SERMON SPOTLIGHT * 5/31/26
“The phrase [Under New Ownership] signals a new start for an organization. Operational shifts, product enhancements, and renovations. There’s a new boss in town, and we’re doing things their way. Out with the old, in with the new. And you’re going to love it! Today’s text teaches us that, as Christians, we are Under New Ownership. The message today is: The gospel sets us free from sin so we can freely pursue a life of righteousness and receive all its blessings.”
SERIES: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ
TEXT: Romans 6:15-23
TITLE: Under New Ownership
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: The gospel sets us free from sin so we can freely pursue a life of righteousness and receive all its blessings.
POINTS:
I. The Inescapable Reality of Slavery
II. A Different Kind of Slavery
III. The Joyful Freedom of Slavery
SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.
“Paul opened this chapter by making clear that no one should walk away thinking that the core truth of Romans—Justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—gives a person the freedom to sin. Now, following his statement in 14 that we are not under law but under grace, Paul does the same in 15. Paul says—Are you kidding me? Of course, we don’t pursue sin to receive more grace. To the contrary: The gospel sets us free from sin so we can freely pursue a life of righteousness and receive all its blessings.”
“It’s a critically important message. We've all been guilty of treating grace as a get-out-of-jail-free card rather than the power that breaks sin's dominion and compels us to holiness. It’s a theological truth that can easily be twisted and distorted beyond recognition—I know it’s wrong, but I’m under grace. God will forgive me. It's a real temptation that threatens every believer's spiritual health.”
“The gospel sets us free from sin so we can freely pursue a life of righteousness and receive all its blessings.”
“Paul makes his point using the imagery of slavery. The word slavery dominates our text, appearing eight times. Now, given our country’s history, slavery is an uncomfortable topic. But Roman slavery was different. It wasn't race-based. Many slaves volunteered themselves due to dire poverty. A slave could purchase their freedom and become a citizen. Slavery is always wrong because people are created in the image of God, but it was different in Paul’s day.”
“In 16, Paul uses the powerful imagery of slavery to explain a fundamental truth: We are all slaves. Everyone is a slave. You are either a slave to sin, which leads to death, or a slave to obedience, which leads to righteousness. To be a slave to obedience is to be a slave of God, as it says in 22. In other letters, Paul says we are slaves of Christ. But in a context where Paul argues that grace doesn’t give us the freedom to live in sin, the word obedience is meant to emphasize that life under grace is marked by specific, concrete submission to God’s will.”
“But as unappealing as it is, we need to come to grips with Paul’s broader point here: We are all enslaved either to sin or to God. You may think you're in control. You may believe you’re your own person. You may think you’re free from any compelling force—I am my own person. I don’t belong to anyone. I am completely free and unfettered in the decisions I make and the direction I take. It’s a myth. And a dangerous one at that.”
“In his new book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity, Carl Trueman argues that this myth of freedom is the source of society’s chaos. The greatest risk to complete autonomy is a God who claims to own us and calls us to worship Him with our lives. So we reject God and set out to desecrate all things. The more we desecrate, the deeper our enslavement to sin—It’s insanity in the name of pride!”
“In his new book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity, Carl Trueman argues that this myth of freedom is the source of society’s chaos. The greatest risk to complete autonomy is a God who claims to own us and calls us to worship Him with our lives. So we reject God and set out to desecrate all things. The more we desecrate, the deeper our enslavement to sin—It’s insanity in the name of pride!”
“Paul could not be clearer in 16: No one is free. You are either a slave to sin or a slave to God.”
“Here’s the question: Whose slave am I? Who am I actually serving? Not who you claim to serve, but who gets your consistent obedience. What has commanded your loyalty this week? What have you been passionately pursuing? What are you fiercely justifying? What is hopelessly irresistible to you? Who really controls you? You are a slave, but whose slave are you—Sin’s or Christ’s?”
“After telling the Romans Christians they are not neutral, he reminds them they have been freed from slavery to sin to serve a new Master—and it’s all God’s doing.”
“Once, you were a slave to sin. Just as metal is drawn to a magnet, you were drawn to it. You were dead in your sin. You couldn’t help but sin. You were enslaved to it. Sin was your Master, and death was your destiny. But now you are under new ownership. The Lord is your Master. Thanks be to God. He did this. The word for committed in 17 means handed over or delivered. The Lord committed your heart to the gospel and all its moral and ethical claims in God’s Word. This is the Lord’s doing! Look down at 22.”
