Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN and have become slaves to righteousness.
There are several powerful truths in the phrase, “you have been set free from sin.”
God is not holding your sin against you under the New Covenant
You are no longer a sinful creature by nature
The root of sin has been removed, and you have a new heart
You now naturally desire righteousness over sin
STEWARDING FREEDOM
With freedom from sin comes personal responsibility. Believers have the personal ability to respond to God’s grace rather than continue to live in sin. Response ability.
Under the New Covenant, we are free from sin. We are free from sin in that God is no longer holding our sins against us.
Paul explains in Romans 6 that freedom from sin doesn’t give one an excuse to continue in sin; it’s just the opposite. It’s the opposite because we are under grace.
If you have a traditional understanding of grace, you will not grasp the power of “under grace.” Grace is traditionally defined as unmerited favor. It’s equated to mercy. The sentiment is that God shows you grace even though you deserve punishment. That’s incorrect. Grace and mercy are different. Mercy is undeserved forgiveness, but grace is inner strength.
Grace is unmerited favor, but it’s much more. Grace is strength in your inner man. It’s God’s divine influence in your heart that brings capacities. Those capacities empower you to live the kind of life that is consistent with your righteous nature in Christ.
Turn the phrase around; because you are under grace, you’re free from sin. It’s like saying because you are stronger now, you won’t give in to temptation.
FREE FROM A SINFUL NATURE
God doesn’t give you grace just so you’ll behave properly, that’s a side effect. The more excellent news is this; you are a new creature; you are the kind of being that is now righteous. You are not a naturally sinful creature anymore. And because your nature has changed, you live from an internal power that’s stronger than the shortcomings of your former life.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
In your new creation identity, you are God’s handiwork. You are the product of His craftsmanship. You are a vessel that is designed to do good works. God made the sun, and it shines. God made fruit trees, and they grow fruit. With Christ, God made you, and that new you does good works. It’s in His design of the new you for you to naturally desire to do good works RATHER THAN sin.
To be free from sin means that it’s no longer your natural programming. God made a whole new you, and your default is good works.
If we could look at our new life through the lens of his handiwork, rather than worrying if people will sin, we’ll set many more people free.
If you’re worried that people will sin when told they’re free from sin, you don’t understand the beauty of our new creation reality and the empowering nature of grace.
WHAT IF YOU STILL SIN?
1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Don’t sin,
but if you do,
remember that Jesus
died for your sins.
This is what it looks like to preach freedom. Is John advocating sin? Of course not. He understands the revelation that the law is the strength of sin, and freedom is the strength of righteousness.
IN A COVID-19 WORLD
Let’s bring it home. We’re all stuck in our homes right now. Unfortunately all the weird and destructive things people do in isolation are getting worse. Alcoholism and substance abuse are up. The suicide hotline calls are up 300%. Domestic abuse calls are up. Pornography use is up. Child protective services can’t homes, I don’t even want to think about what that might mean. Depression is skyrocketing. Fear is the new normal. I mean, we’re being encouraged to be afraid.
As a result, sin is up. You may even find yourself slipping back into habits and addictions you thought you already conquered. You may be doing things you’re not proud in your time of isolation.
If so, remember:
You are not a sinner, you are stressed
God is not mad at you, he wants to help you
You are not choosing grace, you’re choosing sin
You no longer naturally crave sin, that’s why you feel so guilty
You can break the pattern and live in freedom
Remember Christ’s victory over sin and death and choose grace
How do you choose grace? Be honest with yourself. Remind yourself that you’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Meditate on who you are in Christ until your heart opens up and receives the abundance of grace.
Here’s a resource for you. Read these out loud, Feel them. Believe them. and be free!!!
