‘So then, don’t let sin rule your body, so that you do what it wants.’ – Romans 6:12 CEB
In Romans 6:12 God tells us “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body…” This is not a suggestion or an opportunity to battle God’s words with your own. It is an instruction given by the Holy Spirit because of the authority you have in Christ to overcome sin.
Instead of consistently listening to the commands of your flesh under the guise of “weakness”, it is time to Let It Go and listen to the One True, Living God inside of you. Because you are a new creature in Christ, sin no longer has dominion over you. Romans 6:6-7 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. (NLT)
Romans 6:9-11 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. (NLT)
Now you have the power to say no to sin and yes to holiness. Romans 6:13-14: Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. (NLT)
Also remember this: God will not let you face a temptation that you do not have the power to overcome. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says “There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
As you do your part, in being intentional to hate what God hates and to abstain from all appearances of evil, the Holy Spirit will rise up inside of you, and God’s grace will enable you to make sure that besetting sin – never rules over you or calls the shots in your life again!
Determine today to willingly accept your freedom in Christ and live in the fear of the Lord. The Lord will keep you by His grace. Amen.
PRAYER: Father, I repent from allowing my desires to control so much of my life. I repent for living as though the cross has not settled the issue of sin. Forgive me for my disobedience. I am ready for a change – to let it go. I am depending on what Christ has done to deliver me from sin. Please give me the grace to walk fully in this truth and in obedience to the Holy Spirit. With your word and your grace Lord, I am assured permanent and total freedom from sin in Jesus’ name, Amen.
For further study, read: Romans 6; Titus 2:11-14; Romans 8:1-15