Now, how have we been set free from sin? How have we become slaves of righteousness?

I think I am correct in stating that ordinarily expressions in the New Testament concerning freedom from sin are viewed as freedom from the guilt of sin. But if we are comparing slavery to sin and slavery to righteousness it is clear we are not speaking of the guilt of sin and imputed righteousness because then the term slavery would not be appropriate.

We are not saying we are free from sin because God no longer counts our sinful behavior as sinful. If this were true, then the man committing incest in Corinth would have been in no real trouble. Paul would have said, "Comfort the brother. Although his actions have been sinful in our sight please remember that he is without guilt in the sight of God. He has been set free from the guilt of sin. God sees him only through Jesus Christ, therefore the incest, while it might seem unclean to us, is seen by God as the moral purity of Jesus Christ. Remember, through Christ the guilt of sin cannot be imputed to him. Do not judge lest you be judged!" (This is the kind of nonsense we hear today.)

God commanded us in Corinthians to judge ourselves, saying if we do not judge ourselves God will judge us. This would make no sense if the freedom from sin of Romans 6:18 were referring to the fact that God does not judge our sinful behavior as sinful.

Then we come to the expression, "slaves of righteousness." Would this be an appropriate expression if the reference were to imputed righteousness? Would an individual to whom righteousness was imputed be correctly addressed as "a slave of righteousness"?

Also, in light of the entire context of the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans, to suddenly switch from a discussion of actually yielding to sinful or righteous behavior to a legal freedom from sin and an imputed righteousness would not be at all logical.

So by all principles of reasonable Biblical interpretation we must conclude that Paul is referring to an actual deliverance from sin and an actual slavery to the righteous behavior that comprises the eternal moral law of God.

But how are we set free from sin? By obeying with the Spirit's help the numerous passages of the New Testament that serve as guidelines for our behavior. This we must do while Christ, the Righteous One, is being formed in us.

We don't have to worry about Moses any longer. We have died to that Law. Now we are forgiven through the blood of Jesus and are obeying the Spirit as He leads us to put to death the passions and lusts of our flesh and to lay hold on eternal life.

The negative side of redemption is freedom from the law of sin and death, that is, from the interaction between our sinful flesh and the commandments of the Law of Moses. The positive side of redemption is slavery to righteousness, that is, continual growth in the righteous behavior that always flows from the eternal resurrection Life of Jesus Christ.

The only means of entering the eternal resurrection Life of Christ is careful observance of the commandments of Christ and His Apostles.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (I Timothy 6:11)