The Fruit is Sanctification

Romans 6: 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have probably heard these verses hundreds of times and have never thought about the real meaning of vs.22.

We, who are saved, were once slaves to sin and that master's reward for our labor is death. So many people in the world, the gate is wide that leads to destruction, are laboring for their master, Satan, doing his bidding all for the reward of death. Oh that they would have eyes to see.

But those who have been saved and are living for Christ now have a new Master. We are slaves of Christ and the fruit of our new labor is sanctification. We will never be sanctified on our own, it is only the work of Christ in our lives that gives us a desire to even be sanctified. But isn't it sweet to know that the Master is producing fruit in our lives that leads to repentance and Christ-likeness? Our fruit here on earth will bring eternal fruit which is eternal life, not death.

It should be much easier for us to shun sin and run toward repentance when the return on investment is so much better and greater with our new Master. Oh to have no more sin nature to battle and to be in the presence of Christ. "No more distractions, no sin left to fight, the first glimpse of Jesus and faith becomes sight" Enfield. I can't wait!!