christians or not? How then could this be an argument bearing on the tenor of the apostle's reasoning? But admit the fair and obvious construction of the passage to be the true one, and it becomes plain. They were pursuing a course tending to everlasting ruin; they are now in a path that shall terminate in eternal life. By this weighty consideration, therefore, they are urged to be holy.