Who Owns You?
Who Owns You?
Let me ask a question that might make you feel a little uncomfortable: Who owns you?
I’m not asking what church you attend or what Bible translation you carry. I’m asking who owns your time? Your calendar? Your money? Your thought life? Who owns your reactions when you’re stressed, angry, or alone?
Scripture says something we don't naturally like to hear: You are a slave to whatever you obey. We love to talk about "freedom," but in Romans 6, Paul explains that freedom isn't autonomy; it's a transfer of ownership. Everyone serves someone. The question isn't "Are you owned?" The question is "By whom?"
Two Questions, Two Perspectives
In Romans 6, Paul asks a similar question twice.
In verse 1, he asks if we should keep sinning so grace can abound. He answers historically: You died to sin. You were buried and raised in baptism. That is your past.
In verse 15, he asks again: "Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?" This time, he answers experientially: Look at what your obedience produces.
Grace isn't just something that happened to you; it’s something you now live inside of. Paul wants us to walk away with three certainties:
1. The Knowledge of Our Righteousness
"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey..." (v. 16)
Paul starts with common sense. You don't become a slave by saying "I belong"; you become a slave by presenting yourself. If I present my body to anger, bitterness, or greed, that becomes my master. If I present myself to Christ, He becomes my Lord in practice, not just in confession.
Under the Law, the more you tried, the more you saw your failures. Under Grace, the more you pursue Christ, the more you experience closeness. You don't wake up condemned; you wake up owned by righteousness.
2. The Process of Sanctification
"...so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." (v. 19)
Sanctification isn't hype; it's habit. It is the slow, steady work of grace in your daily life. Paul gets very practical here: Look at the fruit. When you were a slave to sin, did it satisfy? Did it bring peace? Or did it leave shame?
Now that you are "enslaved to God," you can see the difference. You are more patient. You are more sensitive to conviction. You are more drawn to Scripture. Grace doesn’t eliminate obedience; grace makes obedience desirable.
3. The Assurance of Eternal Life
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (v. 23)
There is a massive difference between a wage and a gift.
Wages are earned. Sin pays exactly what it promises: death in your relationships, death in your peace, and eventually, eternal death.
Gifts are given. God gives the gift of eternal life—which isn't just about how long you live, but the quality of that life starting right now.
Eternal life means knowing you belong to God and growing less afraid of the end because you are already walking with the One who conquered it.
The Self-Examination: Who is the Master?
If someone looked at your last week—your scrolling, your conversations, your spending—who would they say is your master?
We avoid sin not because we’re scared of a "policeman in the sky," but because we’ve tasted something better. Once you’ve experienced the closeness of walking with God, you don't want the distance that sin creates. You don’t flirt with death when you’ve experienced life.
Conclusion: The Response of Grace
Romans 6 gives us two reasons to stop sinning:
Because you died to that old life.
Because eternal life is better.
Grace doesn't just forgive you; grace claims you. So, are you merely grateful for grace, or have you surrendered to the One who gave it? Eternal life doesn't begin when you die; it begins when grace reigns.
Who owns you? And this week, will you live like it?