Victory Over Sin
The truth we have before us is not negotiable and nonessential- it is the clear purpose for which Christ died- to make us righteous, not only by declaration (justification) but also in reality (sanctification).
It is not like justification is the basic Amazon package and sanctification is Amazon prime- both will do but one’s just a little bit more expensive and only for the select few. No, this truth is for all God’s children!
The sixth chapter of Romans has often been called the emancipation proclamation of the believer. In this chapter the apostle Paul clearly demonstrates the means of the believer’s victory over sin. Paul nowhere asserts that that victory is either automatic or easy.
Sin is a horrible taskmaster that binds us in its clutches. Although we have died to it with Christ; nevertheless our sin nature kicks and screams and fusses like a spoiled child to try to get us to yield to it. Some of the important words in this chapter are:
Baptism (3,4)
United (v.5)
Know (v.3,6,9,16)
Present (v. 12,16,19)
The chapter finds its structure in the use of questions. Paul foresees various objections to free grace that his readers might raise. Putting himself in their place, he asks 6 questions as the chapter progresses and then uses the answers to those 6 questions to present the truth as to how we as believers are to be victorious over sin.
While this victory is available to all of us in Christ; it is obvious that many times we do not make use of it.
The question we have to ask ourselves is: why? Perhaps it is because we do not know the truth. Jesus says: “It is the truth that makes us free”. Perhaps it is because although we know the truth- we are not yielding and presenting ourselves to God. Either way, our failure reflects badly on our Father and our defeat grieves the Spirit. Our sin is what Jesus died to destroy- He is moving Heaven and earth to accomplish that goal. He will have us holy- or He will not have us at all.
Because of grace,
Tim
