Juli Camarin

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Slave to Who You Obey—Romans 6:15-16

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:15-16)

What about sin? Should we allow sin to dwell in our lives considering that God has completely forgiven us? For we know that Jesus paid the price for the sins of the entire world upon the cross, ( 1 John 2:2, Hebrews 10:12 ). And if your sins were forgiven 2000 years ago, then does it matter if you continue to sin as born again believers?

The Apostle Paul must have run into this question on many occasions because he spent the entire chapter refuting the reason not to continue in sin. The first half of this passage we saw that the number one reason not to continue sinning was because we had been freed from it. It was part of our redemption through Christ's blood. Our emancipation to the bondage of sin was broken when Christ ascended to heaven. So why continue in something that was foreign to our new nature, fashioned after Jesus in righteousness and holiness.

Today's verse is very similar to a question raised in the beginning of this chapter. Should we continue in sin because we are operating under the covenant of grace and not out of bondage to the Law? Paul's response is the same, an emphatic no. Not only have we have been freed from sin, but the number two reason not to continue in sin is because it opens the door to the devil. If we continue to sin, then God is not mad at us, we are still saved, loved and forgiven. However, we don't sin because the devil is not as gracious. He will not give a second thought to reeking havoc in your life because of it. If we sin then we are just inviting him in to mess with us. Paul concludes that we will become slaves to whatever force we yield to. Although we have been set free by Jesus, if we continue to allow Satan to operate in our lives then regardless we will be subjected to him.

That is why we should remove sin from our lives. Not in order to please God, we already do that based on the blood of Jesus. But we should remove it because we are freed from it and to remain free we have to block any avenue that Satan will try to access. Today I praise God that Jesus destroyed the works of the devil ( I John 3:8 ) and set us free in the process. May you find great liberty in knowing and implementing this truth in your life.

Previous: Romans 6:14  Next: Romans 6:17-18

Original article published October 21, 2009.

No Longer Slaves But Subjects of God's Favor and Mercy—Romans 6:14

"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14)

Did you know that you are not bound to the Old Testament Law as a born again believer? This comes as a shock to many Christians who have made a practice of abiding by the Ten Commandments their whole lives. However, in the previous chapters of Romans, Paul clearly taught that the Law is what strengthened sin in us and arouses in us the need for a Savior. The entire Old Testament Law can be used to point us to Christ. With Christ, we have been freed from the power of sin. Therefore Paul is instructing us to offer the parts of our body to God as instruments of righteousness ( Romans 6:13 ). This is based on the New Covenant and the righteousness we obtained through Jesus. Because we are righteous under this covenant of grace we need to operate that way.

In today's passage Paul tells us that sin is not our master because of grace. While we were controlled by the old nature we were subjected to the Law as slaves. As Slaves under the Law, we experienced guilt, condemnation and wrath because we constantly failed to measure up to it. The Law also made sin come alive in our hearts ( Romans 7:9 ) and strengthened the power of sin against us ( 1 Corinthians 15:56 ), and that is why we needed a Savior, because it was impossible for us to do it on our own. However, if we choose to live and operate under the Old Testament Law as believers then we are choosing to remain in bondage to sin and forfeit the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. That is why we need to operate as New Testament believers who have been freed from the law.

Here is the good news for today: we are freed from sin and the bondage of the Law. So sin cannot master us. Understanding this freedom from both the Law and the control of our old nature is necessary to break free from the dominion of sin in our lives. When we understand that we are subjects of God's favor and mercy then we will operate that way, because what you believe is what you will do. Through the New Covenant we are under grace. That grace gives us the freedom to pursue Christ and a life of holiness will be the result. Not by works of the Law, but by being alive in Christ. When we live as though we are free of our old nature then we are living accordingly to the Spirit and we will see the fruits thereof.

Today, I pray that you understand all that is yours through the New Covenant by God's grace. I pray that you life reflects our Saviors in every way. Not by works, but because of a His grace. God bless you!

For more reading on the Purpose of the Law:
Romans 3:19-20 - The Purpose of the Law
Romans 3:21 - A Righteousness Apart From the Law

Romans 3:22-24 - By Faith We Are Justified Freely
Romans 3:28 - Justification Comes By Faith, Not Works

Romans 3:29-31 - Our Faith Uploads the Law

Previous: Romans 6:12-13  Next: Romans 6:15-16

Original article published October 20, 2009.

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  • About Juli Camarin

    About Juli Camarin

    I’m passionate about Jesus, His Word, living in His grace,
    using technology and creating beautiful things.
    But mostly my passion is about spreading the
    gospel of Jesus to a world that needs Him.

       

    about Juli Camarin

  • About Juli Camarin 2

    About Juli Camarin

    I’m passionate about Jesus, His Word, living in His grace,
    using technology and creating beautiful things.
    But mostly my passion is about spreading the
    gospel of Jesus to a world that needs Him.

       

    about Juli Camarin

Books by Juli

Exploring God's Word, planting the seeds of life.