Freed From Sin

For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (Romans 6:6-7, 11–12, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Since “death no longer has mastery over Him [Jesus],” (Romans 6:9, NIV 1984), sin need not have any mastery over those who “have been united with Him like this in His death.” (Romans 6:5, NIV 1984). “Because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

Thus, all is fine, except for one pesky little word. “Let.” That is to say, “do not let sin reign in your mortal body.” That is its only way in. It cannot force its way in. It cannot sneak in by stealth. Its only way in is if we let it in. Either by allowing it in or not preventing it from coming in. Sin can be enticing, but we need not “obey its evil desires.”

The bad news is, sometimes we let it in. “Because [we] are weak in [our] natural selves.” (Romans 6:19, NIV 1984). The good news is that it cannot continue to “reign” in us. It cannot continue to be the dominating power or influence in our life. “For sin shall not be [our] master, because [we] are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14, NIV 1984).

My Advice – If we find that we are a slave to sin, if we are “controlled by the sinful nature,” (Romans 8:8, NIV 1984), we need to reevaluate if we have a relationship with Christ. “If we [really] died with Christ.” (Romans 6:4, NIV 1984). “If the Spirit of God [really] lives in [us]. [For] if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9, NIV 1984).

“But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” (Romans 8:9–11, NIV 1984). “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1–2, NIV 1984). Sin will not continue to reign in us or have mastery over us, but we will let sin in from time-to-time. But “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8–9, NIV 1984).