Romans 6:1-2: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
In our last lesson we began talking about sin in the life of the Christian. We reviewed how we were born into Adam’s sinful race under the influence of the kingdom of darkness, and how that through the death and resurrection of Christ we were born again into the family of God and have been placed in the kingdom of light.
When Christ passed out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light, He took us with Him! Where did God put us in Christ? He put us in Christ on the cross! When He was crucified, we were crucified with Him. When He died, we died with Him. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ…” Not only did Christ die for us, but we died with Him.
What happened when we died with Christ? We passed out of the kingdom of darkness where sin reigns. Not only did we die with Christ, but we were buried with Him, and we were raised again with Him. The Bible says that God “made us alive together with Christ.”
What happened when we rose with Christ? We rose in a new kingdom — the kingdom of God’s dear Son. By our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and placed in the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Colossians 1:12-13 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
What does this mean to us? It means that in Christ we have been delivered from sin’s authority. When we were in the kingdom of darkness, sin could command us and we had to obey. But now we have been delivered from the kingdom where sin reigns.
Satan tries to keep Christians from learning this great truth. But we have learned the secret of victory over sin? The secret is this: IN CHRIST, WE DIED TO SIN. We are no longer in the kingdom where sin reigns. Sin has no right to reign over us. Christ is our new Master. Should we keep on sinning when we don’t have to? Of course not! The Apostle Paul said, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Does this mean that now we cannot sin? No, it does not. As long as we are in this life, we are capable of sinning. But God has made it possible for us not to sin. Now that we have been delivered from sin’s authority, we can reject its reign over us. We can sin, but we don’t have to!
Does this mean that we will not be tempted to sin any more? No, it does not. In fact, it seems that, when we really want to live a holy life, we are tempted more than ever. But sin’s power over us has been broken. Sin can tempt us but it cannot make us obey it. We can claim our freedom from its power. The Bible says, “Sin shall not have dominion over you….”
How do you claim your freedom from sin’s power? First, you must count on the fact that, in Christ, you died to sin. Second, you must choose not to sin.
Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise reckon [consider] ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The word “reckon” means “to count on.” God has told us that, in Christ, we died to sin. This is our standing in Christ, and we are to count on it. Remember, faith in our standing makes it real in our life.
Romans 6:12 says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” What does this verse say? It says, “Don’t let sin have the rule over you!” Why? Because you died to it.
Have you been defeated again and again by a certain sin? Why not claim your freedom from its power? When you are tempted by this sin, you can say, “I refuse to give in to you. When I died with Christ, I died to you. You shall not reign over me.”
Then, turn to God and say, “Father, Your Word says that sin shall not have dominion over me. Lord, fulfill Your Word in me and make me free from the power of this sin.” God is faithful to do this.
Remember, temptation is not sin. The Lord Jesus was tempted, but He never sinned. You will be tempted, but you can say “No!” to temptation. You can claim your freedom from sin’s power. You can claim God’s wonderful promise, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Bible also says in Romans 10:9 and 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and I want to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!
The Gospel Light Minute X 