Audio commentary on this verse

Note 10 at Rom. 6:18: Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Mt. 6:24). We cannot become the servant of righteousness until we are made free from serving sin.

As discussed in note 9 at Rom. 6:16, the Greek word used for servant here denotes slavery. Christians still sin (1 Jn. 1:7,9) but they aren't the slaves of sin (see note 9 at Rom. 5:21, p. 775) anymore. Those who believe that the "old man" still lives and exerts mastery in their lives (see notes 1-3 at Rom. 6:11, pp. 779-780) will not experience the joy of being servants to righteousness.