FREE!! FREE AT LAST!
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 KJV)
The English word ‘dominion’ here in the Greek is ‘kyrieuō‘ and is defined as ‘to rule over’. In essence, in today’s English would be the words ‘your master’.
Does that mean we will never sin as believers? No. But sinning will not be master over us. We have the Holy Spirit living within us to guide us into all truth and to change us by the renewing of our mind by the Word of God. It is an inward change that happens over time and changes us on the inside, in our inner man. This change slowly works it’s way outward into our lives and affects others.
What is it, according to Apostle Paul, that causes sin to not be master over us as believers anyway?
Is it because we work so hard to not sin? NO , it does not say that. Is it because we obey the Law of Moses? No, it does not say that either.
Why will sin not be master over us then?
Because we are not under the law but under grace. Reading this verse backwards helps clarify what Paul is actually stating to us.
‘UNDER GRACE, we are NOT UNDER THE LAW, and so sin is not our master.’
Do you see how clear this verse is?
Paul goes on to say even more about Law following verses Salvation by the Grace of God through Christ Jesus in Romans 7:
“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” (Romans 7:8 KJV)
First off what is ‘concupiscence’? It is defined in the Greek as ‘lusts and desires’. So let’s replace the word so we can see exactly what Paul is meaning in this verse.
“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of lustful desires. For without the law sin was dead.”
Paul is telling us that following the Law of Moses actually causes us to sin more! You see, that is the very purpose of the Ten Commandments. Here are other verses by Apostle Paul explaining this:
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” (Romans 3:20 KJV)
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence MIGHT ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20)
“The sting of death is sin; and the STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW.” (1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV)
The very STRENGTH of sinning is following the Law of Moses for justification. The Law and Ten Commandments as many know it by were given by God to bring the Jews to their knees in understanding that we CANNOT EVER justify ourselves nor make ourselves Holy in our own self righteous efforts. The Law is a mirror so we can see ourselves as God sees us; wretched sinners needing a Savior. The Law is meant to bring us to our knees and to cry out to God for mercy because only God can MAKE us Holy.
YES! The Ten Commandments are true and they are still valid as God’s Holy standard. However, following them will NOT make you Holy nor give you favor or justification with God. Only by belief in the Son of God, God in the flesh, Jesus The Christ, who never sinned in thought nor deed, who willingly died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2) and then rose again; it is through this belief a person is justified with God. (John 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
“For the law having A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” (Hebrews 10:1 KJV)
The Law of Moses was just a shadow of the real deal folks! Under the Law of Moses, innocent animals were killed because without sin there is no remission of sin. Yet, these sacrifices are not what forgave their sins under the Law (Hebrews 10:4) . It was a remembrance of the one who is to come – the Messiah, and the sacrifice He would make. Jesus is that Messiah who came 2000 years ago. The perfect sacrifice without blemish and without sin. The real deal is Jesus Christ crucified, atoning for our sins on the cross.
The NEW COVENANT began when Jesus died on that cross, paying for the sins of the whole world. When this happened the Old Covenant was REPLACED by the NEW COVENANT of Salvation through the Gospel of Grace through Christ crucified.
“For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that BELIEVETH.” (Romans 10:4 KJV)
“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER take away sins:” (Hebrews 10:9-11 KJV)
Jesus is the ONCE FOR ALL offering who paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) And if you believe this you are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), have become a new creature, a new creation of God, called The Spirit. All your sins have been forgiven and God remembers them against you no more! Jesus paid for all the sins for all of time. We do not have to sacrifice anymore for our sins – they are all paid IN FULL already. Christ perfected all who believe on Him.
“But this man (JESUS), after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God;…” (Hebrews 10:12 KJV)
Jesus sat down because IT IS FINISHED! Sins have ALL been paid for!
” From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by ONE OFFERING he HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified.
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
And their sins and iniquities WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE.
Now where remission of these is, there is NO MORE OFFERING FOR SIN.” (Hebrews 10:13-18 KJV)
What does that mean? Glory to God! It means our freedom! At last! Freedom from the chains of our sin debt. Free at at last through belief and trust in the FINISHED work of Jesus on the cross.
