Our Freedom in Christ
Our Freedom from Sin – Part II

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:1-23

Key Verse: Romans 6:1
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Looking at the idea of being free from sin, remember this phrase in the last part of today’s Key Verse: ”you are not under the law, but under grace”.

The problem with being under the Old Testament law is that if someone breaks one law, they are guilty of them all… they are lawbreakers. The Apostle James wrote:

If you keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:8-10)

Since no one has or can keep all the laws perfectly, we became “slaves” to sin, for we are all lawbreakers!

If you are a Christ-follower, rejoice with me that we are under God’s grace and not the law! As the Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesian Christ-followers:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not you own doing; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

Because of this, God’s gift of salvation goes out to all people everywhere. His grace, His unmerited favor stands ready to forgive anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus to be saved. Look at Titus 2:11-13:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

One of the hardest truths for most Christ-followers to accept is that they are free from the slavery of sin. Many have built their theology around the idea that we must sin every day. The problem is that there is no scriptural basis for this.

In God’s Word are many scriptures about our freedom from sin and warnings not to abuse God’s grace by continually sinning. Here is what the Apostle Paul said about the idea that we can keep sinning because of God’s grace:” by no means!” (Romans 6:1-2).

Please note, to say we do not have to sin is not to say we cannot sin… of course, we can and do sin. All Christ-followers have sinned and need God’s forgiveness. I certainly have!

But realize that God promises that He does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). From this verse, we cannot conclude that we must sin!

Father, I thank You for Your grace and power that You have given to me. Help me to remember that I am free from sin and can resist the evil one. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.