For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace. Romans 6:14 NABRE
Paul in this section of the letter to the Romans is speaking of slavery and freedom. Paul paints a picture that either one lives in service to sin or in obedience to God, one is bondage and the other liberation, it is very black and white for Paul. Paul is speaking about sin which reigns over our mortal bodies, as if it is an impulse to a perverse and selfish action that dwells in humanity, a seeming will of its own, arousing forbidden desires, deceiving us and leading to enslavement if we yield to its aggressiveness. We all fall under the desires of sin. But Paul teaches that Christ died in order to condemn sin in the flesh, united with Christ in new life we are free from the enslavement of sin. Paul says sin must not reign over our mortal bodies any longer. Through Christ sin has been relegated to a back seat while Christ is the one for whom we should obey. Rather than our mortal bodies as weapons for wickedness, separated by sin such that we look for the immediate over the ultimate, pleasure over fulfillment, things over people, images over intimacy and experience over exclusivity; we should be dedicated to God and our body used as a weapon for righteousness. Through Christ sin has no power over us, we have God’s gift of grace to combat its allure.
Grace is God’s free and unmerited favor, it is gift that God imparts to his creation. Laws are rules that only establish a baseline. Through grace we have special qualities and abilities that go beyond our natural power to defeat sin. Law is no help over sin. Through grace we have God’s strength to push sin to the back and bring God’s love forward, so we may honor God and live in freedom.
What are the urges of sin that tempt you? Do you call to God for help in temptation?
Through Christ sin has no power over us, we have God's gift of grace to combat its allure. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion#BeAnEncourager #sin #freedom#Paul #everybodyalways #god#jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood#dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture#bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray#prayer #goodnews #loveeachother#godisgreat #thisVineyard#youversion #everythingalways