“God sets us free from sin. We don’t ultimately set ourselves free. By His grace, God sets us free. He transforms our hearts and gives us the Holy Spirit by whose power and work we see the beauty of Jesus and treasure him above ourselves.”
“The gospel has been stamped on your heart, marking you and committing you to Christ so that your life is now characterized, not by rote or legalistic obedience, but by willing, joyful, grace-motivated obedience that flows from the very core of who we are in Christ. This is the New Covenant promise of Ezekiel 36.”
“This is God’s doing, and it is true freedom—being transferred from the dominion of sin to the dominion of righteousness! Serving and living for God isn’t bondage; it’s the deepest and most profound freedom you will ever know. And in 19, Paul essentially says, So live like it!”
“Pursue obedience with the same zeal you once pursued sinfulness. In short, you are Under New Ownership. You have a new Master—Live like it!”
“Here’s the truth: Sin wants to reclaim you. Sin wants you back. Don't give in. Don’t present your members—your actions, words, time, energy, and yes, your body—to sin. They all belong to God for righteousness’ sake. So don’t give them over to sin.”
“In Christ, you are Under New Ownership. You have a new Master. A better Master. A Master who is always with you, loves you, is for you, and is working all things for your good. You belong to Christ. You don’t have to answer sin’s call. Let it go to voicemail as you pursue a new life of righteousness for your Master’s glory—That’s true freedom!”
Illustration: When Your Old Demanding Boss Keeps Calling
“In Christ, that’s our relationship with sin. We know its voice. We spent years jumping when it calls. But the moment you came to Christ, you changed employers. Sin still calls. It’s a familiar and powerful voice. But ultimately, it has no power or authority over you if you don’t allow it (stay tuned for Ch 7).”
“In these final verses, Paul shows us why slavery to God is infinitely better than slavery to sin. Paul says that when sin was your master, your life was dominated and defined by it. Righteousness had no place in your life—you were free of it. When you think about what you believed, how you acted, and what you treasured and valued—you’re ashamed.“
“By the way, shame is real. It can be overwhelming. As a Christian, here’s how we deal with the shame over the past— Lord, thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for your grace that makes me a new creation!”
“Enslavement to sin only and always results in shame and death, physical and spiritual. Nothing good comes from it. But your new life in Christ, with God as your Master, is stunningly different. The fruit is beautiful, not shameful, because it reflects the character of Christ, and it results, not in death, but in sanctification and eternal life.”
“Freedom to pursue righteousness that leads to greater Christ-likeness as we head for heaven to receive, not wages that we deserve, but the free gift we don’t deserve of eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord. What a privilege and joy to be slaves of God!”
“Paul began asking—What then, are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? Answer empahtically) By no means! Why? Because we are Under New Ownership. We serve a new Master. We are slaves of Christ called to profound obedience and recipients of the glorious benefits and blessings of heaven, in this life and the life to come. That’s true freedom.”
“And the key to enjoying our spiritual freedom is obedience. Last week, we learned that the pathway to freedom is our union with Christ. This week, Paul says we experience the fullness of that freedom through obedience.”
“Obedience matters in the Christian life. Grace does not make obedience irrelevant or unnecessary; it makes it possible. It makes it desirable. It makes it beautiful. And when we say no to sin and yes to righteousness, there is a fullness of joy that we experience (John 15:10-11).”
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Ezekiel 36:26-27
John 15:10-11
APPLICATION:
“Do you lack joy in your walk with God? Are you spiritually dry? Are you increasingly disillusioned spiritually? Today is the day. How is God speaking to you in your life—Obey Him. Whatever it is. Whatever the implications. Whatever the cost. Obey Him. He is your Master. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.”
“Right now, begin living in conformity with the One who has mercifully and graciously made you His. You are Under New Ownership—Live like it!”
The gospel has set you free from sin so you can freely pursue a life of righteousness and receive all its blessings
QUOTES:
F.F. Bruce - “To make being under grace an excuse for sinning is a sign that one is not really under grace at all.”
Sam Storms - “We became the slaves of God and righteousness when he purchased us by the blood of his Son. When God redeemed us, he didn't put a piece of paper in our hand and declare: “This is documented proof of your freedom. You are now at liberty to go and do as you please. You are free to live however you wish.” No. He said: “I purchased you with the precious blood of my Son. You now belong to me. Enter into the true freedom of being empowered to live in accordance with my will and for my glory”
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 6:8-14
SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
This Is Our God
We Are Yours Forever
Our Song From Age to Age
Is He Worthy
The Steadfast Love Of Christ
NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 7:1-6