We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:9-12 (ESV)
One of the greatest moments in American history is when slavery was abolished. People could no longer dominate other people. Every American was a free man or woman. This wonderful event was procured with blood. Many, in the Civil War, gave their lives to set the slave free.
Jesus’ death on the cross set many slaves to sin free! Those who’ve accepted his free gift of salvation are the recipients of the freedom that Jesus Christ gives. When Jesus died and rose again he defeated death. He not only personally insured a victory for himself, but also to all those who believe. Sin and it’s punishment, death, have been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Since he defeated sin and death, he liberated those who who would trust in him, to not only escape the penalty of sin (hell), but also the power of sin in the believer’s life. Now, as followers of Christ, we don’t have to follow sinful desires and to live a life that is contrary to the will of God.
How do we, as believers, do this?
First, Remember that if you are a child of God, you are able to choose the righteous way over the sinful way. Just as Jesus died on the cross for sin, and he has defeated it, so you may consider yourself dead to sin. That means that sin is not an option for your consideration. The choice to sin against your Father should be foreign to your thinking and should not be on the table of options. If you know and love Christ, it is just as though sin was dead to you and you to sin.
Second, Present your body to God as an instrument of doing right, not wrong. Don’t use your brain to think wrong things. Don’t use your tongue to utter what is sinful. Don’t use your hands to do wrong things or legs or to take you where you shouldn’t go. Rather, use your body to do what God wants you to do (Ephesians 4:22-31). You are a new person in Christ. God has brought you out of spiritual deadness into a new life with him.
Now we understand that we believers still sin. We won’t be completely rid of sin’s influence on us until we stand before Christ. But, the sinful life does not have to dominate my thinking, my choices or my actions. If we do sin, we can come to our heavenly Father confessing our sin to him (1 John 1:9). He will forgive us and restore our fellowship with himself. Those of us who have accepted the free gift of salvation are freemen!
Friend, do you know Christ? The Bible says that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on your behalf. He took the punishment you deserve (death, separation from God) on the cross. He rose from the dead and offers you forgiveness if you will repent of your sinfulness and trust nothing but HIM (not your good works, your church, etc.) to forgive you and to make you a new person in Christ. Why not believe him now and invite him to be your savior? You will be set free from your sin and its consequences (John 3:16-18).
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
