dec2-01

Introduction: Too many Christians are burdened with religious rules and regulations and good resolutions, not realizing that it is impossible to find holiness through their own efforts. How tragic it is to see Christians living “under law,” striving in their own efforts to please God, when the new position they have in Christ and the power in the Spirit (8:3-4) make it possible for them to enjoy victory and blessing by grace.[1]

In order to fully understand Paul’s principle we must look back at (Romans 6:14), for sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (7:1) Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

A. When we become a new creation in Christ, there is a change in dominion over our lives. Both the old and the new spheres of life or the old man and the new man are spheres of existence, which are determined by events, and the powers associated with them.

1. The old man is determined by the sin of Adam and is therefore dominated by the power of sin.

2. The new man is determined by the righteous obedience of Christ and is ruled by the power of the new resurrection life of Christ. Dying to the old sphere means dying to the powers that dominated it and coming into a new life under a new power.[2]

B. The change of power over our lives as believers is described by the apostle Paul in (Romans 6:6,7) … Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.

A. If you have died with Christ, and all Christians have, then you are no longer under the power of the old man, the man of sin. (7:1) … The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives; and you say you died with Christ. Why is the power of sin such a strong influence in your life, when in fact you have been set free?

C. Just as you use to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from control of righteousness… But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads holiness, and the results is eternal life.[3]

Application: The fact is that God desires His children to walk in holiness. We should bear fruit to God (v.4) because we are dead to the law just as we are dead to sin. (Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (v.1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Paul said (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

There never has been, nor will there ever need to be another place, or another time, or another occasion, or another person, or another sacrifice, like that of Jesus Christ at Calvary. It was there on that middle cross, where…

Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise, for it was grace that bought my liberty; I do not know just why He came to love me so, He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary, to view the cross where Jesus died for me; How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul, He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

[1] Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament, (1992, Wheaton, IL) Victor Books, P. 384.

[2] Neil T. Anderson & Robert L. Saucy, The Common Made Holy, (1997, Eugene, Oregon) Harvest House Publishers, p.85.

[3] Ibid, p. 87.

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