Romans 6:14
This verse contains an iron-clad, blessed promise for those who are under the grace of God, “Sin shall not have dominion over you” (Romans 6:14). Let us shout this from the housetops; God’s grace destroys sin’s control over the believer. Only the grace of God can render sin’s power ineffective to dominate and destroy the saint.
The promise comes at the front of the verse, with the reason for the promise coming at the end. The reason that sin cannot dominate the believer is that we do not live underneath the power of the law anymore. Notice that we are not “under the law, but under grace”. This shows that the position of the saint is beneath one or the other; either beneath the load of the law or beneath the power of grace.
Law was given to bring our sins to light (Romans 5:20), and it provides the strength for sin (1 Corinthians 15:56). When set loose in someone’s life, the law will bring forth a revival of sin (Romans 7:9) and cause them to walk in anger (Romans 4:15). In short, the law will minister condemnation and death to all that fall beneath it (2 Corinthians 3:7, 9). It is a cruel taskmaster, literally keeping its adherents from walking in faith (Galatians 3:12, 23) and from having a loving relationship with God (Galatians 4:1-5).
Grace is neither a doctrine nor a substance; grace is a person, and His name is Jesus. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth (notice which side truth falls on?) came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Law is written and engraved in stone (2 Corinthians 3:7), but grace appears to us and teaches us how to live right (Titus 2:11, 12). Grace is a gift to be received in super-abundance for all that wish to reign in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17), and grace is at its best where sin is abounding (Romans 5:20).
To be under the law is to have the law above you, hearkening for you to come up higher. The law is like Jacob seeing the ladder in the wilderness with God standing at the top (Genesis 28:12, 13); no matter how good you live, you can never climb up that ladder, for if you fail in one point of the law, the weight of the whole thing falls upon you (James 2:10).
To be under grace is to have the never-ending blessings of favor flowing down on you from the finished work of grace. Grace is like Jesus saying to Nathanael, “Ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:51). Though Jacob lived prior to the giving of the law, the illustration still stands as his incident was before Christ. So, under law, God is at the top; with Nathanael, under grace, Jesus comes to you. Grace always comes to you!
If you know someone who is living a lifestyle of sin, and they are justifying it by saying that they are living under grace, share Romans 6:14 with them. It is impossible to live a life dominated by sin if you are truly living under grace. Only when you are living under the guilt and condemnation of the law will sin have dominion over you. This verse is NOT progressive, where someday sin will not have dominion over you, it is a present promise! Sin cannot and will not dominate the believer who trusts completely in God’s grace for their life.
For this cause we have no reason to fear the message of grace. It will never produce Christians that sin like crazy and live sloppy lives. On the contrary, true grace will produce radical saints who are intensely in love with a God that loves them more than words can say. Rejoice; sin no longer dominates you!
This verse contains an iron-clad, blessed promise for those who are under the grace of God, “Sin shall not have dominion over you” (Romans 6:14). Let us shout this from the housetops; God’s grace destroys sin’s control over the believer. Only the grace of God can render sin’s power ineffective to dominate and destroy the saint.
The promise comes at the front of the verse, with the reason for the promise coming at the end. The reason that sin cannot dominate the believer is that we do not live underneath the power of the law anymore. Notice that we are not “under the law, but under grace”. This shows that the position of the saint is beneath one or the other; either beneath the load of the law or beneath the power of grace.
Law was given to bring our sins to light (Romans 5:20), and it provides the strength for sin (1 Corinthians 15:56). When set loose in someone’s life, the law will bring forth a revival of sin (Romans 7:9) and cause them to walk in anger (Romans 4:15). In short, the law will minister condemnation and death to all that fall beneath it (2 Corinthians 3:7, 9). It is a cruel taskmaster, literally keeping its adherents from walking in faith (Galatians 3:12, 23) and from having a loving relationship with God (Galatians 4:1-5).
Grace is neither a doctrine nor a substance; grace is a person, and His name is Jesus. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth (notice which side truth falls on?) came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Law is written and engraved in stone (2 Corinthians 3:7), but grace appears to us and teaches us how to live right (Titus 2:11, 12). Grace is a gift to be received in super-abundance for all that wish to reign in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17), and grace is at its best where sin is abounding (Romans 5:20).
To be under the law is to have the law above you, hearkening for you to come up higher. The law is like Jacob seeing the ladder in the wilderness with God standing at the top (Genesis 28:12, 13); no matter how good you live, you can never climb up that ladder, for if you fail in one point of the law, the weight of the whole thing falls upon you (James 2:10).
To be under grace is to have the never-ending blessings of favor flowing down on you from the finished work of grace. Grace is like Jesus saying to Nathanael, “Ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:51). Though Jacob lived prior to the giving of the law, the illustration still stands as his incident was before Christ. So, under law, God is at the top; with Nathanael, under grace, Jesus comes to you. Grace always comes to you!
If you know someone who is living a lifestyle of sin, and they are justifying it by saying that they are living under grace, share Romans 6:14 with them. It is impossible to live a life dominated by sin if you are truly living under grace. Only when you are living under the guilt and condemnation of the law will sin have dominion over you. This verse is NOT progressive, where someday sin will not have dominion over you, it is a present promise! Sin cannot and will not dominate the believer who trusts completely in God’s grace for their life.
For this cause we have no reason to fear the message of grace. It will never produce Christians that sin like crazy and live sloppy lives. On the contrary, true grace will produce radical saints who are intensely in love with a God that loves them more than words can say. Rejoice; sin no longer dominates you!
