July 9
I Chronicles 20-22
Psalm 78:65-72
Proverbs 17:16-17
Romans 6
Freedom from Sin
“Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:12-14, 23 HCSB
When we are born again, sin’s power is broken in our lives. We are freed from sin and made alive to God through Jesus. Our sinful nature was crucified with Him, and we are no longer bound by that sinful nature. Through Jesus, we have received the gift of God which is eternal life. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us to overcome the power of sin in our lives. On our own power and strength, we cannot overcome the power of sin, but we are not on our own. We do not face temptation alone. I Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (NIV) James 4:7 assures us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (NIV) Romans 6:6 tells us, “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims.” (HCSB) If we died with Christ, we also live with Him. He has given us the power to live lives free from sin and the entanglements it creates. While living in this fallen world, we are never free from the temptation and allure of sin. Our human nature is drawn to sinful desires, but it is empowering to know that we can overcome those desires and to choose life and freedom instead of sin and bondage.
Romans 6:23 is a very effective verse to use when explaining the gospel. Wages are the price we earn as a result of our labor. It is the amount we deserve based on what we have done. When we work, we expect to be paid. This verse tells us that the wage we earn for sin is death. What we deserve and should expect to receive for our sin is death. But through faith in Jesus, we are given the free gift of eternal life. There is nothing we can do to earn it; we can only receive it.
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