and the outcome, eternal life

So ends Romans 6:22.  This, in itself, is perfectly acceptable.  However, when I went over the sixth chapter of Romans this morning to work on memorization, I was again reminded of a sermon I heard a few years ago.  The preacher spent a great deal of time on verse 22 drawing out one of the most uncomfortable implications for modern Christian living.  I had overlooked this verse in earlier readings of Romans, I think, because verse 23 (so familiar to us all) follows on its heels.  It says, ‘But now, having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit [lit. 'you have your fruit'], resulting in sanctification, and the outcome – eternal life.’

Eternal life is ‘the outcome’ of something.  From even an uninformed reading, it seems clear (by the use of simple logic) that if this sentence is true, there will be no eternal life without this something.  The something referred to in the passage is ’sanctification’.  Contained also in this sentence is a very basic definition of the root of sanctification.  It’s called fruit.  The fruit of being ‘enslaved to God’ rather than sin.  The notion that it is possible to inherit the kingdom and share in eternal life without conforming in the least to Christ’s character or God’s prescriptions is so culturally pervasive that it almost shocks me every time I read a verse like Romans 6:22.  There must be good fruit on the tree in order for the tree to be deemed good!  There is no eternal life without ’sanctification’ (setting apart for a holy purpose), and there is no sanctification without the visible fruit of a life enslaved to God!

How have we come to underemphasize this aspect of the gospel?  Holy living was clearly central to the lives of the apostles and the early church.  I suppose the biggest problem I have now is how to know that I am producing good fruit.  Comparing myself with the Puritans makes me think I haven’t even begun.  We have a long way to go.