Prison Break

For many years I was confused about what Paul wrote in Romans chapter six. Verse two says, “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”  I couldn’t understand this, because I knew I was a born-again child of God, yet I still committed sin (and still do).

I have come to understand that in all but one instance, every time the word sin was used in the original text, it is the noun form of the word. (The only time the verb form was used is in verse 15.) This means that we have died to the condemnation that comes from sin!

Although Jesus never sinned, the condemnation of sin was imputed to Him at the cross.  So also we who are born-again children of God, do not and will not receive the condemnation that comes from sin, rather Jesus’ righteousness is imputed to us. Only when you realize that you will never come under the condemnation of sin, will sin lose its power in your life!

In John chapter eight Jesus demonstrates this with the woman caught in adultery.  When, one by one, the accusers left, Jesus asked the woman where her accusers were and if anyone condemned her.  With her own mouth she voiced the answer, “No one Lord.” Jesus answered, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”  First, she was free from the condemnation of sin, then she could “go and sin no more”! 

Once upon a time we were all in a prison called sin (noun).  We have Adam to thank for that (Roman 5:19). But when we accepted Christ’s finished work by believing it in our heart (obeying from the heart), we received a prison break!  We are no longer slaves to sin but to righteousness (Romans 6:18)!

Now even when you doubt, complain, lose your temper, etc. (commit sin) God sees you as nothing but righteous (if you're in Christ).  In this security of righteousness you can overcome those sins!

This is what is meant by Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  Although grace and the gift of righteousness that comes with it are free to us, it’s not cheap.  It cost Jesus a dear, dear price – to the point that he sweat blood just thinking about the cross. 

Let’s not cheapen grace by believing anything less about ourselves than God declares over us!